Medieval Japan

Medieval Japan

1. Geography

   • Asia
   • 4 islands
     • Hokkaido
     • Honshu
     • Shikoku
     • Kyushu
   • Sea of Japan

2. Jomon People

   • archaeological evidence suggests that people known as Jomon travelled to the islands from China
     • around 10000BC
   • Types of evidence
     • cord pattern on pottery
     • stone tools
     • Clay figures
     • Middems-remains of food

3. Japanese Creation

   • 6 islands of Japan were explained in the story
   • emperor was decended from 2 gods who made the world

4. Social Structure

   • hierachy
     • Based on confucianism
   • were structured on the confucian belief
   • Emperor
     • Samurai
       • Artisans and craftsmen
         • Eta Hinin
           • Outsiders/outcasts
           • Butchers ,criminals, samurai with outlords
         • Provides the specialised items everyone needs
         • Traded surplus food for goods and services
       • Daiymo were warrior lords
       • warriors who swore allegiance to their lords and maintained his authority
     • Worshipped
     • little political power
     • extravagant lives
     • refined, cultured and educated
   • The shogun
     • Farmers and fishermen
       • Merchants
         • Little value because they did not create or produce anything.
         • Some were wealthy by trading
         • They lent finances to fund the constant civil wars
       • Produced everyone's food.
       • Were taxed heavily
       • Encouraged to do better by daimyos
     • The most powerful warlord.
     • Commanded military and economic power
     • Ruled the country and controlled the taxes and laws

5. Role of the family

   • relied on each other
   • very important part
   • needs a family came first eg. marriage for wealth /prestige
   • often several generations lived together
   • elders to be respected
   • father had total control
   • woman expected to learn to fulfill traditional roles
   • children to learn about roles and obligations

6. Belief systems

   • Buddhism
     • meditation + discipline
     • acts of art- human behaviour
       • 4 noble truths
     • still present today
       • tea ceremony
       • zen gardens
       • food
   • Confucianism
     • Respect ancestors and elders
     • shapes the roles of in families
       • children
       • Social hierachy
   • Shintoism
     • Spirits live in nature
       • cleanse your evil spirits
     • shaped society
       • important to worship ancestors
       • harmony with nature

7. Military

   • samurai
     • means those who serve
     • they served a daiymos or lord
     • Instructed in reading, writing, ceremonial conduct, archery, horse riding and sword fighting
     • Samurai were supposed to follow bushido(code) for correct behaviour
   • used to be during earlier times they were soley warriers
     • Japan became more peaceful
       • Samurai became administrators
   • 7 virtues
     • mortality
     • courage
     • benevolence
     • respect
     • honesty
     • honour
     • loyalty

8. Japanese Art and Literature

   • pottery and painting
     • Jomon Pottery
     • painting-religious ideas, portraits or landscapes
     • woodblock prints (ukiyo-e)
       • life in cities and landscapes
   • Calligraphy
     • called shodo
     • two types
       • kanji
         • harder to master
       • Hiragana
         • easier and used by most people
   • Oragami
     • Folding paper to create beautiful shapes
     • gifts or offerings
   • Haiku
     • poems
     • 5 syllables
     • 7 syllables
     • 5 syllables

9. Tokugawa Japan

   • named after a ruling clan that was in power 1603-1868
   • It began by Tokugawa leyasu winning a battle for control of Japan
   • It is also known as the Edo period(after the ruling city)
   • This time was one of the stability in society and government
   • This started the medieval period
   • impact
     • He restricted on the wealth and power of the nobles and samurais
     • Daiymos
       • strict rules
         • limited the ability to threaten the shogun
     • foreign trade
       • restrictions on trade
         • imports and exports were taxed
           • led to isolation (caused by trade)

10. Origins

    • Ancient Japan
      • 10000 BC-610 AD
    • Classical Japan
      • 610 AD- 1160 AD
    • Medieval Japan
      • 1160 AD- 1868AD
    • ended very late, only 146 years ago
    • Defined by its military government-by the shogunate rather than the emperor

11. End of isolation

    • M Perry(american) ended in 1853
    • presented letters to the Shogun to open trade
    • technological advanced America threatened Japan
    • Forced to sign the treaty
    • Unfair trade agreement

12. Similarities and differences between medieval Europe and Japan

    • Medieval Europe
      • knights
      • 576AD - 1453AD
      • Christianity
      • women lived with their husband in a hut
      • Monarch is the highest
      • wanted to advance their technology
    • Medieval Japan
      • samurai
        • 1160AD-1868AD
          • buddhism,shintoism, confucianism
            • more advanced housing
              • Japan didn't wan't to change tradition
    • Similarities
      • a triangular social hierachy
        • samurai and knights defended land
          • belief systems
            • women had to farm
              • respect elders
                • both have peasants, monarch, merchants, lords