1. The Influence of Neighboring Cultures on Japan
Chapter 20
Created by, Mr. Goldstein
Modified by, Mr. Amster

2. Table of Contents Objectives Geography Challenge Some Key Vocabulary
Reading the Chapter
More Key Vocabulary
Reading Notes
Re-Building Nara
Study Guide Notes

3. Objectives for this unit
Work on note taking skills
Do your best and forget the rest
You must take notes, but do not worry they will be posted to Edline later.
This does not excuse you from taking the notes. It is a skill you will need for the rest of your lives.

4. Agenda Introduce New Unit: Japan! Read: Setting the Stage (pg 216)
Some Key Vocabulary
Geography Challenge
Row 1 – Start at Question #1
Row 2 – Start at Question #3
Row 3/4 – Start at Question #6
HW: Finish your Geography Challenge
IW: Create a BIG Venn diagram comparing the Geography of Japan and China
MINI-TEST MONDAY

5. Some Key Vocabulary
Elements of Culture – objects, ideas, and customs of a particular culture.
Cultural Diffusion – the spread of cultural elements from one society to another.
Regent – one who rules in the name of another.
Uji – chief of a clan.
Imperial – belonging or related to an emperor.
Shinto – the original religion of Japan. It expresses the love and respect of the Japanese for nature and the culture.
Meditation – a spiritual discipline that involves deep relaxation and an emptying of distracting thoughts from the mind.
Syllable – a unit of sound in a word. For example, unit has syllables, “u” and “nit.”
Pagoda – a tower shaped structure with several stories and roofs.

6. Let’s Get Activated What did the surrounding seas provide Japan?
Where more people live in Japan? Why

7. Agenda Activator Go Over Geography Challenge More Key Vocabulary
Hand in afterwards
More Key Vocabulary
Read 20.1 – (pg 219 – 227) TWICE
Take notes on each section that identifies the main point and two key facts.
HW: Finish Reading and Taking Notes
Create note cards for all of the vocabulary

8. More Key Vocabulary
Prince Shotoku – Regent under Empress Suiko, who came to power in 593 CE. Helped to create a centralized government. Borrowed ideas from China.
Sheng (China)/Sho (Japan) – Wind Instrument.
Tanka – A Japanese form of poetry. 31 syllables, divided into five lines of 5, 7, 5, 7, and 7 syllables.
Stupa – Featured shrines
Kami – Worship spirits in the Shinto religion. Represented by natural objects such as wind, lightning, rivers, mountains, waterfalls, large trees, and unusual stones.
Kanji – Chinese Writing
Kana – “Borrowed letters,” or simplifying Chinese characters to stand for syllables.
Mahayana Buddhism – “Greater Vehicle.” A form of Buddhism with core beliefs that state that all people can enter nirvana (somewhat like heaven).
Nara – Capital city of Japan starting in 710 CE. ~8 sq miles and had no more than 200,000 people

9. Let’s Get Activated Match the Main Point to the Key Fact
Influence from India, China, and Korea
Government
City Design
Religion
Language
Poetry
Art/Sculpture
Architecture
Music
Gagaku
Circle of Life, Shinto
Preferred using wood
Cultural Diffusion
3, 5, 7, 9
Checkerboard pattern
Devoted to love and nature
17th Article Constitution
Ancient Japanese is only spoken

10. Agenda Activator Basic Meditation Play Matching Game
Fill in your reading notes
If you finish early
Read Quietly
HW: Finish your reading notes

11. Steps to Meditation
Sit and Stand (next to your desk) in a comfortable position
Make sure you have good posture.
Straighten your back.
Rest your hands in a comfortable position
Clear your mind of all excess thoughts, just think about your best memory (focus on one thought/goal).
Breath slowly and quietly
MOST IMPORTANTLY: Relax and Let Go

12. Let’s Get Activated
Tanka
Kanji
Kana
Meditation
Uji
Stupa

13. Agenda Activator Hand in your Reading Notes (37,38 STAPLED!)
Work in groups of 3 on Assessment 10
Names must be on the top right
Individually: fill in Assessment 9
HW: Finish Assessment 9

