JAPAN

GEOGRAPHY

ARCHIPELAGO – Chain of IslandsOver 4000 islands, 1200 miles long4 MAIN ISLANDS:HOKKAIDOHONSHUSHIKOKUKYUSHU

JAPAN

Many Natural Disasters:EARTHQUAKESVOLCANOESTSUNAMIS

JAPAN

Many Mountains – 85% only 12% farmlandLack of FARMLAND & NATURAL ResourcesBecause of this Japan has had to:FISH, IMPORT FOOD, TERRACE FARMInfluenced by CHINA

EARLY JAPAN

Start of “IMPERIAL” TraditionSmall Areas - ClansMOST POWERFUL – YAMATO{Around A.D. 500 gain control establish themselves as royal family of Japan} Ruler- EMPEROR

EMPEROR

Claimed to be descendant of SUN GODDESSThe word JAPAN comes from Chinese word “ri-ben” meaning:“Land of the Rising Sun”

JAPANESE FEUDALISM

Japan developed a feudal system – LOCALIZED rule by regional families and clans, as well as by the shogun (war lords)

Decrease in the power of the EMPEROR The shogun ruled the country through the

DAIMYO, who were the heads of the samurai.  Peasants farmed the land in exchange for

protection by the SAMURAI, who operated under a code of conduct known as BUSHIDO 

FEUDAL STRUCTURE

Emperor – figurehead – no POLITICAL power

Shogun – MILITARY dictatorDaimyo –powerful WARLORDS

{large landowners}Samurai – loyal WARRIORS

FEUDAL JAPAN

SAMURAI

Samurai - “THOSE WHO SERVE” - Protected JapanBUSHIDO – “way of the warrior” strict code of

behavior code involved loyalty, bravery, courage, honor

If Samurai did not live up to the code expected to commit:

SEPPUKU – ritual suicide{Dying an HONORABLE death more important than long life}

TOKUGAWA SHOGUNATE

Around 1600 Powerful DAIMYO – Tokugawa Ieyasu united Japan under one rule

Brought PEACE & STABILITY for 300 yearsTokugawa Ieyasu became sole ruler of

JapanSet up capital city at Edo (later city is

renamed TOKYO

TOKUGAWA SHOGUNATE

1603 – 1868Period of: Stability, Prosperity, IsolationStructured SocietyFarmers produced more FOOD Population INCREASEDMost peasants led lives filled with miseryCulture Flourished – HAIKU poems KABUKI Theatre

TOKUGAWA IEYASU

Established – “CLOSED COUNTRY POLICY”

1638 – Banned FOREIGN MerchantsProhibited Japanese traveling OUTSIDE

countryStrict period of ISOLATIONLasted over 200 years

CLOSED COUNTRY POLICY

WHY INSTITUTED?Did not like EUROPEAN ideasConcerned EUROPEANS would colonize

JapanWorried over CHRISTIAN missionaries {eventually eliminated CHRISTIANITY}

CLOSED COUNTRY POLICY

POSITIVES - most trade INTERNAL kept culture & traditions

NEGATIVES – fell behind TECHNOLOGICALLY