Japan Study Guide

Geography and population

• Japan is an archipelago- chain of islands
• Very densely populated because most of Japan’s land is mountainous and not
arable so all the people live on only 25% of the land that is suitable for
cultivation and settlement
• Kobe beef is famous for being the best tasting beef in the world
• Japanese have adapted to the small amount of land with small houses, and
people are very polite
• Japan doesn’t have very many natural resources so they import a lot but
fishing and shipbuilding industries are big

Early History
• In the beginning Japan emulated Chinese culture (hegemony)
• Chinese called Japan Wa
• Around 300 CE, Japan experienced warring clans called Uji
• Each Uji had a kami (see shintoism table) – a sacred spirit they worshipped
• One clan whose kami was Amaterasu (Sun Goddess) eventually establishes
their rule over the Yamato plain
• Jimmu, first Emperor of Japan and descendent of Amaterasu provided a
direct link to Amaterasu
• From this time Japanese considered all emperors divine- related to the gods
• All emperors trace their lineage to Jimmu
• The Japanese monarchy is the oldest continuous hereditary monarchy in the
world that is still in existence
• Symbols of divine power: jewels taken from steps of heaven, mirror that
belonged to Amaterasu, sword represents emperor’s strength
• Jimmu had two functions: establishment of the native religion (Shinto),
and creation of the monarchy

Prince Shotoku- 587-622 CE

• Borrowed several things from China:
o Adopted a ranking system for his court nobles and advisors, people
were identified by apparel
o Adopted the Confucian calendar and legal ideals
o Adopted the Chinese script
o Influenced Japanese art

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 o tile roofs
o memorization of Chinese poetry
o Loved Buddhism and had it accepted at the political level
o Introduced a constitution that centralized and strengthened Japanese
government
• 646 CE Emperor Tenchi proclaims the Taika Reforms

• based on Confucian philosophy

• The emperor wanted to model the Japanese govt on the Tang dynasty in
China

o Throne now owned all rice-producing land

o Land would be distributed to peasants who would in turn pay taxes to

the emperor

o In theory this would be administered by allegiant officials appointed by

the emperor but it was really the regional leaders that retained the
land

Heian Period 794-1185 CE

• Japan’s golden age of peace and literature
• Capital of Japan moves to Kyoto
• Fujiwara clan rises
o Aristocrats were the political leaders.

o used marriage to gain power over royal families

o build up large estates that provided a stable financial base for their
power
o Received most of government’s high-ranking posts

• The concept of “Shoen” (sho= village + en= farmland)

• Fujiwara clan continued to influence Japanese politics and economics

• Fujiwara leaders talked the emperor into giving tax-free estates (shoen: sho=
village + en= farmland) as a gift or reward

• By end of Heian period, Japan was divided into 5,000 shoen and the govt had
no land

• Emperor’s role is reduced to being ceremonial (functioned to perform

religious ceremonies and celebrations)
Summary: Fujiwara clan rises and gets land gifts (shoen) from emperor so by the
end of the Heian period the government has no land/power. (Land = power)

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 • Heian culture:
o Life at the court consisted of beauty and manners called miyabi

o Miyabi stressed appearance, restraint and decorum

o All kinds of rules on how to act, what to wear, how to write, how to
eat… (see Keira’s guide for more info)
• Literature from Heian period
o Sei Shonagon, woman from the court wrote a diary called Pillow Book
(a glimpse into court life)

o Tale of Genji by Murasaki Shikibu in 1014- Considered a masterpiece

and the first novel ever written in the world

o During Heian period, aristocratic women contributed in literature

o Used Japanese syllabic script instead of Chinese characters

o Tale of Genji provides excellent look into court life as well as ‘passing
of time”

o melancholy spirit contrasts with elegant surroundings

• Rise of Provincial Nobles:

• Shoen destroys the tax revenue system

• Practice of giving large estates to top nobles slowly reduced emperor’s power

• With no money coming in, government could not collect enough taxes to
support the emperor

• Bandits began to roam the land- estates created own police and armies to
protect their lands called samurai

• Samurai were rugged individuals who ignored any demands from the
emperor that they did not like
• In 1185 Minamoto Yoritomo, head of a military family seized power and
soon military leaders begin to control Japan
Summary: Because of shoen, emperor has only ceremonial power. Estates create
their own armies of samurai to protect their land. Literature is important as is
miyabi (court style).

Rise of Feudalism and the Warrior Class- Samurai (Mid 12th

century)
• By the end of the Heian period kingdoms were self-suffiecient

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 • The kingdoms were constantly on look out for an attack by neighboring lords
• appearance of non-aristocracy class who rise to power as landowners

• Controlled land & labor and denied resources to imperial court

• Fujiwara increasingly has to rely on provincial lords for support concerning

disputes with rivals

• Clash of 2 clans: Taira and Minamoto- Taira behead Minamoto leader.

• Yoritomo, son of beheaded leader vows to gain control and does!

• Bakufu- “Tent Government” established in Kamakura (Feudalism)

o Shogun (political/military leader)
o Daimyo- high ranking samurai lords who provided shogun with
warriors in exchange for land
o Samurai warriors serving daimyo in exchange for small pieces of land
o Peasants worked land
• Yoritomo becomes first shogun ( = commander in chief) This is a military
leader while the emperor’s power was only ceremonial

• Feudalism in place

Samurai and Shogun Yoritomo

• Samurai were well educated and devout Buddhists (which helped them to
face death bravely)

• Code of Bushido- “Way of the Warrior” to be honest, loyal and die for his
lord

• Failure to live up to code = seppuku (atone for a crime, or kill himself

when lord dies)

• There were women samurai in 12th century

• Shogun Yoritomo rewarded samurai with land and samurai pledge to serve
and protect

• Most prized weapon of samurai was his sword

• Samurai were expected to be honest, brave and loyal

• Samurai means “those who serve”

• Samurai correlates to knights in Europe, they were both vassals.

