Japan: Land of the Rising Sun

Japan - Geography Japan is a large group of islands located off the Asian mainland. It is made up of 3,000 islands. The islands of Japan are really the tops of mountains. The mountains were difficult to live on. Most people lived on flat coastal plains near the sea.

Japan - Settlement The first people began to migrate into the islands of Japan around 8000 B.C. These hunter-gathers probably lived in temporary huts, as well as in caves and ravines. For thousands of years, the people of Japan lived off of the land, hunted, farmed, and developed unique cultures and religious beliefs within their small clans or tribes.

First Invasion Around 200 B.C., invaders from the Asian mainland entered Japan. Using their superior technology and weapons, these newcomers were easily able to defeat and conquer the peoples of these islands. These newcomers helped raise their standard of living, teaching them new methods for farming, and new technologies, including the use of both bronze and iron.

Terrace Farming One new farming method was terrace farming. Terrace farming is when farmers build terraces (“steps”) in a hillside area. This creates several levels that can be used for growing crops.

Iron & Bronze Iron was mainly used for agricultural and other tools, whereas, bronze was used for ritual and ceremonial artifacts.

Second Invasion Around 250 A.D., another wave of invaders entered Japan from the Asian mainland. These invaders had mastered the use of horses in battle, and their warriors were again able to quickly conquer the islanders. It is believed by many historians that these warriors would eventually become the ruling class in Japan.

Definition: Category: terrace farming Geography When farmers build terraces (“steps”) in a hillside area to create more area to grow crops Example: Japan

Clan Life in Japan The people of Japan lived in clans, which were held together by their common descent from a single ancestor. These clans were ruled by a powerful chief, who was also the religious priest of the group. The clan chief also acted as the military leader and directed the efforts of the clan to protect themselves against outsiders and against other neighboring clans.

Yamato Clan By the late 300s A.D., one clan in particular began to stand out among all the rest in political power and influence. This clan was known as the Yamato Clan. The Yamato Clan was known for their bravery in battle and their superior fighting techniques. As a result, all other clans within Japan became subject to them. The chief of the Yamato Clan became the first emperor of Japan. Local clans still ruled their own lands, but they owed their loyalty to the emperor, who by 400 A.D. had become very powerful.

By 500 A.D., the emperor of Japan had become largely a ceremonial position. The people of Japan believed that only the emperor could communicate with the gods on behalf of their people. This insured that the same family remained on the throne. However, political power was taken from the emperor by various families, who ruled Japan through the centuries.

In 1185 A.D., a powerful aristocrat by the name of Yoritomo Minamoto defeated all other opponents, and became the ruler of Japan. The emperor remained in the capital of Japan where he carried out religious and cultural rituals. The emperor named Yoritomo the shogun, which means ‘general’ in Japanese. As the shogun, Yoritomo had all the political and military power in Japan.

In 1336 A.D., civil war broke out in Japan. Both the shogun and the emperor remained in office, but both became nothing more than figure heads, having no real political power. Japan fell into a feudal system similar to that of Europe. Landowning warriors known as samurai pledged their allegiance to lords known as daimyos, and fought to protect their lands. Poor farmers paid the daimyos taxes for the right to farm their lands. In exchange, the daimyos used his samurais to protect these poor farmers.

Definition: Category: shogun Political General who gained all political and military power in Japan Example: Yoritomo Minamoto

Definition: Category: samurai Political A Japanese warrior during feudal Japan

Definition: Category: feudalism Political A type of government that is based off of land; the person with the land has the power and the person who works the land receives protection

Shinto While the people of Japan were living in clans, members of each clan practiced a form of ancestor worship known as Shinto. Clan members believed that the spirit of the common ancestor from whom they all descended still inhabited their village. They believed that this ancestor protected them and worked to help better their lives. They worshipped this ancestor and prayed to it for help and guidance.

Shinto Shinto is still practiced by at least 5 million people today. The followers of Shinto believe that "spirits" called kami live in natural places such as in animals, plants, stones, mountains, rivers, people and even the dead. Amaterasu, the sun goddess, is the most important kami.

Basic Principles of Shinto Morality is based upon what benefits the group. You should be a responsible member of your social groups. Three Affirmations 1. Tradition and the family 2. Love of nature 3. Ritual Purity

Torri One or more torri gates mark the approach and entrance to a shrine. They come in various colors and are made of various materials. Most torri, however are made of wood, and many are painted orange and black. The torri is believed to separate the sacred world of the shrine from the world outside.

Komainu Komainu are a pair of guardian dogs or lions, often found on each side of a shrine's entrance. They are believed to ward off evil spirits.

Japanese Culture

Haiku A haiku is a Japanese poem. Originally, haikus were not made up of syllables. Instead they were made up of 17 Japanese writing characters. Based on the importance of the environment in Japan, haikus were written about different aspects of nature.

Origami Japanese origami began sometime after Buddhist monks carried paper to Japan during the 6th century. The first Japanese origami is dated from this period. Due to the high price of paper, origami was only used for religious ceremonial purposes.