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How did Other Countries Influence Japan's

Culture?

China and Korea had a major influence in Japan during 500 AD - 1500 AD. The Chinese
and Korean people shaped their government, society, religion, art and many other aspects. For
instance, Japan adopted the Chinese government. It turned from an independant government to a
more central government, just like China. China also influenced their alphabet system, they
adopted their writing system and adapted to it. Korea also had some major influences on Japan.
The Koreans introduced Buddhism and Confucianism to Japan. Basically, other countries had
major influences to Japan's political, religious and social aspects. It is because of these influences
that shaped Japan's culture.
One aspect that the Japanese adopted was their government. When Japan adopted the
Buddhist religion, they adapted their principles and used it as their base for their government.
However, after conflicts within Japan, followers of Shotoku (a prince of Japan who believed
rulers should govern morally and efficiently) defeated and gained the Japanese government.
Shotoku's ideas were taking from Chinese concepts, so from this, Japan's government gained
influence from China. In page 232 of the book Global History and Geography: The Growth of
Civilization, it states, "After a period of civil conflict, supporters of Shotoku's ideas won control
of the government. (Shotoku had died in 629.) They reformed the Japanese government to
conform to Chinese political concepts." This quote clearly states that Shotoku and the Japanese
government, in general, gained their political ideas from China and had a major influence on
Japan's government.
The most important influence that China had on Japan, in my opinion, is their language.
At first, Japan didnt had their own writing system. However, this changed when they started
using Chinese characters and called the writing system Kanji. The Japanese used this writing
system to create a bureaucratic method of governing that is similar to the Chinese method. Also,
the writing system helped develop Japanese literature, philosophy, and written history. In page
232 of Global History and Geography: The Growth of Civilization, it states, "More important,
the Japanese learned the Chinese writing system and adopted it to their own language. Once the
Japanese could write and keep records, they were able to imitate the Chinese bureaucratic
method of governing. Writing also led to the development of Japanese literature, philosophy, and
written history." This piece of information clearly explains how the Chinese language has
influenced the Japanese writing system, and how they used it for their benefit.
China is not the only country that influenced the Japanese culture. Korea also had major
influences on Japan. The Koreans introduced Buddhism and Confucianism to Japan. The
Japanese people liked the Buddhist ideas because of their principles teaches to stay peaceful, so
this appealed to the Japanese people. As said before, because of the Buddhist ideas, the Japanese
took their ideas to use as the basis for their governenment. In page 232 of History and
Geography: The Growth of Civilization, it states, "The Koreans introduced Buddhism to Japan.
The Buddhist idea of gaining peace through discipline and method of concentrating the mind
appealed to the Japanese. A powerful group of nobles converted to Buddhism and wanted to
make it the official state religion." Also, in page 259 of the book Primary Source: Documents in
Global History, it states, "Japan was gradually converted to Buddhism in the sixth century by
missionaries sent by the Korean emperor. By the seventh century Buddhism was essentially the
state religion for Japan, though never supplanting Shintoism." These two sources are very clear
examples of the influence that Japan gained from Korea.
Many countries has contributed to what Japan is now. In my opinion, the most influential
societies that contributed to Japans society are China and Korea. Theyve influenced their
government, writing system, and religious views. Because of these two countries and their
influences, it shaped Japan's society and culture very much. It formed the methods of how
Japanese rulers rule, it shaped the Japanese language, and shaped what religion they believed in.



Sources
"After a period of civil conflict, supporters of Shotoku's ideas won control of the
government. (Shotoku had died in 629.) They reformed the Japanese government to
conform to Chinese political concepts." (Global History and Geography: the Growth of
Civilization, page 232)

More important, the japanese learned the Chinese writing system and adapted it to their
own language. Once the Japanese could write and keep records, they were able to imitate
the Chinese bureaucratic method of governing. (Global History and Geography: The
Growth of Civilization, page 232)

"The Koreans introduced Buddhism to Japan. The Buddhist idea of gaining peace
through discipline and method of concentrating the mind appealed to the Japanese. A
powerful group of nobles converted to Buddhism and wanted to make it the official state
religion." (Global History and Geography: The Growth of Civilization, page 232)

"Japan was gradually converted to Buddhism in the sixth century by missionaries sent by
the Korean emperor. By the seventh century Buddhism was essentially the state religion
for Japan, though never supplanting Shintoism." (Primary Source: Documents in Global
History, page 259)




Water Jar with Chinese Scholars
Period: Edo period (16151868)
Date: First half of the 18th century
Culture: Japan
Medium: Porcelain with underglaze blue decoration (Hirado ware);
lacquer cover with lion-shaped knob
Dimensions: H. 6 5/8 in. (16.8 cm); Diam. 8 in. (20.3 cm)

Description
The artifact above is a Japanese porcelain that has paintings on the sides that represents Chinese-
style pottery. The paintings shows Chinese scholar's sitting out exposed to nature. Also, the lid of
the jar has a dark-brown coloring that has a lion-shaped knob on it that also has Chinese
influences.

This piece of artwork clearly supports my thesis that other countries had on Japan's culture
because the paintings on the side of the jar is very similar to Chinese-styled art. The jar is painted
with the same coloring as Chinese porcelain decorations, having a light blue painting. Clearly,
this shows that the Japan gained some influence from China. Furthermore, the knob on the lid of
the jar is shaped like a Chinese-style lion that makes the jar look more Chinese than Japanese. I
think this jar was created to store water, tea, or other types of liquids. I also think it was used to
describe represent the Chinese culture with its paintings. With this jar, it clearly shows that other
country had major influences on Japan's society.

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