Back to Index of Lecture Notes Early and Medieval Japan I. Introdution

• A. Geography
  • 1. Island chain
  • 2. Bad seas protect from the east (China)
  • 3. Pacific isolates it on the west
• B. Relationship to China
  • 1. Early, continuous small relationship
  • 2. Some transfer of people from mainland
  • 3. Japan good at adopting Chinese culture for its own purposes - Confucianism
• C. Indigenous and Foreign culture
  • 1. Japanese genius is ability to take things foreign, make them their own
  • 2. Adopt foreign ways (such as Zen Buddhism) while keeping own (Shinto)
  • 3. Korea serves as main bridge to mainland
• D. Religion
  • 1. Shinto - indigenous Japanese religion
    • a. animist, nature-oriented
    • b. emphasis on natural beauty
    • c. shrines located in areas of great natural beauty
    • d. importance of cleanliness
  • 2. Zen Buddhism
    • a. adopted from China
    • b. emphasis on nature, meditation, austerity, self discipline well suited to Japanese culture
    • c. many Japanese practice both

II. Politics and Civilization

• A. Relative Latecomers
  • 1. Early civilization on Kyushu (southernmost island) 200s AD
  • 2. At least in part the product of migration from Korea
  • 3. clan-based society
  • 4. Most powerful clan - Yamato Clan
    • a. gain power 400s-500s AD
    • b. will found imperial dynasty
    • c. still hold that title - longest dynasty in human history
    • d. but for most of that period, emperor is a figurehead
• B. Shotoku Taishi (572-622)
  • 1. Noble who sought to bring Confucianism to Japan
  • 2. developed a "constitution" of sorts for Japan
  • 3. sent thousands of youths to China in 600s to study
• C. Confucianism in Japan
  • 1. Japan adopts Confucian ideals of harmony, order, honor
  • 2. Adds to that obedience, self-control
• D. Nara Period (710-784 AD)
  • 1. After death of Shotoku Taishi, period of chaos 622-710 AD
  • 2. Indeed, the problem of achieving unity is a constant one in Japanese history
  • 3. New capital established at Nara in 710
  • 4. Chinese concept of emperor as "son of heaven" adopted in this period
• E. Heian (Kyoto) Period - 794-1185
  • 1. Japan becomes more isolated in this period
  • 2. Period of struggle between emperor and daimyos (land-owning nobles)
  • 3. Emperor ceases to be a real power in this period

III. The Problem of Unity - or the lack of it

• A. Japan has had real trouble creating a strong, centralized government
  • 1. Daimyos - independent land-owning nobility
  • 2. fought power of emperor, increasingly refused to pay taxes
• B. Development of Japanese feudalism
  • 1. peasants had to pay taxes
  • 2. If they gave land to daimyos, they wouldn't have to pay
  • 3. did this when unable to pay
  • 4. as nobles gained land, fewer land-owning peasants available to pay taxes to emperor
  • 5. thus nobility gained power as emperor increasingly weakened
• C. Role of military
  • 1. samurai - the military class of Japan
  • 2. loyal to local daimyos, not emperor
  • 3. governed by strict code of honor and discipline - bushido
  • 4. only they could wear swords

IV. The Shogun

• A. Shogun - officially, the leader of the military for emperor
• B. But reality was different
  • 1. as emperor weakened, daimyos competed for power
  • 2. sought to become shogun, rule in emperor's name
  • 3. emperor would be captive of shogun, who had real power
• C. Minamato Yoritomo - 1142-1199
  • 1. Sets up the first shogunate
  • 2. shogunate - government by shogun
  • 3. Stronger than other daimyos, but can not destroy them
• D. The Shogunate
  • 1. as long as shogun is strong, and can control the daimyos, Japan is unified
  • 2. but if the shogun weakens, Japan increasingly fractured
  • 3. Yoritomo's successors able to hold power through 1300s
  • 4. But by 1400s, Japan slips back into civil war

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