1. Literature of Ancient Japan

2. Historical Highlights (488-9)
Heian Period
High Point of imperial rule
Highly cultured court develops. Those of the court painted, wrote poetry, and participated in elaborate ritual
Feudal system

3. H.H. (cont.) Kamakura Period Daimyo Military governors
Oversaw the samurai
Oversaw specific regions

4. H.H. (cont.) Warring states period Civil war all over Japan
Tremendous power struggle
Pay offs – very political

5. H.H. (cont.) Tokugawa Period Edo Japan’s capital Edo becomes Tokyo
“closed country policy” established until 1854
Reaction to rapid spread of Christianity
Christians are persecuted

6. People and Society (490-91) Rulers Emperor Shogun Daimyo
Highest position in Japanese society
Never seen by common people
Symbolic
Held no political power
Shogun
Military dictators
Real power
Ruled in emperor’s name
Daimyo
Answered to the shogun
Every other year in the capital

7. P and S (cont.) Samurai Elite class of warriors loyal to daimyo
Followed Bushido (way of the warrior) – expected to show courage, reverence for gods
Many also practiced Zen Buddhism (form of self-discipline and living in harmony w/ nature)
Only group allowed to carry swords
Strict code of honor

8. P and S (cont.) Peasants Made up about 80% of population
Not allowed to carry swords or use their family names
paid hefty taxes (half of harvest)
Were told what to produce, when to work, what to eat, etc.
Some had to sell family members
Eventually rebelled

9. P and S (cont.) Artisans and merchants
- roofers, masons, carpenters, swordsmiths
Some swordsmiths became close with samurai
Merchants not respected because they did not produce anything. However, many lived in prosperity.
Became more well-respected over time

10. P and S (cont.) Women in Early Japan
If men died in warfare, some women went to war themselves
“The supreme duty of a woman was to honor the men in her life”
Typical Japanese women were peasants who took care of the home.

11. Arts and Culture (492-93) Theater Noh Kabuki Bunraku Oldest form
Masks, formal language, mime, gestures
Kabuki
Colorful costumes
History/contemporary urban life
Bunraku
Puppet theater

12. A and C (cont.) Painting – usually representative of nature
Beauty and tradition
Black ink
Woodblock prints

13. A and C (cont.) Literature Excelled in poetry Tanka Haiku
31-syllable lyrical poems that deal with nature and love
Haiku
17-syllable poem that presents images of nature

14. A and C (cont.) Religion and Architecture Shinto Buddhism Zen
“way of the gods”
Reverence for nature
No complex rituals
Buddhism
More complicated
Eliminate attachment to material things to achieve peace
Zen
Spiritual enlightenment through both self-discipline and meditation

15. A and C (Cont.) Architecture Religious building
Inspired modern buildings as well
Japanese always try for harmony with nature

16. Connect to Today (496-97)
Food
Art
Zen
Fashion
Nature

17. Time honored tradition

18. Mt. Fuji – tallest mountain/volcano in Japan

19. Hiroshima – only structure left
standing after the bomb

20. Guns/Hunting illegal in Japan
Monkeys and deer are not afraid of human interaction

25. Golf in Japan
One cart per foursome.  It stays on the path on a type of track (like a train).
 One member of the foursome has a button remote that starts and stops the cart.
 The locker rooms are similar to country club style with an Onsen bathing pool.

26. Golf Continued
Cost for golf in Japan is a range roughly between $100-$300
 24 hour driving ranges are popular and more practical for people who want to learn golf.  
They have double and triple deck driving ranges in the cities.  
We would sometimes work until 11pm, grab a sandwich at the 7-11 and head over to the driving range.  pretty cool.

32. Here endeth the lesson
Andrew C. Jackson, 2007
Patrick W. Danz 2014