The
Emergence of
Japan
“Everyone has biases-few
men are far-sighted. Some
disobey their lords & fathers
& feud with their neighbors.
But when the superiors are
in harmony with each other
& inferiors are friendly, then
affairs are discussed quietly
& the right view of matters
prevails.”
-Prince Shotoku, Laws
Geography of Japan
• Archipelago
• 100 miles off Asian
mainland-east of
Korean peninsula
• Four main islands
• Mountainous/Ring of
Fire
• Protected, isolated
• Trade/fishing
• Mild climate
• sufficient rain
Early Traditions
• Original inhabitants were
Ainu
• Others migrated from
Asian mainland more
than 2,000 yrs agopushed aboriginals south
Yamato Clan
• Early society divided into
uji or clans
• Each uji had chief &
special god or goddess
viewed as clan’s original
ancestor
• Some women clan
leaders
• 500 AD, Yamato clan set
up 1st & only dynasty
• Claimed direct descent
from sun goddess,
Amaterasu-rising sun
• Emperors revered as
living gods
Shinto
“Way of the Gods”
• Uji clans honored
kami/nature
spirits
• Shrines
– mountains
– waterfall
– ancient gnarled
trees
– rocks
Why is Korea viewed as a Cultural Bridge
between China & Japan?
• Geographic
proximity-close
contact
• Japanese
language more
related to Korean
than Chinese
• Korean artisans &
metalworkers
settled in Japan
• Soldiers attacked
each other
Buddhism
• Mahayana introduced by
Korean missionaries
traveling on trade routes,
500 CE
• Adopted by elites, then
others
• Brought Chinese writing
& culture
• Sparked interest in
China
• Pagoda architecture
• Monasteries grew
rich/powerful
China Influences Japan
• Early 600’s Prince
Shotoku sent students,
monks, traders, officials
to Chinese Tang court
• Philosophy/Confucianism
• Technology
• Arts
• Government
• Fashion/Music/Dances
• Pottery
• Food
• Official writing
Chinese Influences on Japanese Court
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Changan model for Nara
Emperors sought both spiritual & political power
Prince Shotoku adopted aspects of Chinese government, Confucian
calendar, & legal ideas
Chinese character script adopted by Japanese court officials
Memorization of Chinese poetry popular
Collected Chinese works of art
Curving, tile roofs became popular in the homes of aristocrats
Taika Reforms
(646 CE)
• Introduced by Emperor
Tenchi
• Modeled on China’s
Tang Confucian
centralized government
• Official reverence for
Buddhism
• Recognition of provincial
administrators
• Vast land reforms placed
all rice-producing land in
hands of emperor
A Unique culture
Emerges
• Kept many Chinese
elements but unique
Japanese culture
emerged
• No civil service exam
• No meritocracy
– Officials continue to
be sons of nobles
• Writing- Kana or
phonetic symbols
representing
syllables
• Artistic style
• Poetry-Haiku
Heian Period
794-1185
• Golden Age of
peace/prosperity
• High point of
aristocratic culture
• Imperial capital in
Heian (Kyoto)
• Emperors had religious
influence not political
power
• Fujiwara Clan &noble
families held real
political power
• Needed guards,
warriors for protection
The Heian Court
• Elegant, refined
sophisticated
• Pavilions, gardens
• Elaborate rules of
etiquette governed
court ceremonyletters had to be
folded properly
• Elaborate makeup
& clothingmulticolored silks
• Restrained
behavior-rude to
laugh with open
mouth
• Lots of leisure timegames such as Go
Women during Heian Period
• Enjoyed a relatively
strong position
• Forbidden to learn
Chinese-Invented Kana
script
• Created most important
literature of the period
• Could inherit & own
property though usually
managed by men
• Laws protected them
from physical violence
• Could not choose
husbands
• No foot-binding
• Polygamy typical
Heian Literature
• Chinese was
official language of
court
• Kana led to new
literary styles
• novel
• narratives
(monogatari)
• essays
• Only nobles &
Buddhist clergy
were literate
How did nobles gain power over the
Imperial Family?
