JAPAN, KOREA, AND SOUTHEAST ASIA

Cultural Diffusion from China

Japan, An Island Nation Is an Archipelago: A

chain of Thousands of islands; off the coast of Asia

4 large islands: Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu, Shikoku

The Ring of Fire: makes it

Mountainous And prone to Natural

Disasters: Earthquakes, typhoons, tidal waves

Isolation

The seas around Japan have kept it from its enemies

Japan could control contact Mongols tried to invade Japan 1281 with

a fleet carrying 140,000 A typhoon wrecked the fleet Kamikaze “Divine Wind”

Early Japanese

Migrants from Asia first settled in Japan Formed clan system The most powerful are on Honshu

Shinto

Gods or nature spirits “kami” Spirits lived in natural objects Shinto: Way of the Kami Prayers and rituals to praise the kami

Cultural Diffusion

Few early Japanese historical records Chinese writing adopted by the Japanese Buddhism came in 552 CE Art, science, government, and fashion 702 CE code of laws based on the Tang

Dynasty Laws

Buddhism (Mahayana)

Resistance to Buddhism at first Then accepted Buddhist temples built Many from the Imperial court became

Buddhist Buddhism spread amongst the people Shinto and Buddhism both became an

important part of Japanese Life

Feudal Japan

800 CE; the political system of Japan changed

2 factors: Central government- The emperor and important families; Local landowners with their own warriors

I am Your father?!

Feudal Government

Fujiwara: first clan in control of the government

Minamoto: created the office of Shogun Emperor kept the throne but the shogun

was in control of the military, finances, and law

Local level: wealthy landowners held power

Samurai: warriors hired by the landlords

The Samurai

Protected the landlords Much like medieval knights or cowboys A samurai was fiercely loyal to the

landowners and clan Power: Sword Skills Followed Bushido – The Way of the

Warrior

Bushido

Stressed bravery, loyalty, and honor Accept physical hardship without

complaint Did not fear death Seppuku – ceremonial suicide if they did

not please their masters or if they were defeated in battle – avoid dishonor

Daimyo

Local leaders became known as Daimyo “great name”

The most powerful people during the Ashikaga Shogunate

No central government for 100 yearsConstant battleThe poor could gain status in war

Zen Buddhism

Religious awakenings; new sects From China in the 1100s CE Appealed to ordinary people Salvation through enlightenment Life of the Body was not important Long hours of meditation Helped warriors in battle

Zen Art

Monks worked in landscape art Represent the beauty of nature Tea ceremony – produce spiritual calm Simple room by the garden, quietly drink

Tea and admire the beauty of nature Noh plays

Chinese contributions to Korea Rice farming came from China Metalworking 300 BCE migrants came to Korea from

China 108 BCE Han Dynasty made Korea a

colony for 400 years Fall of the Han; Koguryo independence

Korea

Taken by China Struggle for independence Yi Dynasty from 1300s to 1910

Chinese contributions

Chinese characters Chinese government; kings Confucian civil service system Built the capital Kaesong much like Xi’an Chinese Buddhism; built temples 700s; Zen Buddhism became dominant Moveable wood type; bettered it – metal

type sharper images

Chinese contributions to Southeast Asia These areas were controlled by China

throughout history Adopted Mahayana Buddhism – guiding

philosophy for Vietnam Daoism and Confucianism also influenced

Vietnam Writing system Political Organization Theravada Buddhism in Cambodia or the

Khmer Kingdom

Journal

What were some of the major contributions of China to Japan, Korea, and Southeast Asia? How has China influenced their neighbors with these things? What are some things that you think we have taken from China?