A look at the basic elements of government and life in early Japan

1. JAPAN
By :H. Cheng
For Mr. Haskvitz

2. Geography
 An island on the Pacific ocean
 Mountains cover most of Japan
 Island’s location affected Japanese
people
 Separated from Asia
 Develop own culture and different society
than parts of Asia
 Not entirely isolated
 Old Chinese and Korean cultures affected the
new culture of Japan

3. Early Japanese Society
 Ainu- culture developed in Japan
 Unknown origin and spoke different language
 Driven out to northern island of Japan
South of Ainu became Japanese
Lived in farming villages ruled by clans
 Extended families
 Shinto- traditional religion of Japan
 Everything in nature has kami
 Nature spirits
 Help people live and away from danger

4. Learning from China and Korea
Written language using Chinese
characters, but spoke Japanese
 Well educated could write the Chinese
language
 ideas of Confucius shape culture and
family life
 Prince Shotoku- admired Chinese culture
 Confucianism outlined how families should behave
Fathers rule families, wives obey, children obey
parents, younger brothers should obey older
 Spread Buddhism( came from Korea), building
Buddhist temples
 Wanted government more like China’s

5. Art and Culture in Heian
 nobles loved beauty and elegance
 Supported arts
 Court at Heian ( capital) became central learning and
cultural center (golden age of arts in Japan
 Wore silk and elaborate outfits
 Women wrote in Japanese and men wrote in Chinese
Many great works by women
Lady Murasaki Shikibu – Tale of Genji ( one of world’s
first full-length novel)
 Calligraphy decorative writing for poems
 Copied Chinese temples made with wood and
gardens

6. Buddhism Changes
 different forms of Buddhism
developed in Japan
Zen- popular new form of Buddhism
arrived in China
 believe neither faith or good behavior led to
wisdom
 Practice meditation and self-discipline

7. Growth of Military Society
Emperor- figurehead for powerful shoguns
Shogun - general who ruled Japan in the
emperor’s name
 Daimyo-large landowners
 Decided to protect own land
 Hired samurai
 Trained pro warriors to defend property
 Paid with land or food
Peasants - worked on the farms of
daimyos

8. Samurai
 Bushido - samurai code of rules
brave, honorable fighters, discipline lives
Remain loyal to lord
 Obey without hesitation even if it threatens
family
 Honor most important or commit suicide

9. Disorder in Japan
 Mongols form China invade Japan
 Japan was aided by storms (kamikaze)
 small wars broke out between the emperor,
shoguns and daimyos
 Daimyo ruled much of Japan while emperor and shogun
lost authority
 Each daimyo controlled own territory, collect taxes and
made own laws
 No central authority in Japan
 new leaders rose and uses guns for the first time
in Japan
 In 1630’s shogun ruling closed Japan from rest of
the world
 Extended the samurai period ( longer than if not isolated)

10. Disorder in Japan
 Mongols form China invade Japan
 Japan was aided by storms (kamikaze)
 small wars broke out between the emperor,
shoguns and daimyos
 Daimyo ruled much of Japan while emperor and shogun
lost authority
 Each daimyo controlled own territory, collect taxes and
made own laws
 No central authority in Japan
 new leaders rose and uses guns for the first time
in Japan
 In 1630’s shogun ruling closed Japan from rest of
the world
 Extended the samurai period ( longer than if not isolated)