Japan’s Early HistoryJapan’s Early History

Prehistoric PeriodPrehistoric Period 8000 BC – 500 AD

Jomon Culture

•Hunter gatherer society

•They invented clay pottery. Since the clay was so heavy and since they were able to store things in the pots, this resulted in their ability to settle down and abandon their semi-nomadic lifestyle.

Jomon house

Jomon Culture (8000 BC)Jomon Culture (8000 BC)

Yayoi Culture (Yayoi Culture (300 BC300 BC))Introduced:

◦Introduced rice farming and rice becomes a staple in Japanese society

◦They also introduce weaving

◦Bronze work◦Improved pottery

techniques with the pottery wheel

Yayoi CultureYayoi CultureThey created small kingdoms

which lead to the eventual unification of Japan.

According to legend, the first emperor shows up during this time (considered a deity).◦Emperor has a direct link to the gods

Classical PeriodClassical Period500 AD-1185 AD

Early Historic (Early Historic (500-710 500-710 ADAD))Influence from China

◦Japanese adopt written Chinese language and adapt it to fit their needs

◦Buddhism introduced in 551 AD◦Pagoda style borrowed directly from

China◦Buddhist temples founded around 600

by Prince Shotoku Sends missions to China- 600 architects,

scholars, artists, and musicians China is considered the center of universe

Introduction of Buddhism to Japan Introduction of Buddhism to Japan 551 A.C.E.551 A.C.E.

Nara Period (Nara Period (710-794AD710-794AD))

Nara –first capital is founded

Continued Chinese influence◦Models everyday living

after China◦Tried Chinese government

system- failed

Heian Period (Heian Period (794-794-1185AD1185AD))Capital moved from Nara to what is

now Kyoto. It stays here until it moves to Tokyo

There is a very refined court system for the wealthy◦Rules and etiquette extremely important◦Rich expected to write poetry and paint◦Aristocrats look down on the common

people◦Noble women during this time write in

diaries which gives us a glimpse of noble life. Picture scrolls found from this period also show us noble life.

Life in the Heian PeriodLife in the Heian Period

Status shown in…◦Length of

swords◦Color of officials

robes◦Forms of

address

Women of the Heian Women of the Heian PeriodPeriod Noble women

◦Hair to ankles◦Blackened teeth◦Dyed clothing to

match seasons◦Shaved eyebrows

and then drew on eyebrows high up on forehead

◦12 layers of robes combined for ideal color groupings

Women of the Heian Period

Fusego: used to perfume robes with incense

The color combinations had to be perfect or you were considered ridiculous

The current Japanese emperor and his wife at their wedding ceremony

GamesGames

Monoawase – a matching game with painted shells

An early form of kickball

End of the Heian Period…

•This period ends with a war between the Taira and Minamoto clans (clans always were fighting…)

•There is an emperor, but he really doesn’t have power. The powerful landowners really had power because they had money from their land. These powerful landowners called daimyo would fight to gain more power.

ShogunateShogunate(1185AD-1867AD)

Kamakura Period (1185-Kamakura Period (1185-1333)1333)Minamoto Yoritomo becomes first

shogun◦ Basically, the emperor “hires” this guy to

run the country so the emperor can do his “duties.” The emperor is a figurehead.

◦Shogun- “supreme general of the emperor’s armies” Hired by emperor Runs country Military leader

This is the rise of the samurai class

◦Daimyo- “great lords” Military governors of provinces Maintain peace and order Rich landowners

DRAW THE POWER STRUCTURE AND MAKE NOTE OF WHO THE DAIMYO WERE

Yoritomo – Japan’s first shogun

Mongol Invasions

•The Mongols were an ethnic group from Mongolia/China area. They tried to invade Japan twice…•The first time, the Japanese fought them off, so they went home and got more people. The second time there are too many Mongols, BUT a hurricane wipes out the Mongol ships at sea. This hurricane becomes known as kamikaze or “divine wind”

Stone barrier used to defend against Mongol invasion

Scroll depicting Mongol invasion

Samurai defending stone barrier during Mongol invasion

Ashikaga Period(Ashikaga Period(1333-1333-1573)1573)

Culture Flourishes◦Japanify culture borrowed

from China◦Noh Theater

actors don’t speak movements convey

emotions/ideas singing and intense musicInk painting

http://bit.ly/1IYlnpW

Ashikaga PeriodAshikaga PeriodEuropeans arrive in 1542

◦mostly missionariesPeriod ends in war

Tokugawa Period (1600-Tokugawa Period (1600-1867)1867)

Ieyasu Tokugawa defeats his enemies in battle and becomes ruler of Japan. He is given the title of shogun by the emperor (still a figurehead).

