1. Libertyville HS – World History
Ancient Japan, to 645 AD
“Three Patriarchs”: Confucius (in hat), Buddha (curled hair), Lao Tzu (white haired elder)
Libertyville HS – World History

2. Japanese Geography
Over 3000 islands, separated from mainland by Sea of Japan
600 inhabited islands
Four main islands: Honshu, Kyushu, Shikoku, and Hokkaido
Very mountainous terrain
Internal isolation

3. Ancient Japan First humans arrived 30,000 years ago
About same time Bering land bridge existed
Land bridge between Japan, Korea and Japan and Russia (Siberia)
Jomon Culture formed around 10,000 BC

4. Jomon Culture (10,000-200 BC) Stone age people
Hunter gatherers, fishing
Lived in small tribal groups
Made pottery (first ever – surprising; shaped by hand)
Around BC, Jomon developed towns, sculpted figurines
By 2000 BC, developed agriculture, artwork
By 1000 BC, developed religion (goddess figurines)

5. Jomon to Yayoi Culture (300-200 AD)
Around 300 BC, Jomon displaced by wave of Chinese immigrants, from Korea
Explains why Japanese, Chinese language are in same family of languages
Japanese argue Jomon absorbed Yayoi into their culture (politics in history)
Spread of Yayoi culture

6. Yayoi Culture Yayoi technologies
Agriculture (rice cultivation)
Bronze & iron metallurgy
Religion to become Shinto
Modern Japanese language, culture, social structure & religion date from Yayoi immigrants
Lived in clans (uji)
Each clan had own god, to whom chieftain led all prayers

7. Kofun ( AD)
Around 300 AD, new culture emerged in SW part of Honshu
These people built giant tomb mounds, called kofun (similar practice in Korea)
Tombs filled with armor, weapons
Various
Kofun
Kofun, to
scale (400
meters in
length!)

8. Yamato State ( AD)
Earliest Japanese state, ruled by a “Great King”
Yamato Plain is the richest agricultural region in Japan
Yamato nobility based on Korean models (titles)
Military nobility became Japanese constant, until 1868
Yamato even held lands in Korea

9. Yamato State
In 513 AD, Korean king sent a Chinese Confucian scholar to Japan
Resulted in Chinese culture being imported into Japan
Written language
Confucianism
Buddhism
Long term profound impact on Japanese culture, history
Japanese Emperor

10. Yamato State In late 500s, alliance between Korea, Japan broke down
Mass Korean immigration
Yamato military aristocracy rebelled, too
Central government responded with Chinese style government
Sent envoys to China to observe its government
Adopted 17 Article Constitution
Combined Confucian, Buddhist principles
Created office of Emperor