Lesson Two How cultural identity affects our understanding of geography

The Japanese Creation Story Izanagi and Izanami were two young gods chosen to bring order to a chaotic world. The Lord of Heaven gave Izanagi his spear, called Amanonuboko. The two gods descended to the Earth and Izanagi dipped the spear into the Ocean and stirred it, and created order out of the chaos.

When he pulled his spear out of the ocean, the drops that fell from it became the island of Onokoro. The two gods decided to stay on the Earth and live on the island. They created a huge column on the island and around it, they made it a palace. After a while, they decided to create other islands. Izanagi told Izanami that in order to do that, they had to marry by circling the column.

Izanagi was to go to the left and Izanami to the right. When they met each other on the far side of the column, Izanami spoke first saying she was delighted to meet such a sweet young man. Izanami had a child named Hiruko who was weak and without bones or limbs. He was the leech child. Izanami said it must be an omen from the lord of Heaven that they should not keep the baby. They placed the child in a boat and sent it out to sea.

Izanagi talked to the Gods, who told him they were displeased and had a weak and deformed baby because Izanami had spoken first when they met around the column. They felt it should be the man who spoke first. They were told to repeat the ceremony, which they did, with Izanagi speaking first. This time they were filled with love for each other and a sense of unity with the Earth.

Izanami then gave birth to more islands; the islands that now make up Japan. She also gave birth to many gods and goddesses to rule over the land, sea, mountains, rivers, herbs, and trees. Izanagi decided they needed a child to represent fire. They soon gave birth to a child named Kagutsuchi, the god of fire. However, Izanami was burned to death during the birth of the sun god.

Even though she died, Izanami continued to give birth to more gods and goddesses. Izanagi was filled with grief. He flew into a rage, took his sword, and decapitated the fire baby. Izanami was sent to Yomi, the underworld (hell). Izanagi went to the underworld to bring her back.

When he found Izanami in the underworld, she told him that she could not come back to Earth because she had already eaten the food of the underworld. Izanagi had to leave the underworld. His wife had begun to decay and be filled with maggots. He felt dirty when he got back to Earth, so he washed himself in a river.

From his clothing and body came more deities, including Amaterasu, the sun goddess. Izanagi divided up the realms of the universe amongst his children and retired to the island of the Awaji.

Please read the italicized paragraph on page 263.

What does the Japanese Creation story, and the textbook reading tell us about how the Japanese understand their geography? The Japanese creation story helps the people of Japan identify their land as being a unique and special place in the world because they believed the gods of Earth and Heaven first created and then inhabited Japan. This unique cultural worldview helps the Japanese understand how their geography, their being, and environment came to exist. The cultural beliefs of many people in Japan, geographically and spiritually, place the country of Japan as the most magnificent place that is the center of the world and all creation. The belief in a sun goddess that lives in Japan reinforces the idea that Japan is “the land of the rising sun”.

A Homogeneous Society Homogeneous: having the same kind of beliefs, values, traditions, language, and cultural identity/ worldview. A great unified family with common values and beliefs. Japan has a very diverse geography. For example: In the north of Japan, winter is a dominant season. However, in the south of Japan warm weather and tropical climates are dominant. Even though Japan contains this diverse geography, the people of the region consider themselves as a culturally homogeneous society. The geographical factors that have contributed to the Japanese considering themselves as a homogeneous society is the following: (1) the fact Japan is an island; and (2) the fact that most Japanese people mainly lived along the coastlines. The fact water surrounded Japan allowed the people to easily communicate with each other, yet the Japanese were NOT easily able communicate with other nations. Therefore, it became more common for the Japanese people to exchange ideas, beliefs, and values freely within Japan.

A Distinct People: The Ainu People The Ainu people lived in the northern part of Japan for several thousand years. The Ainu had their own separate territory, but eventually the Japanese began to take over their land. The Ainu fought to resist the Japanese take-over of their lands, but they never won. Eventually, the Ainu lands officially became part of Japan and the island was re-named Hokkaido. The Japanese began to assimilate the Ainu people. Assimilation: the process in which one group of people takes on the cultural identity of a more dominant group of people. For example: the European settlers arriving to Canada began a process of assimilation directed at the First Nations people so that they could all be more culturally similar. The Ainu were no longer allowed to speak their own language or practice their religion. The government restricted the areas where they were allowed to live. They were given land to farm, even though they only knew how to hunt and fish for their food.

The Worldview of the Ainu People The word “Ainu” means human in the Ainu language. Nature plays a dominant role in the culture of the Ainu (Eye-noo) people. The Ainu people consider fire, water, wind, thunder, animals and plants as gods called kamuy (kuh-moo-ee) who visit Earth. The brown bear is one of the most important kamuy. The four elements: water, air, fire and Earth are greatly honored by the Ainu people. Land/Earth: where all life comes from. Water: the liquid that sustains life. Fire: gives heat and energy that sustains life. Air: is essential for life for all living things. Many First Nations peoples of Canada have belief systems and rituals that are very similar to the Ainu people.

The Worldview of the Shinto People Shinto is an ancient religion of Japan. Love of nature is the most important aspect of the Shinto religion. Many traditional Japanese arts, such as flower arranging and garden designs, are based on the Shinto ideal of harmony with nature. Shinto is based on the belief that sacred spirits called kami take the form of objects such as trees, mountains and stones. The sun goddess, Amaterasu, is considered to be the most important kami. They believe humans become kami when they die. To please and celebrate the kami, festivals called matsuri are held throughout the year. The Shinto religion does not have a founder and there are no religious laws. In addition to Shintoism, Japan has adopted other aspects of religion from Buddhism and Confucianism that originated in China. The Japanese have a unique religion as a result of the mixture of Shinto, Buddhism, and Confucianism in their worshipping practices.

Adopting and Adapting Elements of Culture The Japanese were very picky about what elements of culture they chose to adopt from other groups of people. Generally, they were more likely to resist adopting elements from other cultures to protect the Japanese cultural identity. The fact Japan is an island nation allows them to be so picky about culture. Example 1: The Japanese adopted the Chinese system of writing in characters, but the Japanese gave it their own name and style to make it fit within the existing Japanese culture. Example 2: the Japanese adopted the Chinese religions of Buddhism and Confucianism, but they mixed it together with the Japanese religion of Shintoism so that it also would fit within the existing Japanese culture.

How does music can How does music change as a result of adopting and exchanging cultural identities?

How do the Ainu and Shinto people’s cultural identities help them understand the geography and environment of Japan? Nature plays a dominant role in the culture of the Ainu (Eye-noo) people. They consider fire, water, wind, thunder, animals and plants as gods called kamuy (kuh-moo-ee) who visit Earth. The brown bear is on of the most important kamuy. Many First Nations peoples of Canada have belief systems and rituals that are very similar to the Ainu people. Love of nature is the most important aspect of the Shinto religion. Shinto is based on the belief that sacred spirits called kami take the form of objects such as trees, mountains and stones. The sun goddess, Amaterasu, is considered to be the most important kami. In addition to Shintoism, Japan has adopted other aspects of religion from Buddhism and Confucianism that originated in China. Ainu Shinto

How does cultural identity impact the way the Japanese understand the environment and their geography? Exit Card