9° L2 Early japan - CH 18 Civilizations of Korea, Japan, and Southeast Asia

• World History
• Secondary Education

L2 EARLY JAPAN

Civilizations of Korea, Japan, and Southeast Asia

Where in the world?

Geography and Settlement

• Japan is an archipelago, or a chain of islands, in the Pacific Ocean near Korea. 
• Most Japanese live on the four largest islands: Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu.

• The islands are actually the tops of mountains that come up from the ocean floor.
• Earthquakes often strike Japan because it lies above an unstable part of the earth's crust.

Japan is an _________, or chain of islands.

1. constitution
2. peninsula
3. archipelago
4. isolated

The seas around Japan _______ it from the rest of Asia.

1. constitution
2. penisula
3. archipelago
4. isolated

• The Japanese turned to the sea to make a living. 
• They also traveled by ship among the islands. 
• The seas kept the people separated from the rest of Asia. 
• That forced Japan to develop as an independent civilization.

• About 300 B.C., the Yayoi arrived in Japan. They brought farming with them. 

• They made pottery and grew rice. 
• They were also skilled metalworkers. 
• By A.D. 300, each Yayoi clan was headed by a small group of warriors (They protected people).

Early Japanese Stories on how life began

A clan called the Yamato ruled most of Japan.

During the A.D. 500s,  Legend says that the Yamato chief Jimmu was descended from the sun goddess Amaterasu. Jimmu became the first emperor of Japan and took the title "emperor of heaven."

Main ideas

• Japan is an island chain (archipelago) and was isolated throughout much of its history.
• Earthquakes occur frequently in Japan, and its mountains allow only small areas to be farmed; these areas have been fought over for centuries.
• The first humans came to Japan about 20,000 years ago; around 300 b.c., the Yayoi people brought farming, pottery, and metalworking to Japan.
• Yamato chiefs in the a.d. 500s came to rule most of Japan.

The ______ people brought farming to Japan.

1. Yayoi
2. Animanism
3. heaven
4. Shinto

Jimmu took the title of "emperor of ______" when he became the first emperor of Japan.

1. Yayoi
2. Animanism
3. heaven
4. Shinto

An archipelago is _____.

1. a cluster of islands
2. a peninsula
3. an inland lake
4. a land bridge

Shinto: Way of the Spirits

How would you define religion?

Observe the following pictures, describe what you see and make suppositions about this religion.

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The early Japanese believed that humans, animals, plants, rocks, and rivers all have their own spirits. 

This belief is called animism.

When people needed help, they called on the kami, or the nature spirits. 

They would perform rituals at shrines to honor the kami and ask for their help. 

These beliefs developed into a religion called Shinto. The word Shinto means “way of the spirits.”

• The emperor’s duties included taking part in Shinto rituals. 
• These actions were intended to help protect Japan and make sure the country was successful.

Shinto still affects the Japanese people. 

Shinto taught the Japanese to:

• Respect nature
• Love simplicity
• Be concerned about cleanliness and good manners

Main ideas

• The early Japanese believed that all people and all animals, plants, rocks, and rivers have their own spirits.
• The kami, or nature spirits, were called on by people for help; the Japanese paid respect to the kami in holy places.
• Early Japanese beliefs developed into the religion Shinto, which means “way of the spirits.”
• Shinto has contributed to Japanese culture, especially their love of nature, and to art and manners.

Review

_______ is the belief that plants, rock, humans, animals, and rivers have their own spirits.

1. Shinto
2. Animanism
3. Yayoi
4. Buddhism

The _______ religion has ties to the rulers of Japan and influences the Japanese love of nature.

1. Shinto
2. Animism
3. Yayoi
4. Buddhism

Shinto became closely linked to Japan’s monarchy.

1. True
2. False

Japanese people have a love of nature.

1. True
2. False

Japanese belief in animism developed into a religion called ____.

1. Confucianism
2. Buddhism
3. Shinto
4. Kami

hkessner.com

Describe the image:

Prince Shotoku

• About A.D. 600, a Yamato prince named Shotoku ruled Japan. 
• He created a constitution, or a plan of government. 
• The constitution made the emperor an all- powerful ruler.

Constitution

• The Japanese were expected to obey the emperor. 
• Specific rules about how people should do their duties. 
• These were based on the writings of Confucius.

What did Prince Shotoku create to give Japan a strong, well-organized government?

1. a Buddhist temple
2. art, philosophy, and medicine
3. a dynasty
4. a constitution

Shotoku admired Chinese civilization

• He wanted the Japanese to learn from it. 
• Officials and students studied Buddhism as well as Chinese art, philosophy, and medicine.

• Japanese officials used China as a model. In A.D. 646, the Yamato began the Taika (a word that means Great Change).
• Japan was divided into provinces, or regional districts. 
• All farmland was placed under the emperor's control.

Prince Shotoku looked to this country as an example of successful government.

1. China
2. Egypt
3. Italy
4. Korea

What does "taika" mean?

1. Brilliant
2. Great change
3. Vivid colors
4. strong ruler

• Clan leaders could still direct farmer's work.
• Government started collecting taxes. 
• The Taika reforms created the first strong central government in Japan.

During the Taika, or Great Change, Japan was ____.

1. conquered by the Chinese
2. divided into provinces, or regional districts
3. used as a model for the Chinese government
4. united with the Korean Peninsula

What did the Yamato do during the Taika, or Great Change?

1. created a strong central government
2. reduced the emperor’s power
3. built many Buddhist temples
4. gave civil service examinations

Chinese calendar

How is time measured on the calendar?

What do animals represent in the traditional zodiac calendar?

How is this calendar an example of Prince Shotoku’s admiration for Chinese culture?

Identify one way that Shotoku’s calendar and the Gregorian calendar are different.

The Nara Period

A.D. 700s 

The Nara Period began. 

• Japanese emperors built a new capital city called Nara. 
• Nara had broad streets, large public squares, Buddhist temples, and Shinto shrines. 
• The families in the noble class lived in large, Chinese- style homes.

• Emperors organized government officials by level of importance, from highest to lowest (hierarchy). 
• The emperor gave positions to nobles from powerful families. 
• In return for their services, leading government officials received estates, or large farms. 
• The emperor’s control of the land gave him great power.

• Buddhist teachings reached Japan from Korea in the A.D. 500s. Buddhism became powerful. 
• In A D770, a Buddhist monk tried and failed to take power in Japan. As a result, the emperor decided to leave Nara for a new capital.

Events related to Buddhism in Japan:

1. A Buddhist monk tries to seize power.
2. Buddhism spreads to Japan from Korea; it is adopted first by nobles and government officials.
3. A struggle for power erupts between supporters and opponents.
4. The emperor abandons Nara.
5. Buddhism gains acceptance among common people.

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What could you observe in the virtual tour?