This presentation is about japan and its cutural and religious development until the 15th century

1. JAPAN
Social studies
David Hernández

2. • An island nation, the greater independence
(being an island). Allowed to play a more
significant role in Asian and world history.

3. BORROWING FROM CHINA
• Writing in the 5th century, Buddhism in the 6th century
• Buddhism and Shintoism peacefully co-existed, artistic
styles, concepts of engineering, medical knowledge.
• Weight and measure system, calendar, concepts of
government.
• Taika reforms of 645 lead to a re-structuring of
Japanese institution
• Law codes, tax payment, centralized power (emperor),
a new capital Heinan in 794 and evolved into the city of
Tokyo

4. GEOGRAPHY INFLUENCED JAPANESE
HISTORY
• Japan is an archipielago, is mountainous
suitable for farming, crops rice, fish.
• Shielded from foreign invasion, before WWII
only Mongols had threatened Japan(1281).
• Borrowed from Chinese culture but
independently took their path.

5. EARLY JAPANESE HISTORY
• Reverence for the spirits, Mt. Fuji is a Shinto
holy place.
• Shintoism
• Social and political organization was based in
clans
• Yamato clan’s chief Yimmu became the first
emperor in 660 B.C.

6. FEUDAL JAPAN
• 9th century. Over 350 years of assimilation
and innovation.
• Private armies were built, landowners were
more powerful
• Samurai claimed that power rested on the
possession of and code of conduct bushido

7. CULTURAL AND RELIGIOUS
ACHIEVEMENTS
• Zen Buddhism arrived in 1200.
• Salvation through enlightment rather than
faith
• Encouragement of Zen 14th-15th century