Tokugawa Period Tokugawa Period ContinuedContinued

The arts flourish!Tea gardensKabuki theaterWoodblock prints

Kabuki

• Under Tokugawa shoguns Under Tokugawa shoguns (Edo period), Kabuki becomes (Edo period), Kabuki becomes popular entertainment for popular entertainment for middle classes in licensed middle classes in licensed (amusement) districts(amusement) districts

• Plays borrow from Noh, Plays borrow from Noh, Bunraku, folk talesBunraku, folk tales

Kabuki Stage

• Actors Actors make make entrance on entrance on hanamichi hanamichi (“flower (“flower path”)path”)

• Colorful Colorful striped striped curtaincurtain

• FootlightsFootlights• Effects and Effects and

scenery scenery both both realistic and realistic and symbolicsymbolic

Kabuki Acting

• Female impersonators Female impersonators (onnagata)(onnagata)

• 2 styles of acting:2 styles of acting:– Arogato (rough Arogato (rough

stuff) for samurai stuff) for samurai and heroesand heroes

– Roppo, kumadori Roppo, kumadori makeupmakeup

– Wagato (soft style) Wagato (soft style) for loversfor lovers

• Entrance with “mie” Entrance with “mie” (frozen pose) at (frozen pose) at the”seven-three” the”seven-three” positionposition

Tokugawa Shogunate Tokugawa Shogunate Con’t.Con’t.

Many people moved to the cities; there are strict rules (codes of conduct) for what you did based on who you were.

For example, if you were a merchant you had to be in bed by 10:00 PM. If you dropped trash on the ground and left it there, you could have your hand cut off.

RestrictionsRestrictions

No intermarriageNo intermarriage between Japanese between Japanese and Europeansand Europeans

Essentially illegal to be Essentially illegal to be EuropeanEuropean and and living in Japanliving in Japan

Ports of Japan were open to trade, but merchants couldn’t go into town – if they did they’d be killed. They had to stay on the docks

Must accept some form of BuddhismMust accept some form of Buddhism◦no Christianity!!

Manmade Dutch harbor in Japan – Japan’s “window” to western world

Why were they hesitant about interacting with the Europeans?

They saw what had happened in China and what is now Vietnam – Europeans had used them for their own purposes. Japan DID NOT want that to happen…

Period of Unification (Period of Unification (1573-1573-16001600))Warring States (sengoku jidai)

Period ends with the battle of Sekigahara

Rise of the Rise of the SamuraiSamurai Class ClassKamikaze defeats Mongols

◦“divine wind”◦as Mongols attack a hurricane sinks

Boats

Aristocrat during the Heian

Period

Warrior during the Heian Period

Samurai gained power during Kamakura Period; shared power with throne

Kamakura, second capital of old Japan

Court of the Shogun

Tale of the Heike depicts the Gempei War

HaikuHaiku

Poetry that does not express Poetry that does not express ideas, just imagesideas, just images

Haiku-poems can describe almost anything, but you seldom find themes which are too complicated for normal PEOPLE's recognition and understanding. Some of the best Haiku-poems describe daily situations in a way that gives the reader a brand new experience of a well-known situation.

Each Haiku must contain a kigo, a season word, which indicate in which season the Haiku is set. For example, cherry blossoms indicate spring, snow indicate winter, and mosquitoes indicate summer, but the season word isn't always that obvious.

Haiku examplesHaiku examples

Green frog,Is your body alsofreshly painted?

Sick and feverishGlimpse of cherry

blossomsStill shiveringby Akutagawa, Ryunosuke

Harvest moon:around the pond I wanderand the night is gone.by Basho