……..JapanJapan

The Land of the Rising The Land of the Rising SunSun

NiNi

honhon

Chinese words

“kanji”

Pictographs

NiNi

hoho

nn

NiNi

hoho

nnJapanese

“hirakana”

Phonetic

Foreign words

“katakana”

Phonetic

NihonNihon::

Japan & Japan &

The Japanese writing system The Japanese writing system (s)(s)

Japan’s Writing SystemsJapan’s Writing Systems

Kanji:Kanji:– Borrowed from China with meanings intactBorrowed from China with meanings intact– Pronounced with Japanese soundsPronounced with Japanese sounds

Hirakana:Hirakana:– Adapted Chinese charactersAdapted Chinese characters– Phonetically represent Japanese wordsPhonetically represent Japanese words

Katakana:Katakana:– Chinese characters stripped of meaningChinese characters stripped of meaning– Phonetically represent foreign wordsPhonetically represent foreign words

Japan’s Self ConceptionJapan’s Self Conception

Small CountrySmall CountryPopulation:Population:127,433,494127,433,494 in in July 2008July 2008Economy: World’s 2Economy: World’s 2ndnd largest largest (US 13.7T, Japan 5.1T, Germany 3.0T, China 2.9T)(US 13.7T, Japan 5.1T, Germany 3.0T, China 2.9T)

Land Mass: Size of Land Mass: Size of California, but only 12% is California, but only 12% is arablearable

Small?Small? Not really. Not really. Objectively a middle sized Objectively a middle sized nation.nation.

VulnerableVulnerable

Too close to ChinaToo close to China

Too close to KoreaToo close to Korea

Open to Western naval attackOpen to Western naval attack

Resource & Agriculture poorResource & Agriculture poor

Japan’s Self ConceptionJapan’s Self Conception

Vulnerability only became a problem since the Tang Vulnerability only became a problem since the Tang Dynasty (China) 600 CEDynasty (China) 600 CE

Especially Yuan invasion 1275, 1281Especially Yuan invasion 1275, 1281

Again in Western Imperial period 1853 +Again in Western Imperial period 1853 +

Japan’s Self ConceptionJapan’s Self Conception

Unified populationUnified population

Racially definedRacially defined– Hence exclusionary and “racist”Hence exclusionary and “racist”– Racial Background: Mongoloid, probably Racial Background: Mongoloid, probably

from central Asiafrom central Asia– Also possibly from Oceania Also possibly from Oceania – Largest minority: Koreans 0.6%Largest minority: Koreans 0.6%– Ainu, even smaller (Caucasian native race)Ainu, even smaller (Caucasian native race)

Japan’s Creation MythJapan’s Creation Myth

Izanagi & IzanamiIzanagi & IzanamiFoam from his sword Foam from his sword congeals to become congeals to become Japanese ArchipelagoJapanese Archipelago

Their Children:Their Children:– AmaterasuAmaterasu (sun goddess)(sun goddess)

– Tsukyomi Tsukyomi (moon god)(moon god)

– Susanowo Susanowo (storm god)(storm god)

– And others are the main And others are the main gods (gods (kamikami) of Japan’s ) of Japan’s native religionnative religion

Japan’s Creation MythJapan’s Creation Myth

Amaterasu OmikamiAmaterasu OmikamiSun GoddessSun Goddess

First bornFirst bornPrimary goddess of JapanPrimary goddess of JapanMother / grandmother of Japan’s first emperorMother / grandmother of Japan’s first emperorPatron deity of Japan,Patron deity of Japan,

““The Land of the Rising Sun”The Land of the Rising Sun”The whole nation and people are ultimately descended The whole nation and people are ultimately descended from the from the kamikami – especially Amaterasu – especially AmaterasuJapan’s population is one large familyJapan’s population is one large family

Japan’s Native Religion: Japan’s Native Religion: ShintoShintoThe Way of the GodsThe Way of the Gods

