M edeival J apan Life In

Section 3 Vocabulary Kyoto Kyoto – capital of Japan Murasaki Shikibu Murasaki Shikibu– wrote The Tale of Genji believed to be worlds first novel Sect Sect– smaller religious group Martial arts Martial arts – sport that involves combat and self-defense meditation meditation – practice of clearing mind to finding inner peace through relaxation calligraphy calligraphy – art of writing beautifully tanka tanka – Japan’s oldest form of poetry – unrhymed poem of 5 lines guild guild – business groups who sold items to daimyo

Japanese Religion and Culture Section 3 Notes Buddhism and Shinto religions affected Japanese art, architecture, novels and plays Many Japanese went to China to get ideas Most Japanese believed in both Buddhism and Shinto Shinto dealt with daily life Buddhism dealt with the after-life

Section 3 Notes Pure Land Buddhism = happy life after death – able to enter paradise- if they have faith in Amida & chant his name Zen Buddhism = find inner peace through self- control and simple life. They practiced meditation and martial arts as way to control

Section 3 Notes Art & Architecture Japan borrowed ideas from Korea and China and later created their own styles. Japanese created origami. Poems and Plays Japanese used Chinese for writing then added symbols for their own sounds. Every educated Japanese was expected to practice calligraphy. They believe a person’s calligraphy revealed their education, social standing, and character

Section 3 Notes Oldest form of poetry was called Tanka. It has 5 lines and doesn’t rhyme. Usually about nature’s beauty & joy/sorrows of life Haiku developed from Tanka – Haiku has 3 lines w/17 syllables The world’s first novel was written by Lady Murasaki Shikibu. She wrote The Tale of Genji Japanese created plays too – called Noh – to teach Buddhist ideas

Economy and Society Section 3 Notes Some Japanese nobles, merchants and artisans grew wealthy during the shogun period but lives of women remained restricted in many areas of life

Section 3 Notes Artisans on daimyo estates made weapons, armor, tools, pottery, paper, textiles, lacquered goods. Merchants sold these goods in Kyoto – the capital city and center of production and trade. Merchants formed guilds to protect and increase profits Japan traded with China, Korea and SE Asia Farmers and Artisans Japan’s wealth came from farmers who grew rice, wheat, millet and barley. They used a better irrigation process and planted more crops. BETTER IRRIGATION = MORE CROPS = MORE FOOD = MORE PEOPLE

Section 3 Notes During Shotoku wealthy women could have high position in society. They could rule & own property. When Japan a warrior society- with samurai and daimyo - women lost freedoms. In farm families women had greater say in who they married. Role of women – men headed the family. Women expected to obey her father, husband and sons. In wealthy families marriages were arranged to increase family wealth.

Discussion Questions ? ? Why did women lose freedoms during warrior society Why would marriages for wealthy women arranged but farm women were allowed to chose their own husbands

Center of government and religion in Japan A.D. 700 Nara Who was given govt. jobs in Japan? Wealthy nobles How did emperor gain power Control of land and crops What country brought Buddhism to Japan? Korea

Defeated the Taira clan in 1185 Minamoto Yoritomo samurai who gave oath of loyalty to his daimyo vassals bond of loyalty between a lord and a vassal feudalism capital of Japan under Emperor Kammu Heian