TheEmergenceofJapan&theFeudalAge
by Jasiah Fields & Jake Fritz
Geography Sets Japan Apart
Japan is isolated and safe from the nearby middle eastern. The island is the size of Montana. They had mild climate and a sufficient rainfall. They have arable land, but it is limited. Its close to the mainland to learn from Korea and China. Their seas serve as trade routes. They have frequent volcanic activities, earthquakes, and tsunamis.
Early Traditions
Societies were divided into uji, or clans. Each clan had a special leader and a special God. an example of a clan is Yamato. They came to dominate a corner of Honshu, the largest Japanese island. Their special God was the Sun Goddess, and they chose the rising sun as their sun bulb. Early Japanese clans honored Kami, or superior powers that were divine. Japan and Korea had a connection. Through time Korean artisans and metalworkers settle in Japan bringing new skills and technology. The warriors of Japan and Korea cross over seas to attack each other strongholds.
Japan Looks to China
Visitors spend time in China for negotiating, trading, and studying. Visitors spread China's thoughts, technology, and arts. Japan finds information about China's government and Japanese rulers adopt a title "Heavenly Emperor" and claimed absolute power. The strengthening of the government is by setting up a bureaucracy and adopted a cold of law similar to china. Still the old clans remain strong from Japan's new government. In 710 the new capital Nara was built. Nara modeled the tang capital. Japanese modeled Chinese language, fashion, food, and pottery. Also, Tang music and dances became very popular. Enthusiasm for Chinese died down, but they kept some Chinese ways among them. During the 800s, as he Tang China began to die down the Japanese court turned away from its model and started making its own unique civilization.
The Heian Period
At the Heian court the elegant and sophisticated culture blossoms. They dressed in delicate and multicolored silk, both women and men wear these dressings.