Early Japan was composed of hundreds of clans that controlled their own territories and practiced the native Shinto religion as well as animism. The economy was based on agriculture and trade with other Asian countries. By the 400s CE, one clan gained enough power to control much of Japan as emperors, beginning dynastic cycles. From the 600s to 900s, Chinese influence increased greatly as Buddhism spread and became influential. By the 1000s, powerful families and Buddhist leaders challenged central authority, and regional rulers established their own armies and mini-states, beginning the feudal period where real power was held by shoguns and samurai armies despite the nominal emperor.

1. Japan
JAPAN

2. Early Japan - overview
• Japan's isolation as an island
nation has been instrumental
in its development as a culture.
• By 500 bce it was still an
undeveloped agrarian (farm
based) culture without cities.

3. Early Japan - overview
Hundreds of Clans controlled their
own territories.
The dominant religion, Shintoism,
was polytheistic and animistic.

5. Early Japan
The economy was agriculturally
based & had trade contacts to
other parts of Asia.
The influence of China on many
aspects of Japanese culture was
significant.

7. First Emperors
By the 400s ce, one
clan gained enough
power to control
much of Japan as
emperors.
Dynastic cycles
began (Taika, Nara,
and Heian dynasties).

8. HEIAN PERIOD
“Rarely in human history has
so much energy been focused
on the pursuit of beauty or has
social interaction been so
gracious, well-mannered, [and]
in accordance with strict codes
of polite behavior.”

9. In the 600s to 900s, Chinese
influence increased drastically.
Buddhism spread into Japan-
becoming a powerful political force.

10. Loss of Central Authority
Powerful families & Buddhist
leaders began to challenge the
central government
Regional rulers with their own
armies gained power.

11. Loss of Central Authority
Mini-states, or shogunates, took the
place of the central government.

14. Japanese Feudal Period
From the 1000s to the
1500s, Japan was in the
“Era of Warrior
Dominance” or its feudal
period.
Though there was an
emperor, real power was
with the shoguns and
their samurai armies.