Feudal Powers in Japan Chapter 11 – Sect. 3

Early Japan and Korea Chapter 11.3 The Growth of Japanese Civilization Main Idea Japanese civilization was shaped by cultural borrowing from China and the rise of feudalism and military rulers Island location allowed the Japanese to be safe from invading China Japan is located on an archipelago Archipelago: a group of islands Geography of Japan ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES 1. Island life is isolated from invasion 1. Island life is isolated from beneficial, external influences 2. Soil is mostly volcanic; Volcanic soil = very fertile 2. Most of the land (only 11%) is not suitable for farming 3. Mild climate and heavy rain makes for easy rice farming 3. Plagued by natural disasters (earthquakes, tsunamis) 4. Ocean provides abundant fish for food 4. Few natural resources The Growth of Japanese Civilization Early Japan • Controlled first by clans in different territories (~100-200 CE) • Early clans united by the strong Yamato clan (~600 CE) Cultural Borrowing from China • Yamato are heavily influenced by China • Prince Shotoku sends representatives to study Chinese government ◦ Limits power of aristocrats and enhances his own rule ◦ All taxes were to be paid to the gov’t The Heian Period •After Prince Shotoku died, Yamato emperors ruled in name only; actual power held by Fujiwara clan •The emperor moved the capital to Heian-kyo (~800 CE) ◦Fujiwara family encouraged aristocracy; powerful families kept taxes for themselves ◦With taxes being kept by aristocrats, central government declines ◦Aristocrats get even richer and more powerful The Heian Period Decline of Central Power • Aristocrats begin acting as independent rulers • Maintain private armies and bodyguards called... Samurai • Wars between aristocrats become common, lords hire warriors called samurai (“one who serves”) to provide security • Samurai live according to strict code called Bushido (“way of the warrior”) ◦ Courage ◦ Reverence of gods ◦ Fairness ◦ Generosity toward weak ◦ Dying honorably Kamakura Shogunate The Kamakura Shogunate (1192-1333) •By 1192 CE, the Minamoto clan defeats rival clans •Yoritomo of the Minamoto clan establishes the Kamakura shogunate at modern-day Tokyo ◦Shogunate: Central gov’t that has an emperor, but whose real leader is a shogun (military general) •Kamakura weakened by Mongol invasion; collapses in 1333 CE After the Kamakura Shogunate Collapse of central government leads to… ◦powerful aristocrats (again!) Daimyo (heads of noble families), controlled vast landed estates ◦Constant civil war; near total destruction of major cities ◦Relied on samurai for protection Life in Early Japan Role of Women ◦ Women had various rights in Japan; still not equal ◦ Men could divorce wives if she did not produce a son, was jealous, was ill, or talked too much. ◦ Aristocratic women prominent in court; peasant women work alongside men ◦ Authors were mostly women Religion & Culture ◦ Early Japanese people worshiped nature spirits; also believed spirits of ancestors were always present ◦ These beliefs evolve into the Shinto (“Sacred Way”) religion ◦ Shinto holds belief in a divine emperor and sacredness of the Japanese nation ◦ Some adopt Zen Buddhism ◦ A sect of Buddhism that became popular with aristocrats and samurai ◦ Different paths to enlightenment Emergence of Korea ◦Closeness to China and Japan greatly affected Korea’s development ◦Three kingdoms emerged in early Korea: Koguryo, Paekche, Silla ◦ Buddhism and Confucianism influence all three ◦Kingdoms collapse, and Korea sinks into civil war ◦ Koryo dynasty takes over (~1200 CE) and borrows heavily from China ◦Mongols seize Korea in 13th century ◦ Koryo dynasty accepts Mongol rule, remains in power until the collapse of the Mongol dynasty in China .

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