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How did
Japanǯs
geography
influence
its history?
Japan is a nation of islands Ȃ the four
largest are called Hokkaido, Honshu,
Kyushu and Shikoku
Japan is far enough from other countries to
discourage invasion and to remain isolated
when it chose to shut out the outside world
It is near enough to the Asian mainland to
borrow from other civilizations, especially
the Chinese
heir appreciation for nature is
reflected in all aspects of their culture
he Japanese native religion of
Shintoism holds nature to be sacred
heir love of simple, natural beauty is
seen in the arts Ȃ architecture,
sculpture, painting, and literature
mt. Fuji
in Japan
zen
gardens
ëy around 500 AD, a warrior chief ruling
over the Yamato plain extended his rule
over much of Japan
Claimed descent from the Sun Goddess,
Amaterasu
His tokens of power (an iron sword, curved
jewel and bronze mirror) are still symbols
of the imperial family today
Shinto: Dzthe way of the godsdz Ȃ nature is
sacred
rince Shotoku encouraged the
spread of Chinese ways
Acceptance of ëuddhism
Other influences: calendar, ways of
dress and cooking, architecture,
Chinese language and script, law
code, establishment of capital city
Capital was moved to Heian-Kyo,
later renamed Kyoto
Japanese culture developed
Literature flourished: Dzale of
Genjidz by Lady murasaki (prose),
tanka and haiku (forms of poetry)
Japan enters the feudal age
minamoto Yoritomo became the
p , or supreme general
he emperor remained a mere
figurehead in Kyoto
he seat of government was at
Kamakura, a small coastal town
he feudal age of Japan began
Samurai warriors Ȃ most important
class of people during the feudal period
ë (DzÊ Ê dz) Ȃ
samurai code of conduct; stressed
loyalty and indifference to pain and
hardship
Suicide by p or
was
preferred to dishonor or surrender
Groups of samurai came to follow
certain local nobles called
(Dzgreat namedz)
Daimyo became absolute rulers on
their lands and struggled with each
other for more power and territory
here was no effective central
government in Japan
T
Golden age of
Japanese culture
u drama developed
erfection of 3
Japanese arts: flower
arrangement, tea
ceremony and
landscape gardening
Ieyasu okugawa
became shogun
after winning
the ëattle of
Sekigahara
Headquarters
was in Edo, later
known as okyo
he power of the daimyo was weakened
he central government grew strong
again
Japan began to isolate itself from foreign
influences Ȃ no Japanese could leave
their homeland, and foreign
missionaries were expelled, or killed
merchant and business classes became
influential
`
drama became popular
K During the earliest
period of Japanese
history, women enjoyed
high political, social and
cultural status
K For a hundred years, all
important authors were
women
During the Kamakura period, samurai
women were expected to have spartan
virtues, and young girls were taught the
use of weapons
ëut then society moved towards
complete male supremacy
ëy the okugawa period, women had
become socially and legally inferior to
men Ȃ and this has changed little even
today