JAPAN

Social studies

David Hernández

• An island nation, the greater independence (being an island). Allowed to play a more significant role in Asian and world history.

BORROWING FROM CHINA

• Writing in the 5th century, Buddhism in the 6th century

• Buddhism and Shintoism peacefully co-existed, artistic styles, concepts of engineering, medical knowledge.

• Weight and measure system, calendar, concepts of government.

• Taika reforms of 645 lead to a re-structuring of Japanese institution

• Law codes, tax payment, centralized power (emperor), a new capital Heinan in 794 and evolved into the city of Tokyo

GEOGRAPHY INFLUENCED JAPANESE HISTORY

• Japan is an archipielago, is mountainous suitable for farming, crops rice, fish.

• Shielded from foreign invasion, before WWII only Mongols had threatened Japan(1281).

• Borrowed from Chinese culture but independently took their path.

EARLY JAPANESE HISTORY

• Reverence for the spirits, Mt. Fuji is a Shinto holy place.

• Shintoism

• Social and political organization was based in clans

• Yamato clan’s chief Yimmu became the first emperor in 660 B.C.

FEUDAL JAPAN

• 9th century. Over 350 years of assimilation and innovation.

• Private armies were built, landowners were more powerful

• Samurai claimed that power rested on the possession of and code of conduct bushido

CULTURAL AND RELIGIOUS ACHIEVEMENTS

• Zen Buddhism arrived in 1200.

• Salvation through enlightment rather than faith

• Encouragement of Zen 14th-15th century