The Emergence of Japan and the Feudal Age •Japan is on an archipelago – a chain of islands Geography Sets Japan Apart •100 miles off Asian mainland, E. of Korea •Four-fifths of land too mountainous to farm •Mild climate and rainfall help people farm and settle in river valleys Geography Sets Japan Apart •Seas protect & isolate Japan, helps to preserve identity •Good trade routes •Thriving fish Industry Geography Sets Japan Apart •Japan is in the “Ring of Fire” - a chain of volcanoes that encircle Pacific Ocean •Frequent volcanic activity & earthquakes •Underwater earthquakes cause killer tidal waves = tsunamis •Little or no warning, wipe out everything in path Early Traditions •Early Japanese society divided into uji, clans •Each had own chief & special god or goddess •Some women were chiefs, respected position •500 A.D. Yamato Clan dominated •Ruled 1,000 years •Japan’s first dynasty •Rising Sun clan symbol still used today •Shinto means “the way of the kami” Shinto – A Religion of Nature •Worshipped the forces of nature •Tradition still survives in Japan •Simple Shinto shrines are all over Japan •Located in beautiful, natural settings •Dedicated to special sites, mountains, waterfalls, ancient trees, even rocks Shinto god of wind Japan borrowed many Chinese ideas and innovations  Chinese writing script and literature  Governmental organization  Buddhism  Persistence of Shinto Developed own writing = KANA – phonetic symbols  Emperors claimed divine absolute power = “Heavenly Emperor” represent syllables  Tea Ceremony Modified and discarded some ideas = selective borrowing creates unique culture The Heian Period •794 – 1185 A.D. •Emperors ceremonial only •Fujiwara (noblemen) held real power •Noblemen & women lived in fairytale elegance: •Beautiful pavilions •Gardens & lotus pools •Dressed in silk •Men studied Chinese; women could not •Fortunately, Murasaki Shikibu broke rules: •Wrote world’s first full length novel: The Tale of Genji Warriors Establish Feudalism •Feudal warfare swept Japan in 1403 •People loyal to local warlords, not central government •Emperor = almost no power – respected figurehead •Warrior aristocracy dominated •Shogun = supreme military commander The Ways of the Warrior •Shogun controlled only part of Japan •Vassal Lords promised to support Shogun w/armies •Warrior Lord = Daimyo •Lesser Warriors = Samurai, “those who serve” •Armed & Trained like knights in Europe •Code of Values (like chivalry) = Bushido Noblewomen Lose Ground •At first women could be trained in military •Samurai progressed – women lost power •Could not inherit •Women not on pedestal •Must endure hardships Peasants, Artisans, & Merchants •Peasants made up 75% of population •Cultivated rice & other crops •Some were foot soldiers – could work way up to Samurai •Artisans made armor, swords & other goods •Merchants lower rank – eventually improved status Japan Holds Off Mongols •Mongols launched invasion in 1274 A.D. •Japanese refused to accept •30,000 Mongols invaded •Then, typhoon wrecked all Mongol ships •1281 New Mongol fleet launched •Again, typhoon drove them back •Japanese gave credit for salvation to the Kamikaze = divine winds •Believed they were special & protected by gods Tokugawas Unite Japan •1450 A.D. warfare increased •1590 Tokugawas controlled most of Japan •1603 general Hideyoshi becomes Shogun •Tokugawa Shogunate lasted until 1868 •Formed central government •Unified, orderly society •Military & government officials – only Samurai allowed •Lower classes forbidden to wear silk •Agriculture improved: new seeds, tools & fertilizers •Food surplus = population growth •Towns w/merchants & artisans sprang up •New roads = trade flourished •Wealthy merchant class emerged Economy Booms Zen Buddhism Shapes Culture •Buddhist sect from China = Zen = selfreliance, meditation, devotion to duty •Contradictory rules: •Monks were scholars – but – supposed to have uncluttered mind •Stressed compassion – but – Samurai killed •Monks to experience absolute freedom– but – had rigid rules •Seek enlightenment through meditation •Elaborate tea ceremony •Beautiful landscape paintings & gardens •Noh Plays develop in 1300s •Chorus, fairy tales •Emphasize renounce selfish pleasures •Puppet plays •also popular Artistic Traditions Change •1600s Kabuki drama •Less refined •Had comedy & melodrama Painting and Printmaking •Reflected Chinese landscape painting •But – developed own style •Some depicted historical events •1600s developed woodblock prints •Daily life, •some humorous

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