Early Japan

Holt page 198-203

Standard 7.5.1 and 7.5.2

Geography Shapes LifeIslands are tops of undersea mnts and volcanoesIslands are tops of undersea mnts and volcanoes

20% of the island is actually flat20% of the island is actually flatLive in costal plains so they could farmLive in costal plains so they could farm

Very close to the sea all over the islandsVery close to the sea all over the islandsLearned how to prepare shark, octopus, seaweed etcLearned how to prepare shark, octopus, seaweed etc

Separation allowed Japanese to develop own cultureSeparation allowed Japanese to develop own cultureOnly 100 miles away from Korea though, 400 from ChinaOnly 100 miles away from Korea though, 400 from China

Early Japanese SocietyAinu

Original people in the Original people in the island of what is now Japanisland of what is now Japan

Eventually driven out onto Eventually driven out onto the single island of the single island of HokkaidoHokkaido

Over time their culture Over time their culture disappeareddisappeared

Japanese

Lived in small farming Lived in small farming villages ruled by clansvillages ruled by clans

Had to obey and respect Had to obey and respect clan leadersclan leadersBelieved the clan chiefs Believed the clan chiefs were decedents of were decedents of nature spiritsnature spirits

Developed rituals known Developed rituals known as Shintoas Shinto

ShintooEverything in Nature (sun, moon, trees etc) has Kami

oSome Kami help people live and keep them from harm

oBuild Shrines to Kami and perform ceremonies

The First EmperorsClans were not all equal, some were larger and Clans were not all equal, some were larger and more powerfulmore powerful

Built up armies and conquered othersBuilt up armies and conquered othersYamato clan gains a lot of powerYamato clan gains a lot of power

Believed they were decedents of Believed they were decedents of kami kami sun sun goddessgoddess

Japan Learns from China and Korea

Written Written LanguageLanguage

Many Many learned to learned to read and read and write in write in ChineseChinese

Religion and Religion and PhilosophyPhilosophy

Were taught Were taught about about Confucianism Confucianism (focus on (focus on relationships)relationships)Some also Some also practiced practiced Buddhism and Buddhism and ShintoShinto

GovernmentGovernmentWanted Wanted Japan Japan emperors to emperors to have more have more powerpower

Clan Clan leaders leaders fought fought