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The Imperial Age of Japan

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The Imperial Age of Japan The Imperial Age of Japan Presented by Sam Fortescue and Juanita Gallegos Backround • During the 7th and 8th centuries Japanese civilizations attempted to model Chinese culture, by incorporating Chinese etiquette, art, military organization, and style of government into their own lives. • This practice helped Japan develop its own unique ways of living, but also proved to be controversial, causing many conflicts between powers. Influence from the Chinese • Japan entered the imperial age upon developing Chinese characteristics in their government. • The first example of this incorporation came with the Taika reforms, taking place in a period lasting between 646 CE and 710 CE. The Taika Reforms • Following a coup d’état against the Soga clan in 645 CE, Prince Nakano Ōe and Nakatori Kamatari. Emperor Kōtoku helped lay out the Taika Reforms. • Taika Reforms brought Chinese customs into Japan during the 7th century. • The Taika Reforms took place in the Asuka Period of Japanese history. Details of the Taika Reforms • The Japanese developed their own writing style that consisted of Chinese characters that stood for Japanese sounds, this is known as kana, variations of kana are still in use today. • Japanese history began to be recorded by dynasty, a period in which a certain person ruled. • Etiquette in general, and specifically in the Japanese court became extremely polite, showing honorable behavior towards superiors. • Although the Japanese government system eventually became entirely different from that of the Chinese, the government time of the Taika Reforms was similar to the bureaucracy in China. Details Continued • Most of the new customs in Japan were based off of Confucian ideals which were used widely in China. • Chinese style temples were brought into Japan, this form of architecture was from the Tang dynasty and spread to many places across Asia. • Buddhism entered Japan at this time. Buddhism paired very well with Shintoism because it was easy to practice both. Due to Buddhism's lack of deities the Japanese could worship Shinto gods, but follow Buddhist Ideals. Japanese Temple (left) Chinese Temple (above) End of Nara Era • An ultimately Confucian society put in place by Fujiwara no Nakamaro, was transformed into one of Buddhism when the monk Dōkyō was put into a position of high political power by Empress Kōken. • Dōkyō and many other monks ruled had total religious power in Japan until the death of Kōken in 770 CE. • Emperor Kōnin was the last ruling Emperor of the Nara Era, although attempting to control Buddhist monks and keep the Japanese bureaucracy afloat, he was conclusively unsuccessful. • The problems Japan faced would not be cleared up until they entered the Heian Era in 794 CE. Entering the Heian Era • The Heian Era began with the capital of Japan being moved to present day Kyoto. • Buddhists monks formed monasteries outside of Kyoto, and outside of political positions. • At this time the court life in Japan was very strictly polite. It was also home to large architectural undertakings that were used as the high court's homes and leisure areas. Literature in the Heian Era • Poetry was very popular in this period. • The Tale of Genji by Murasaki Shikibu is recognized as the first novel written. • The novel provides an account of court life through the eyes of a commoner in 11th century Japan, and stresses that no matter what one's personal desires are they must always follow the formal guidelines. Decline of Imperial Power • The Fujiwara clan managed to claim a large amount of the political power in Japan. This was accomplished by marrying the daughters of their family to Japanese emperors. • Having this connection allowed the clan to hold influence over the next occurring emperor whom, through Japanese tradition, was expected to be loyal to his grandfather. ● The clan was able to convince gentries in areas of Japan to offer them estates with little to no tax. Estates and Warrior Classes • Throughout Japan, estates were held by members of high ranking clans and local officials. • Lords within these estates would self sustaining fortresses in order to protect their lands from other lords. • The Bushi were the military officials inside of these fortresses who were responsible for controlling the people inside, keeping the estate economically stable, and were given responsibility of the Samurai, who protected the Lord they were loyal to. • Peasants within estates had become serfs, meaning that they were loyal to the ruler of that piece of land. Samurai • The samurai followed the Code of Bushido. • Based off of honor, the Code of Bushido demanded courage from its followers and in return gave them a chance to die an honorable death in battle. • If a samurai had been defeated in battle but not killed they would perform the act of Seppuku, in which a dishonored samurai would plunge a tantō (japanese short-sword) into their abdomen, thus providing them with an honorable death. Works Cited • "Fujiwara Family | Japanese Family." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2015. • "History - Nara Period." Japan Forum. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2015. • "Literature of the Heian Period: 794-1185 | Asia for Educators | Columbia University." Literature of the Heian Period: 794-1185 | Asia for Educators | Columbia University. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2015. • "Log in." Britannica School. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2015. • Ogleby, Jason. "Nara Period." Academic Search Complete [EBSCO]. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Nov. 2015..
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