Medieval Japan

Medieval Japan

1. overview of Japanese history

   • Ancient c.300 BCE - c.600 CE
   • Jomon
     • first people in Japan
     • archaelogical evidence, no written evidence from when people first arrived in Japan
     • cord marks found on pottery
     • means cord marked
   • medieval 12th - 19th century

2. Tokugawa Japan

   • Samurai lived for and protected their noble landlords, the daimyo. As the power of the nobles increased, the emperors lost authority.
   • A period when Japan became isolated from the rest of the world
   • Owned by the Tokugawa clan from 1603 - 1868 CE.
   • brought great stability to both society and government.
   • Edo was the city where the shogunate ruled
     • the name was changed to Tokyo in 1868CE

3. belief system

   • Shintoism
     • KAMI - sacred spirits found in all aspects of the natural world
     • a religious system inspired by the world of nature
     • offer prayers to celebrate rituals that show respect to their ancestors
     • Japanese were very familiar with the power of nature
   • religion is an important aspect of Japanese life and culture
     • let people properly understand the way they live
   • Buddhism
     • India 5th century
     • Siddhartha Gautama
   • confucianism
     • came to Japan via sea
     • a code of behavior based on the teachings of Confucius (China sixth century)

4. government

   • centralised administration, social hierachy
   • all kings and emperors need other people to support them in their quest to hold and maintain power
   • governed by shogunate
   • valued work and usefulness more than wealth

5. trade

   • strictly limited
   • Dutch and Chinese traders restricted to Nagasaki
   • limited diplomatic relations with China, Korea and Russia

6. The Military

   • follow Bushido code for correct behavior
   • Samurai meant those who serve
   • Served the Daimyo

7. early medieval Japan 1160 - 1603 CE

   • battles for for control of Japan raged between competing clans
   • 1160-1185 CE,The Taira clan was in charge, then challenged by the Minamoto clan during late 1180s
     • Minamoto won and formed a military government
     • emperor was mostly a figurehead and Japan was ruled by a Shogun
     • government was based at Kamakura (known as Kamakura shogunate)
       • Japan was a shogunate until the 19th century, when Japan opened up its borders to the rest of the world.

8. Geography

   • East Asia
   • capital = Tokyo