By: Peter Mollenhauer and John Mulligan

Japan contains 3000 islands. The largest islands in Japan include

Hokkaido, Shikoku, Kyushu, Honshu. Japan is separated from Russia by a mere

186 miles. Korea is 124 miles, and China is not too far from there.

Japan is about the size of California.

Japan was quite isolated. Because of such a wide separation from other

countries. Japan was able to develop it’s own

culture unlike many others. Arts were about to develop on their own. ( such as this pottery masterpiece)

While Japan was isolated, it did gain many influences from China and Korea. This influence allowed for Chinese cultures

that were out of practice to be remembered. Coins, Chinese language principles, taking

notes on history, and a centralized government were borrowed from the Chinese.

Korea gave Buddhism to Japan.

Nara (710-794) AD Ruled by Emperor Capital was moved several time throughout

the time period. Yamato (About 250-538)

Ruled by Emperor

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4rWWtSWf_k&feature=player_embedded

The capital was moved to Nara in 710 They copied many different Chinese

cultural aspects Buddhism

History started to be recorded during the Nara period

The Manyoshu Collection of poetry 759

Buddhism Embraced and developed within Japan. Arrived from Korea and soon from China. Was the last country to adopt Buddhist

practices. There was some resistance to the ideas

of Buddhism, but was soon adopted during the Nara period. Prince Shotoku was one of the first people to

adopt Buddhism in Japan. Also worshiped during the Yamato(Kofun)

period

Shintoism Created around 500 B.C Beliefs

Tells the story of the divine Japanese deities “Kami”

Sacred places Mountains, springs, and any other peaceful

places in nature

(In background is Shinto Torri Gate)

Shintoism Four affirmations

Family: traditions the form of celebration in the family

Adoration of nature: sacred; they believed that if you are in nature than you are close to God

Physical cleanliness: they valued being clean “Matsuri”: worship of the deities and spirits

Similarities to Buddhism They both expressed the value of human

nature

The Yamato Period valued decorating and honoring the deceased's’ burial mounds Clay sculptures (haniwa)

Figures of nature Furnished the graves with jewelry, stones, and

metal

Temples formed to worship Buddhism. Buddhist statues made of bronze. This Colossal

Buddha is an example of this as Japan experienced a sense of prosperity.

Political unity allowed for the arts to prosper.

Brought together Japan in 300 A.D Occupied present-day Osaka

Many new ideas come from their region Osaka rested on the southwestern peninsula

on Honshu Located on the Yamato Plain.

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Review

Who was one of the first people to embrace Buddhism in Japan?

Prince Shotoku What was the significance of the Torii

Gates? To signify the entrance into a more holy

place. From where did the Japanese receive the

ideas of Buddhism? From Korea.

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http://www.echigonagaoka.com/turbot/isl/map_of_japan.GIF

http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/1975.268.425

http://www.mongabay.com/reference/country_studies/japan/GEOGRAPHY.html

http://isobe.typepad.com/sketchpad/images/rice_paddy.jpg

http://www.herdaily.com/blogimg/recipes/japanese%20rice.jpg

http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/photos/medium/6036012.jpg

http://www.onmarkproductions.com/html/early-japanese-buddhism.html

http://www.religioustolerance.org/shinto.htm

http://tiger3.net/periods/Kofun.html

http://www.artsmia.org/art-of-asia/history/japan-kofun-period.cfm

http://www.artsmia.org/art-of-asia/history/japan-nara-period.cfm

http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/750c9/ed6ce/

http://m.wikitravel.org/en/Japan

http://www.abovetopsecret.com/forum/thread630706/pg2

http://epistemic-forms.com/Online-course/Course%20Files/What-social-forces-operate-among-Asian-Englishes.html

http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/asna/hd_asna.htm

http://people.cohums.ohio-state.edu/bender4/eall131/EAHReadings/module02/m02japanese.html#part2

http://www.123rf.com/photo_534332_japanese-letter-ai-meaning-love.html

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Work Cited (cont.)

http://www.sarudama.com/japanese_history/jushichijokenpo.shtml

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