14. Re-Building Nara (Assessment 10)
Pretend you are part of Japan’s Chamber of Commerce and have been asked to create a map and travel guide for visitors about the new Japanese capital of Nara. Plan and sketch your guide.
Your guide must mention how neighboring cultures influenced the way the city looks. Your map must include
Colorful
Map Key and Compass
(IF DOING A GUIDE) The neighboring countries that influenced the building of Nara.
The layout of the city (Check Chapter 20 for hints).
Important religious buildings.
Include residential areas and political building
Include CURRENT EVENTS that might be going on your Nara. (Creativity + Accuracy = Higher Score)
Graded based on Book Accuracy, Creativity, Details, and Neatness

15. Let’s Get Activated Prince Shotoku Sheng/Sho Mahayana Buddhism Nara
Shinto/Kami
Pagoda

16. Agenda Activator Hand in your Assessment 9
Watching the PowerPoint and Note Taking!
Extra Time: Finish Assessment 10 or Review
HW: Finish Study Guide for Homework
(It is on Edline)
Study for Test Monday

17. Who influenced Japan?
China
Korea
India
India

18. What is culture? Culture is the way of life for a group of people.
Elements of Culture:
Religion
Food
Music
Literature
Art
Government

19. How does culture spread?
Cultural Diffusion
The spread of cultural elements from one society to another.

20. Overview Japan was influenced in: Government City Design Religion
Writing
Literature
Sculpture
Architecture
Music

21. Prince Shotoku Leader of Japan in late 500’s
Supported Cultural Diffusion
Allowed visitors from neighbors
Sent officials to China
Result:
Japan’s culture became a mix of foreign and domestic (from home) ideas.

22. Pop Quiz How much influence did China, India and Korea have on Japan?
A) None
B) A Little
C) A Lot
D) Japan was a carbon copy of China

23. Influence on Government
Adopted Meritocracy from China.
Used Confucian ranks
17 Article Constitution
Emperor is supreme ruler
Taika Reforms
Emperor controls all lands
Uji lost control of clans
Difference:
Aristocracy used over merit!

24. Influence on City Design
Capital city of Nara
Similar to Chang’an
Checkerboard pattern
Wide boulevards
Imperial palaces surrounded by Buddhist temples
Differences:
Smaller
No Wall

25. Pop Quiz In what way did Japan reject the Chinese style of government?
A) Nobles remained in control.
B) Scholars had to take an exam.
C) The Emperor choose the best candidates.
D) Foreigners were promoted.

26. Japan’s Religion: Shinto
Love & respect for nature
Belief in spirits = Kami
Wind
Mountains
Purify unclean
Disease
Celebrate life & nature’s beauty

27. Influence on Religion Buddhism Began in India in 500’s
Siddhartha Gautama
“Buddha”
Circle of rebirth
Follow Eightfold Path
Mediation
Seek Enlightenment
Reach Nirvana
State of Peace with the Universe

28. Buddhism Spreads to Japan
Mahayana Buddhism
All people can reach Nirvana
Bodhisattvas
Reach Enlightenment
Help others reach Nirvana
Blended with Shinto
Shinto = Joyful
Buddhism = Suffering

29. Pop Quiz How did Japan remain focused on nature?
A) Bonsai trees were made the official plant.
B) Shinto was combined with Buddhism.
C) Mahayana called for Bodhisattvas.
D) All shrines would have an “eco-friendly” domed roof.

30. Influence on Writing Japanese has no written language
Used Chinese Characters
Kanji: Symbolize Japanese words
Does not sound correct
Kana: Symbolize Japanese syllables
Spell out the correct sounds

31. Influence on Literature
Poetry called Tanka
Modeled from Chinese
Syllable Count
5,7,5,7,7
About love & nature

32. Influence on Sculpture
Inspired by Buddhism
Borrowed ideas from Asia
India = Stone
Korea = Bronze
Japanese used Wood

33. Pop Quiz
Which Japanese word means “borrowed letters” referring to simplified Chinese characters that were used to represent Japanese syllables.
A) Kami
B) Kanji
C) Kana
D) Kamikaze

34. Influence on Architecture
Temple designs
India = Stupa
Bell shaped roof
China/Japan = Pagoda
Curved roof, many stories
Tower-like

35. Influence on Music Early Japanese Music
Chanted poems, war & folk songs, prayers
Few notes
String, flute & percussion instruments
Gagaku comes from China!
New instruments like the Sheng
Called Sho by Japanese
Organ that imitated Phoenix call

36. Pop Quiz What is the purpose of a pagoda? A) Home B) Business
C) Temple
D) Government Office

37. Questions?

38. Agenda
Review
Optional Meditation
Mini Test
HW: Reading Chapter 21