Japan

Japan

1. Government

   • Yamato Clans
     • First and only dynasty
     • Claimed descent from the sun goddess
   • Beauracracy
     • "Heavenly Emperor"
   • Feudalism
     • Samurai
       • Bushido
   • Centralized Feudalism
     • Maintained outward forms of feudal socitely
     • Imposed central government control on all of Japan

2. Art and Literature

   • Heian Period
     • Women were important to the development of literature
       • World's first full-length novel
     • Culture blending
   • Chinese dance and music
   • Noh plays
     • Zen Buddhist themes
     • Slow action
     • Elegant masks
     • Chorus chanted lines
     • Each movement has special meaning
   • Kabuki plays
     • Less refined Noh plays
     • Included comedy or melodrama
     • Women banned from Kabuki roles
     • Onnagata played women
     • Aragoto acting style
   • Painting
     • Influenced by Chinese landscapes
     • Historical events
   • Printmaking
     • Urban culture
     • Fresh colors
     • Simple lines
     • Satisfy middle class tastes

3. Cultural Influences

   • China
     • Title "Heavenly Ruler", absolute power
     • Chinese language
     • Chinese dress
     • Beauracracy
     • Similar law code
     • Tea and tea ceremony
     • Chinese food and dishes
     • Tang music and dance
     • Similar gardens
     • Pagoda architechture
     • Confucianism
   • Korea
     • Artisans and metalworkers brought sophisticated skills and technology
     • Attack each other
     • Buddhism
       • Knowledge of Chinese writing and culture
         • Sparked Japanese interest in China

4. Women

   • Murasaki Shikibu
     • The Tale of Genji
       • World's first full-length novel
       • Tells of the adventures of Prince Genji
   • Sei Shonagon
     • The Pillow Book
     • Provides details about court manners, dress, etc.
   • Forbidden to study Chinese
   • Some Yamato clan leaders were women
     • Suggested respect for women
   • Lose influence with rise of samurai
     • Inheritance limited to sons
     • Wives accept same hardships as men
   • Okuni
     • Accredited with creating Kabuki plays
   • Banned from playing Kabuki roles

5. Religion

   • Shinto
     • "The way of kami"
     • Worship of the d=forces of nature
   • Buddhism
     • MIssionaries from Korea brought it
     • Zen
       • Sect from China
       • Emphasized self-reliance, meditation, and devotion to duty
       • Contradictory
         • Sought freedom yet had rigid rules
         • Scholars yet valued uncluttered mind
         • Compassionate yet samurai sought to kill
       • Valued peace, simplicity, and loved beauty
       • Reverance for nature
         • Fine landscaping

6. Geography

   • Archipelago
   • 4/5 Mountains
     • Not good farmland
   • Mild climate
     • Good rainfall
     • Helped make the most of the little farming land
   • Surrounded by sea
     • Isolated
       • Freer to accept or reject influences
     • Protect
     • Trade routes
       • Fish industry
   • Ring of Fire
     • Volcanos
     • Earthquakes
     • Tsunamis
   • Kamikaze
     • Saved Japan from the Mongols

7. War

   • Korea
   • Mongol invasions
     • Kamikaze prevented the Mongols from invading Japan
   • Clan wars
     • Contributed to rise of feudalism