1. THE NARA TIME PERIOD
INFLUENCE ON JAPAN

2. Writing: Applying Chinese Characters to Japanese
Writing is borrowed from China.
Ancient Japanese is not a written language.
Japan learns to write in Chinese characters.
Then, Japanese adapt Chinese writing to their own language.
Kanji, or ‘Chinese writing’. Characters based on Chinese characters.
Difficult to write some Japanese words and ideas in kanji.
Kana, or ‘borrowed letters’. Kana represent syllables in Japanese.
Kana lets people spell out Japanese words in writing.

3. Literature: Adapting Chinese Poetic Forms
Earliest written Japanese literature from 7th and 8th centuries.
Poets write in Japanese, using Chinese characters.
Develop a form of poetry called a tanka, based on songs from Japan’s oral tradition.
31 syllables
Five lines of 5, 7, 5, 7, 7 syllables.
A tanka by Fujiwara no Shunzei 1114 – 1204 To one who rarely comes here The wind through the pines Sounds sad at night time. Does she hear it always Beneath the moss?

4. Sculpture
Earliest Japanese sculptures are clay, probably meant to accompany or protect the dead.
Buddhist sculpture:
First Buddhist sculptures in Japan made by Chinese and Korean craftsmen.
Japanese craftsmen learn technique from them, and develop their own style.
Wood is commonly used for sculpture in Japan.

5. Architecture Buddhists also bring new styles of architecture to Japan.
Japanese architects borrow the pagoda style from China.
Shrines and temples are built all over Japan.
Pagodas have 3, 5, 7 or 9 layers of roof.
Shinto shrines are also built in this style.

6. Music: Adopting New Music and Instruments
Native Japanese music is chanted, using just a few notes.
War songs
Folk songs
Shinto prayers
Later on, the Japanese began to import musical styles and instruments from China. These included:
Gagaku, a kind of music popular at the Chinese court.
The sheng, which the Japanese call a sho. This is a type of mouth organ made of bamboo sections. It is supposed to sound like the call of a phoenix.

7. China’s influence in the Nara Period
China’s culture in Japan
All powerful emperor
Confucianism
Buddhism
Writing
Architecture
Poetry
Musical Styles and instruments
All powerful emperor
Confucianism
Buddhism + Shinto
Writing
Architecture
Poetry
Musical Styles and instruments

8. Two Religions Coexist Buddhism does not replace Shinto.
Instead, the two religions both continue, and even blend with each other.
Each religion satisfies different needs for worshippers.
A saying: “Born Shinto, die Buddhist.”
Weddings and birth ceremonies tend to be Shinto.
Funerals tend to be Buddhist.

9. Buddhism + Shinto Japanese people practiced both Shinto and Buddhism
Many worshipped at Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples 
Each religion met different needs. 
Shinto was for their daily life. 
Buddhism was for their afterlife. 
Shinto rituals in wedding ceremonies, births, etc.. 
Buddhist funerals.

10. Conclusion
1. Why is nature so important to the followers of Japanese Shinto?
A. The ancient Japanese emperors of the past always respected nature.
B. Followers of Shinto believe everything in nature has a spirit.
C. The Mongols brought this belief to Japan.
D. Nature is beautiful and must be protected.

11. Conclusion
2. How might a follower of Shinto in Japan interpret a tragic earthquake?
The nature spirit (kami) must be angry with Japan.
They should have been better prepared for nature is unpredictable.
They would have expected it, since man’s primary job is to protect himself from nature.
They would expect the kami to give Japan a great harvest in return for the tragic earthquake.

12. Conclusion Japan was influenced by Korea and China because
They are all near each other
they once all had the same rulers
through the Chinese and Koreans fighting on Japanese land

13. Conclusion
The idea of nature being sacred (special or holy) with spirits belongs to which religion?
Buddhism
Hinduism
Islam
Shinto

14. Conclusion
Which of the following is the traditional religion of Japan?
Shinto
Buddhism
 Christianity
Islam

15. Conclusion
Do you agree with the following sentence and why? Most Japanese practiced both Shinto and Buddhism.
Yes, the Japanese believe that all of their needs can be met by practicing both.
Yes, but only because Shinto does not talk about nature.
No, if you practice Buddhism you cannot practice anything else.
 No, Shinto does not allow its followers to practice another religion.

16. Conclusion
(7.27) A difference between the religions of Buddhism and Shinto is that Shinto:
believes in the afterlife for good behavior
connects man to nature and their homeland
is practiced by martial arts
came to Japan from China

17. Conclusion
(7.29) Which of the following describes Japan during the Nara period?
Japan was heavily influenced by China: an all powerful emperor, officials were appointed by the emperor to help him govern smaller districts
Japan was ruled by shoguns and samurais protected the nobles and fought for more land.
Mongols captured Japan during the Nara period and ruled for almost 90 years.