Japan: Islands of Mystery

OVER 4000 ISLANDS! Most of the people

live on one of the 4 main Islands

Topography• Rugged• Mountainous• Volcanoes• Rushing Rivers• Thick Forests

All of these factors made everyday living difficult

Farming?????

• How do you farm on land like that???• Farmland was at a premium!!!!!!!!!

TERRACING

Terracing

• Allows you to farm the side of a mountain by making large stair shape fields up the side of the mountain

The Sea

• Since farm land was scarce and people still had to eat, the sea became Japan’s grocery store.

• The Japanese turned to the sea for food.

• In addition to rice; Fish, squid, octopus, & shrimp all became staples of their diets.

• Just as important the Japanese learned to master the sea for coastal transportation

• The sea will also serve as a protector from outside invaders

Modern Japan Fish Market

Transportation/Communication

• Just like early Greek society, transportation and communication was terrible.

• It was nearly impossible to get over around or through some of the mountains, rivers and forests.

• As a result communities were isolated so they developed independently of each other.

• Several independent kingdoms sprung up next to each other in small areas.

Government

• It was impossible for one strong central government to rule over all the separate provinces.

• Feudal Barons rose up in these isolated areas and set up their own governments.

• These barons or “Daimyo”(Great Hoarders of Land) waged wars against each other in order to gain more of the very scarce farming land.

• During the Middle Ages these Feudal Lords (Daimyo) ruled over giant land estates in remote areas. The Imperial government (Emperor) could not control the countryside.

Remember European Castles

Japanese Feudalism• The Daimyo had their feudal estates

complete with a castle just like the ones in Europe. Not much different!

Japanese Emperor1. Emperor was only a figure head for

the government.2. Emperor adopts the symbol of a

chrysanthemum as a symbol of the Emperor. (Still Used today)

3. The True power was with the most powerful Daiymo and his army who is named ‘Shogun” by the Emperor

Ownership of Land• Just like it was in Europe. Upon the

death of the Noble or Daimyo all property went to the oldest son! This is called PRIMOGENITURE.

She can mourn the lossOf her father, but sheStill gets nothing

Middle Ages Social Class Japan vs Europe

Japanese

1. Emperor (Became a Puppet to Shogun)

2. Shogun (Leader)3. Daimyo/Lord (Leader

of Samurai)4. Samurai (Warrior)5. Farmers(Peasants)6. Artisans/Merchants

Europe

1. King2. Nobles3. Knights4. Clergy5. Merchants6. Serfs/Peasants

In Japan the Farmer was seen as more important than the Merchant

Who’s on the bottom?Lords/Daiymo’s swore allegiance to the ShogunThe Emperor was only a figure head

Remember Europe????????

Who’s on the Bottom?

Compare: Who Would Win?

Samurai /Bushido Code Code of Chivalry

Samurai/Bushido Code or “The way of the warrior”

1. Loyalty to Emperor2. Loyalty to Feudal Lord/Daiymo3. Courage and Honor4. Death before shame or dishonor5. No individual decision making

Kamikaze (DivineWind) WW2

Hari Kari- DeathBefore Dishonor

Japan Culture & Religion• Japan received much of its early

culture indirectly from China due to it’s contacts with Korean visitors.

Major Influence by China

• Writing• Architecture• Music/Art• Food• Religion

Japan borrowed China’s writing system but did create their own Alphabet called Kana.

Heian Period 794-1185 • The Fujiwara clan was the power

behind the throne.• Japan had it’s own rich and

distinctive flowering culture during this period.

“Tale of Genji and Pillow Book”; are books written by women during this Dynasty describing what daily life was like in the Heian court.

PILLOW BOOK

Continue Heian Dynasty

• Japan’s culture no longer borrowed the ideas from China.

Book “Tales of Heike”(Life of a Samurai fighting in a Civil War)

Kamakura Dynasty1190-1338

• Due to fighting between the clans of the Taira and Minamoto it brought an end to the Heian dynasty.

• Minamoto clan won and Yoritomo was given the title of Shogun by the emperor beginning the Kamakura Shogunate

• This became a time of military rule in Japan

China tried to invade Japan twice during the Kamakura period but was unsuccessful both times.DIVINE WIND (Kamikaze)-Typhoons destroyed the Chinese fleets

Kublai Khan sent 1000’s of his Chinese warriors and 100’s of boats to the bottomof the East China Sea with his failed attemptsto conquer Japan

Didn’t stand a chance

1000’s of local Gods merge into 2 Main Religions

1. Shinto - a practice of loving nature and celebrates the birth of all things (divine spirits called Kami live in all of nature items).

2. Zen Buddhism- emphasizes life is brief and believes in reincarnation.

In Summary They are very similar!!!