8-3

I. The Geography of Japan

• A. Japan is a chain of many islands• 1. Most people live on Hokkaido,

Honshu, Kyushu, and Shikoku

• B. Only 11% of the land is farmable

• C. Japan is prone to earthquakes and is geographically isolated

II. The Rise of the Japanese State

• A. Japan’s population was divided into clans with a local ruler

• B. Shotoku Taishi- combined the clans together to ward off Chinese invaders

• C. In 710, the Fujiwara clan gained power and moved the court to Heian where they built up the government

• D. Samurai- military class who followed a strict code called Bushido

• E. Minamoto Yoritomo seized power in the 12th century and created the shogunate

• Shogunate- military government ruled by a military ruler

• F. Power of local aristocrats grew and the heads of wealthy families (daimyo) controlled huge estates

• G. By 1500 there were civil wars that destroyed central power

III. Life in Early Japan

• A. Mostly a farming society• B. Trade with China and Korea

brought wealth• C. Women could inherit, divorce,

and remarry• 1. Women were still subordinate

• D. Shinto- the state religion where people worshiped spirits that control nature

• E. Zen- Buddhist sect that became popular in Japan: enlightenment can be achieved through self discipline

IV. Korea

• A. Korea was under Chinese control until the 3rd century: the Korean government was heavily influenced by Japan

• B. Mongols seized power in the 13th century and were harsh rulers

Chinese influence on Japan

• Shitoku Taishi unified the clans to resist an invasion by the Chinesee

• He sent people to China to learn about their government and based his on the Chinese model

Korea

• In 109 the northern part of Korea was under Chinese control, in the 3rd century they were driven out

• The Koryo dynasty used Chinese ideas and remained in power for 400 years

Mongol influence on Japan

• Kublai Khan invaded Japan, fighting the Mongols put a strain on the Kamakura shogunate which ended in 1333

Korea

• In the 13th century Mongols seized the North part of Korea, Mongol rule led to suffering of the Korean people, artisans were forced to build ships for Kublai Khan