1. Japan Country includes 4,000 islands
About 70% is covered by mountains and hills
Most live on the four largest islands:
Honshu
Hokkaido
Kyushu
Shikoku
Around 500 A.D. Chinese ideas and customs began impacting the Japanese
Writing system
Buddhism

2. Japanese Clans Heian Period (794-1185) High point of imperial rule
People of the court wrote poetry, painted, and preformed rituals
Central government controlled by a wealthy family
Large Military clans controlled samurai armies
Feudalism of localized rule began as landowners challenged wealthy power

3. Japanese Clans continued
Kamakura Period ( )
Two powerful clans fought for power
Yoritomo became the first great general
Military governors were established
The military governors (daimyo) oversaw samurai
Ashikaga Period ( )
Emperor overthrew the military headquarters to restore imperial authority
Emperor overthrown by a military leader establishing new military and imperial government
Imperial courts were at war for 54 years until they came together in the 15th century
Peace deteriorated as political unrest gained and nobles struggled for land and power

4. Japanese Clans continued
Warring States Period ( )
Civil War
Military leaders became lords
Some military leaders sought to unite but unity could not be found
Tokugawa Period ( )
Japan became united
Japan enjoyed stability, prosperity
Urban population flourished
Foreign influence controlled with “closed country policy” until Japan began trade with the U.S. in 1854.

5. Religions and Philosophies
Shinto (way of the gods)
Divine spirits (Kami) that dwell in nature
Inhabitant of unusual or extremely beautiful nature
Confucianism
Tokugawa Period
Emperor believed to descend from Shinto sun Goddess
Samurai were elite class: warriors with conduct codes
Peasants lived burdened lives that were regulated for them
Artisans and Merchants were below peasants as Confucian beliefs despised business and financial matters as virtue and service to state were valued instead.
Buddhism
Eliminate material attachment
Siddhartha
Zen Buddhism
Need self discipline to reach enlightenment
Meditation, discipline, simplicity

6. Muso Soseki (1275-1351) Studied Shingon Buddhism
Converted to Zen Buddhism
Studied under Chinese and Japanese Teachers
Influenced Zen Buddhism recognition from Imperial court
Spread throughout Japan
Shaped monasteries into serious places of study
Aspire to achieve spiritual enlightenment
Control over the ego