Specific to JapanSpecific to Japan

Amaterasu is the Amaterasu is the Greatest of the godsGreatest of the gods

Animistic religionAnimistic religion

Tied to Imperial Tied to Imperial householdhousehold

Tori Gates

ShintoShinto

Formal and ritualisticFormal and ritualistic

Positive and hopefulPositive and hopeful

ContemplativeContemplative

Emperor hasEmperor hasA special A special Role in ShintoRole in Shinto

↑Ise Shrine

Shinto Priest

ShintoShinto

Ethical system based in relationshipsEthical system based in relationships““Situational ethics”Situational ethics”No concept of “sin”No concept of “sin”No absolute rightNo absolute rightor wrongor wrong

Responsibility Responsibility is importantis important

Harmony with Harmony with naturenature

Shinto Shrine & Japanese Garden

Japan: Chronological HistoryJapan: Chronological History

Latecomer to advanced civilizationLatecomer to advanced civilization

3000 BCE: Pit dwelling culture3000 BCE: Pit dwelling culture

300 BCE: Tomb culture300 BCE: Tomb culture– Definite continental/Chinese influences seen Definite continental/Chinese influences seen

in artifactsin artifacts– Pre-literate: hence Archeology, NOT History Pre-literate: hence Archeology, NOT History

(at least for our purposes)(at least for our purposes)

Japan, A LatecomerJapan, A Latecomer

Yamato Clan: About 300 CEYamato Clan: About 300 CE– Dominates in Kanto Plane (Tokyo area)Dominates in Kanto Plane (Tokyo area)

and the Tokyo-Osaka corridor on southeast and the Tokyo-Osaka corridor on southeast side of Honshu side of Honshu (see map next page)(see map next page)

Yamato Clan Patron Diety … guess who?Yamato Clan Patron Diety … guess who?

Amaterasu OmikamiAmaterasu Omikami

Establish early centralized governmentEstablish early centralized governmentEarly Literacy emerges in 500s CEEarly Literacy emerges in 500s CE

Early Japanese LeadershipEarly Japanese LeadershipPrince ShotokuPrince Shotoku 572-622 CE 572-622 CE

Early great leaderEarly great leaderSent embassies to ChinaSent embassies to ChinaInstituted “Chinese” reformsInstituted “Chinese” reforms

Never ruled as emperorNever ruled as emperorGoverned from behind Governed from behind scenes for his auntscenes for his aunt

Foreshadows “Foreshadows “SHADOW SHADOW LEADERSHIPLEADERSHIP” style that ” style that typifies Japantypifies Japan

Early Japanese LeadershipEarly Japanese LeadershipPrince Shotoku’s leadershipPrince Shotoku’s leadership begins the pattern of borrowing from begins the pattern of borrowing from ChinaChinaBorrow & Adapt to Japanese NeedsBorrow & Adapt to Japanese Needs

Japan Borrows Buddhism as Japan Borrows Buddhism as well as Chinese government well as Chinese government formsformsBrings Buddhist Scholars and Brings Buddhist Scholars and Craftsmen from Western KoreaCraftsmen from Western Korea

Both these pictures represent Shotoku in Buddhist forms.

Early Japanese GovernmentEarly Japanese Government

Shotoku brought Chinese FORMS of Shotoku brought Chinese FORMS of government, but never completely copied themgovernment, but never completely copied them

Conducted exams, but didn’t use them to recruitConducted exams, but didn’t use them to recruit

Primitive Shinto, in contrast to Confucianism has Primitive Shinto, in contrast to Confucianism has a death place tabooa death place taboo– death is a pollutantdeath is a pollutant

The death of an emperor pollutes the whole cityThe death of an emperor pollutes the whole city

Capitols moved with each emperor’s deathCapitols moved with each emperor’s death

Buddhism In JapanBuddhism In JapanBuddhism enters from Korea about 500 ADBuddhism enters from Korea about 500 AD

Korean monks and artisans provide Japan’s early Buddhist Korean monks and artisans provide Japan’s early Buddhist art and cultureart and culture

Buddhism is accepted as a compliment to ShintoBuddhism is accepted as a compliment to Shinto