• Earned trust of
emperor & gained
control of
chancellorship
• Married daughters
to crown princes
• Received highranking posts in
government
• Shoen (tax free
estates) as gifts to
loyal nobles
• Emperor’s role
became mostly
ceremonial
Rise of Provincial Nobles
• Kyoto Court became more isolated
• Provincial nobles gained power
– rugged, independent, led private armies
• Constantly battled for control over provinces
Japan’s Feudal Age
1100-1500
• Emperor virtually
powerless-only
ceremonial
• Shogun-supreme
military commander
• Daimyo/Vassal Lords
-great warriors
• Samurai-”those who
serve”-lesser lords
Who were the Samurai?
• Fighting
aristocracy
• Heavily
armed/ trained
• Bushido-”way
of the warrior”
• Honor,
bravery,
absolute
loyalty to one’s
lord
Seppuku
• Ritual suicide
rather than live
without honor
What was the Status of Noblewomen?
• At first, some trained in
military arts
• Supervised family estates
• Gradual decline of
women
• Inheritance limited to
sons
• No pedestal
• Hardships & loyalty were
expected
Peasants
• Peasants
made up 75%
of the
population
were the
backbone of
feudal society
• Rice, other
crops were
grown on
feudal estates
• Some served
as foot
soldiers
• Rarely a
peasant might
rise to samurai
Artisans & Merchants
• Armorers &
sword
makers
provided
goods for
samurai
Merchants
• Lowest class but over time,
gained status
Mongol Invasions
•
•
•
•
•
Conquered China & Korea (Yuan Dynasty)
1274, Kublai Khan attempted invasion
Typhoon wrecked most of fleet
1281, another invasion thwarted by typhoon
Recent research suggest shoddy shipbuilding-used old wormy
wood
• Kamikazi-divine winds
• Reinforced the idea that they were special
What changes took place under the
Tokugawas?
• Warfare increased after Mongol
invasions,1450
• peasants as well as samurai fight
• General Hideyoshi brought most of Japan
under his control
• Tried, but failed to conquer Korea & China
• 1600, Tokugawa Ieyasu became master of
Japan-named Shogun
• Tokugawa Shogunate ruled until 1868
Zen Buddhism
• Sect from China
• Adopted by
samurai
• Meditation
(zazen)
• Scholarship vs
the “uncluttered
mind”
• Compassion vs
killing
• freedom vs
control
Zen Influence
• Devotion to
nature-landscape
gardening
• Enlightenment
through everyday
tasks-“Chop
wood/carry water”
• Values of peace,
simplicity and love
of beauty-tea
ceremony, flower
arranging
• Fine landscape
paintings
• Tea ceremony
Wabi Sabi
Artistic Traditions
• Edo and Osaka were
centers for the Arts
• Development of
urban, sophisticated
culture
• Emphasized luxury
and pleasure
Noh Theater
• 1300’s –Noh
• Men wore elegant, carved
masks
• Chorus chanted lines to
music
• Action was slow
• Each movement had
meaning
• Zen themes-renounce
selfish desires
• Fairy tales
• Struggles between rival
lords
Kabuki Theater
• Developed by actress, Okuni
• women were banned from
performing
• 1600’s towns/cities developed
Kabuki
• Influenced by Noh plays
• Less refined
• Comedy
• Melodrama
• Family or historical events
• Colorful costumes
• Lively and exaggerated
movements
Kabuki Theater
• Drama was
accompanied on a
samisen
• Single performance
might last a whole
day
• Audience witnessed
the scenery changes
• Fans shout the name
of favorite actors
Bunraku
• Puppet theater
• Catered to popular
middle-class tastes
Literature
• Tale of the
Heike- violent
conflict between
two families
• Essays in
Idleness by
Kenko
• Zen values
• observations
about human
nature
Painting/Printmaking
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Landscapes
Scrolls
Historical events
Urban culture
Woodblock prints to
satisfy wealthy
middle-class
Humor
Fresh colors
Simple lines
Pleasures of town
life