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Mongols attempt Japanese invasion (1924 CE)
• Kublai Khan – leader of the Mongols sent 450 ships + 15,000 to invade Japan
• Samurai fight bravely -during 2nd night typhoon comes & kills 13,000 Mongols
• Mongols wait 7 yrs & try again this time w/ 150,000 Mongol soldiers
• Fight 50 days when another typhoon occurs and wipes out rest of Mongols
• Japanese call the wind “kamikaze” or divine wind because it answered their
prayers
Summary: Kublai Khan and the Mongols come but the samurai fight and luckily a
divine wind and typhoon drive away the Mongols twice within 7 years.

• Ieyasu Tokugawa:
• Becomes shogun in 1603
• He united all of daimyos of Japan and moved the bakufu to Edo which is
present day Tokyo
• For next 250 years, peace reigns in Japan
• Japan is closed off from the rest of the world:
• Eliminated Christianity (first had come in 1540 and by 1610 Jesuits had
converted 700,000 Japanese)- Japan suspicious b/c of Spanish colonization of
Philippines

• Forbid anyone coming into Japan and no one was allowed out of the country-

• Aside from Dutch, Japan would only trade with East Asian nations

• Divided population into 4 classes: samurai, artisans, merchants, and peasants

and these social classes were hereditary, passing from family member to
next

• As a result of prolonged peace, economic & social changes occur setting for
rapid modernization of the Meiji period

• To further maintain control implement strict social order:

• Daimyos had to spend every other year in Edo but their families had to spend
year round in Edo.

• If a Daimyo started a rebellion, Shogun held his family as hostage

• This policy called sankinkotai

• Result: Great peace throughout the country

• Great castles begin to emerge

• Because there was great peace, castles shifted from fortress to
commercial hubs.

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 • Towns began to develop around castles along populated by artisans
and merchants to serve needs of castle samurai

• By 1600, population reached 18 million and within 1 century, population

increased to 28 million

• Large urban centers develop

• With new cities, merchants and artisans flourish and become wealthier than
samurai

• This will eventually lead to the downfall of the Tokagawa period b/c the
Bakufu could not regulate/control it

• Legacy of Tokugawa: Kabuki theater thrived, Haiku became very popular

Summary: Ieyasu Tokugawa becomes a shogun and unites all of japan. He closes
Japan off from the world. Divided population into 4 hereditary classes: samurai,
artisans, merchants, and peasants. Maintained heavy control over daimyos through
sankinkotai. Japan flourished and the merchants and artisans became prosperous so
the bakufu could no longer control them. The samurai were unhappy because they
were poor.

Arrival of Commodore Perry and his Legacy

• In 1854 Black Ships arrive
• Perry demands open Japanese market w/ the U.S.
o Japan hesitation as a result of China’s fate during the spheres of
influence
o Japanese officials question what treaties will be made (unequal?)
• As a result of a 200 year isolation, Japanese were unprepared for the advance
of technology
o (ex. Black ships run by steam engine)
• Commodore Perry warns Japanese that the US would go to war with Japan if
they do not open. After firing cannons, Japan agreed and the Treaty of
Kanagawa was signed (1854)

• Japan is officially open for trade

Summary: Commodore Perry arrives and opens Japan for trade with the Treaty of
Kanagawa

Shintoism Zen buddhism

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  Shinto is Japan’s native religion
 Shinto means “way of the gods”
 The main aspect of Shintoism
revolves around “kami”
 Kami is the sacred power
that exists in all living and
non-living things-
 As such Japanese are
obliged to respect them
All forms of nature are seen as
expressions of kami and are divine.
 Thus Shinto teaches reverence
for nature and respect for
simple, natural materials
 Shinto also came to teach
respect for one’s ancestors.
 Shinto shrines which are
considered dwelling places for
kami, are places of beauty -
Bathing plays an important role
in Shinto because through
bathing, one can cleanse away
pollution.
 At the shrines you see people
pray, make offers of food, play
music
 Shinto is a very old religion that
dates back to prehistoric times
 It does not have a scripture or a
holy book or a founder
Older than buddhism
 Buddhists love nature as do Shintos
 The idea that the spirit (kami) lives everywhere in objects is
appreciated by Buddhists
 Arrives from Korea (via India
and China) in 552 CE
 This is a type of Buddhism
that some consider a religion
or a philosophy
 The word “zen” means
meditation
 Meditation is the way to
become aware that all things
in the world are united in
the Buddha
 Meditation is done hours of
sitting
 Zen Buddhists seek to
express enlightened nature
through selfless pursuits
like: manual labor, martial
arts, gardening,
landscaping, painting etc.
 “Zen gardens” are especially
famous in Japan
Younger than shintoism

Japanese Polygamy Article

• Japanese aristocrats had a code of polygamous sexuality w/o chivalry and
passion

• Types of relationships

o 1. Male aristocrat and his principle wife

 Often several years older, political marriage, acted as a

“mother”

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  Wife would live w/ family until the family’s death upon which she
would live in her husband’s resident

o 2. Secondary wife or official concubine

 She may move into official residence when declared officially

o 3. (Most Frequent) A Lady @ Court, Another man’s wife or concubine

[woman of far lower class]

• You must conduct these affairs properly so as not to tear society apart

• Japanese aristocrat invented stylized sex rather than romantic love

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