Both become “Japanese” religions Both become “Japanese” religions Practiced side-by-side without Practiced side-by-side without conflictconflictShinto deities are elevated to Shinto deities are elevated to bodhisattvas in Japanese bodhisattvas in Japanese Buddhism Buddhism

Japan’s Japan’s Early LiteratureEarly LiteratureKojikiKojiki 712 CE 712 CE

Mythological Record of Mythological Record of JapanJapan

Crucial to ShintoCrucial to ShintoIncludes Creation MythIncludes Creation Myth

Written in Chinese Characters (Kanji)Written in Chinese Characters (Kanji)– BUT, the characters are read phonetically, not as BUT, the characters are read phonetically, not as

characters with a fixed meaningcharacters with a fixed meaning– Very difficult to readVery difficult to read

Japan’s Japan’s Early LiteratureEarly Literature

Nihongi: Nihongi: 720 CE 720 CEHistorical Chronicle of the Historical Chronicle of the early Yamato Clan’s periodearly Yamato Clan’s period

Early Korean Connection?Early Korean Connection?– Kojiki’sKojiki’s Census report of about 700 CE shows Census report of about 700 CE shows 1/3 of nobles1/3 of nobles are are

Korean familiesKorean families

– Koreans emphasize that Japan got everything from KoreaKoreans emphasize that Japan got everything from Korea– Japanese like to ignore their cultural debt to KoreaJapanese like to ignore their cultural debt to Korea

Nara Period: FujiwaraNara Period: FujiwaraEmperor Naka-no-oye: 645 CEEmperor Naka-no-oye: 645 CE

Disinterested in direct governanceDisinterested in direct governance

Close friend – a commoner – is Close friend – a commoner – is interested and capableinterested and capable

Emperor names friend: FujiwaraEmperor names friend: Fujiwara

Fujiwara governs behind the emperorFujiwara governs behind the emperor– (Shadow Government)(Shadow Government)

Yamato Clan provide EmperorYamato Clan provide Emperor

Fujiwara clan Governs and provides all the bridesFujiwara clan Governs and provides all the brides

Fujiwara

Nara PeriodNara Period

Buddhism becomes Buddhism becomes more prominentmore prominent

Buddhism has no death-Buddhism has no death-place tabooplace taboo

Japan builds a first Japan builds a first “permanent” capitol in “permanent” capitol in NaraNara

Nara PeriodNara Period

Taika Reforms 645 ADTaika Reforms 645 AD

Naka-no-oye & Fujiwara Naka-no-oye & Fujiwara complete the Sinofication complete the Sinofication of Japanese Governmentof Japanese Government

Japan has borrowed Japan has borrowed China’s government form, China’s government form, but adapted it to Japanbut adapted it to Japan

Heian Period:Heian Period:794-1158794-1158

Kyoto established as Kyoto established as new permanent capitolnew permanent capitol

Buddhism Fully Buddhism Fully Established Established

Very formal cultureVery formal culture

Heian Period:Heian Period:794-1158 CE794-1158 CE

Lady MurasakiLady Murasaki

Tale of GenjiTale of Genji

First Japanese NovelFirst Japanese Novel

Kyoto’s Great ShrineKyoto’s Great Shrine

Heian Period: (794-1158)Heian Period: (794-1158)

Taxation system too weakTaxation system too weak– decay of central authority decay of central authority – Great families don’t pay taxesGreat families don’t pay taxes– Small landholders can’t afford taxesSmall landholders can’t afford taxes– Grants to temples (also tax exempt)Grants to temples (also tax exempt)

Great families emerge and govern in their realmsGreat families emerge and govern in their realms– Japan’s Feudal System emergesJapan’s Feudal System emerges– Great families hire professional retainers for Great families hire professional retainers for

protection as a private armyprotection as a private army– Samurai is createdSamurai is created

Finale of the Heian PeriodFinale of the Heian Period

Royal inheritance: 6 generations?Royal inheritance: 6 generations?

GempeiGempei Wars: Taira vs Minamoto clans Wars: Taira vs Minamoto clans 1158-1185 AD1158-1185 AD

Minamoto Yoritomo becomes the first ShogunShogunKamakura PeriodKamakura Period