1. Japan - Geography  Japan is an archipelago. (an island chain consisting of many small islands)  Japan is within reach of many countries including Korea and China.

2. Geography  Japan developed out of Volcanic activity lava hardening and reaching surface. There is an island growing off the coast of Japan as I speak.  Japan has 108 active volcanoes.  4 main islands (Shikoku, Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu)  Japans geography will lead to specific agriculture.

3. Economy and Trade  Mainly an agrarian society (agriculture focus)  Main product grown rice. Cultivation was passed up on from Chinese, then spread throughout Japan.  Rice was main product traded (KOKU) along with cloth. (Japanese did not manufacture much, lack of resources on volcanic rock)  In return Japan received silks and other fine goods through trade with Korea/China and much later Europeans. (very isolated at times much like China under ming)

5. Chinese and Korean Impact  Japanese embraced Social Changes and Religious changes from China and Korea, presented by regent (substitute ruler) Prince Shotoku.  Written/Spoken (China influenced Japan)  Social Change – Confucianism played a large role. Father is the head of the family. Wives obey husbands, children obey parents, siblings obey older siblings.  Religion- Buddhism grew amongst nobles (interesting) people will live by Confucious policies but have a Buddhist religious mindset.

6. Politics & Government: Prince Shotoku  4-8-1 -Prince Shotoku: -ruled as regent (someone who rules for someone who cannot rule alone) for his aunt, the empress -great leader -brought Buddhist ideas to Japan (built Buddhist temple, wrote about Buddhist ideas) -ruled 573-621 (rule began when he was 20)

7. Politics & Government : Heian (Hay-ahn) Rule *204*  4-8-2 -Heian (Hay-ahn) rule: -794 empress and emperor moved to Heian *PG. 204* -created imperial court to help rule-very wealthy and disconnected from common people… -golden age of arts in Japan (794-1185) -silk robes -gold jewelry -decorative fans to complete outfit  4-8-3 -Emperor continued to focus on court life and lost touch with people…

8. Politics & Government: Daimyo and Samurais -Daimyo (Dy-mee-oh) hired samurais to protect their land -samurais were trained warriors *PG. 214* -samurais ( “ servant ” ) served lords -samurais were paid in land and/or food -samurais were well-respected (people could be killed if they disrespected a samurai)

9. Politics & Government: Samurai--Bushido -Bushido ( “ the way of the warrior ” ) –both men and women in samurai families followed this code -brave and honorable (honor MOST important)-if he lost honor (lost a fight, disobeyed an order, failed to protect lord), he was expected to kill himself -men and women learned to fight (men for war and women to protect homes) -live simple, disciplined lives (bonsai trees) -loyal to his lord -eventually, local nobles outside Heian got angry -Minamoto clan won power around 1180 (kept emperor as figurehead-took over as shogun in 1192) -when he died, he passed power to his son -shoguns (dictators) ruled Japan for the next 700 years

10. Politics & Government: Mongol Invasion *PG. 216* -Mongols invaded (under Kublai Khan) in 1274 and 1281 -Japanese and Mongols fought and suffered loss -Both times, storms defeated the Mongols -Japanese referred to these storms as kamikazes ( “ divine wind ” ) -daimyo unhappy because they didn ’ t believe the shogun gave them enough credit for their fighting -emperor was unhappy that he did not have any real power -by late 1400s, the shoguns had lost power, the emperor remained powerless and the daimyo ruled their own territories -made laws -collected taxes… -no central authority

11. Politics & Government: Mongol Invasion Cont ’ d. -by 1500s daimyos began to rise to power to unify Japan -Oda Nobunaga (Ohd-ah noh-booh-nah-gah) gained power by giving his warriors guns from Portugal -Tokugawa Ieyasu (toh-koohg-ah-wuh ee-e-yahs-ooh)-established Tokyo as capital -Tokugawa family ruled until 1868 -let Christian missionaries in -much trade with other countries -some shoguns outlawed trade and technology (fear of becoming like Europe and fear of rebellion)

12. Religion  4-8-1 -Shinto: -traditional religion of Japan -belief that everything living and non-living has a kami (spirit) -respect for nature and ancestors  4-8-2 -Buddhism: -Prince Shotoku brought Buddhism into everyday life -Buddhism varied by class (upper class had elaborate rituals and lower class did not have time or money for the rituals) -After time, different forms of Buddhism came about: -Pure Land Buddhism (for common people-no rituals- chanted Buddha ’ s name to gain salvation) -Around 1100 Zen ( “ meditation ” ) Buddhism was popular with warriors (focused on wisdom gained through quiet reflection rather than faith or being good— enlightened nature through martial arts, gardening, calligraphy)

13. Society & Culture  4-8-2 -the first Japanese people lived in clans with a chief leader -isolated from other Asian civilizations, but by mid-500s, Japanese leaders sent representatives to Korea and China *PG. 201*: -Chinese characters in writing (Japanese was spoken language, but they wrote in Chinese characters for 200 years) -Confucius ’ ideas -wealthy people wore elaborate outfits: -silk, gold jewelry, decorative fans -writing very important (women wrote in Japanese instead of Chinese-so many of the early writings are by women)…

14. -Lady Murasaki Shikibu *PG. 209* -The Tale of Gengi is considered to be the first full-length novel—written in 1000—about a prince ’ s quest for love 4-8-3 -Social Classes (after Minamoto took control in 1192) *PG. 213*: 1. Emperor (as figurehead) 2. Shogun (ruled in emperor ’ s name) 3. Daimyo and Samurai (lords and warriors) 4. Peasants (most Japanese people) -Bushido: -values of Bushido still honored in Japanese culture Society & Culture Cont’d.

15. Science & Technology *PG. 174*  4-8-2 -literature (women, Lady Shikibu, Haiku, Tanka) -paintings: -bright, bold colors -paintings told stories -often painted on doors and furniture -calligraphy (decorative writing): -wanted poems to look as beautiful as they sounded

16. Science & Technology Cont ’ d. -architecture: -modeled Heian after Chinese capital -surrounded buildings with gardens and ponds to add to the elegance -performing arts: -jugglers -musicians -acrobats -later this art became known as Noh (1300s)—plays that combined music, speaking, and dance