Emergence of Japan and Feudal Age
by Haydee Montes & Jalin James
Geography Sets Japan Apart
- Japan is located on an archipelago, a chain of islands
- Four main islands are Hokkaido, Honshu, Kyushu, and Shikoku
- About the size of Montana
- 4/5 of land are too mountainous to farm on
- most people settle in narrow river valleys and coastal plains
- surrounding seas both protect and isolate Japan
- country close to mainland to learn from Korea and China
- too far to conquer
- lies in a region known as Ring of Fire
- inland sea was especially an important link in various Japanese islands
Early Traditions
- Japanese migrated from Asian mainland
- society was divide into clans
- Yamato clan was heartland of Japanese government
- clans honored Kami, or superior powers that were natural or divine
- Shinto shrines are generally located in beautiful natural surroundings
- Japanese language is distantly related to the Korean language
- Japan and Korea were in continuous contact with each other
The Heian Period
- 794-1185:blending of cultures
- imperial capital was in Heian, present day Kyoto
- emperors performed traditional religious ceremony, while wealthy court