Emergence Of Japan&The Feudal Age
Sierra Paul and Kaitlyn Russell
Vocabulary
- Archipelago- The chain of Islands
- Tsunamis- Underwater earthquakes can launch killer tidal waves
- Shinto-"The way of Kami"; Worship of the forces of nature
- Selective Borrowing- Adopting or adapting some cultural traits but discarding others
- Kana- Phonetic symbols representing syllables
- Samurai- "Those who serve"; Granted land to lesser warriors
- Bushido- "The way of warriors"; Code of values
- Zen- Practice of meditation; School of Buddhism in Japan
Geography Sets Japan Apart
Seas Protect Japan
- Japan is located on an archipelago, which is a chain of islands.
- Most people settled in narrow river valleys and along the coastal plain.
- Mild climate and sufficient rainfall which helped Japanese farmers make the most of the limited arable land.
- Surrounding seas protect and isolate Japan.
- Japanese sealed themselves off from foreign influences.
- Japanese came to fear and respect the dramatic forces of Nature.
- Japan lies in a region known as The Ring of Fire.
- Frequent volcanic activity, earthquakes,Tsunamis.
Early Traditions
The Yamato Clan Claims Power
- Japanese migrated from the Asian mainland more than 2000 years ago.
- Early Japanese society was divided into Uji, or clans.
- Each Uji had its own chief and a special God or Goddess.
- The current Japanese Emperor still traces his roots to the Yamato clan.
- Early Japanese clans honored Kami, or superior powers that were natural or divine.
- Shinto became known as the way of kami.
- Traditions survive to the present day in Japan.
- Located in beautiful, natural surroundings.
- Japanese language is distantly related to Korean but completely different.
- Japan and Korea were in continuous contact with each other.
- Japanese and Korean warriors crossed the sea in both directions to attack each other's strongholds.
- Chinese writing and culture that sparked a sustained period of Japanese interest in Chinese civilization.
Japan Looks To China
The Japanese Visit China
- Each visitor spent a year or more there--Negotiating, trading above all studying.
- Japanese rulers adopted the title "Heavenly Emperor", claimed absolute power.
- New bureaucracy and adopted a law code similar to that of China.
- Had little real authority beyond the royal court.
- The Japanese Emperor built a new capital at Nara.
- Japanese officials and scholars used Chinese characters to write official histories.
- Japanese adopted pagoda and architecture.