Classical Time Period

Political (500-1185)

Started to become a centralized state

Taika Reforms

Strong Japanese state emerges

Structured government

Aristocracy Imperial court

Economy

Had taxes for offices, roads, irrigation systems

Heiji Rebellion

Hogen Rebellion

Had servants for land

Religion

Buddhism Promoted largely by ruling class for own good

Not popular at first

Practice of it led to discontinuing burying dead in

kofuns Chinese culture also spread

Culture

Peak of Japanese art, poetry and literature

Tale of Genji

Writing systems emerged like the kana

Chinese influence decreased

Culture started to flower

Interactions

Chinese influence spread to Japan

Spread of Buddhism to Japan

Writing systems also spread into Japan

Japan traded with a few countries, but trade was little

Kamakura Period

(1185-1573) Political

Daimyos Shogun Yuan Dynasty

Ming Dynasty

Shogunates

Economy

Mostly military concern

Bad economy

Didn't’t really care about people

Spent most of time and money on military

Religion

Buddhism was still present in Japan

Confucian values such as loyalty to master

Influence of bureaucracy

Chinese culture making less of an impact

Culture

Dynasties are starting to appear

Military is strengthening

Upper class is still in control

Slaves Landlords Warrior class

Interactions

Mongols try to invade Japan

Mongols tried twice but failed

Japan feared they will invade again

Japanese traded with China before Mongol China tried

to invade Japan

Started to trade again with China

Edo Period

(1603-1868) Political

Daimyos shared administration of company

Tokugawa shogunates carried out many policies

Called “peaceful state”

Laws limiting dress, hairstyles, and accessories

Economy

80% were rice farmers

Rice production increased

Merchants prospered but were low in status

Commercialization grew

High profit crops

Religion

Christianity started to spread

Buddhism Shrines Temples

Culture

Emperor on top

Then daimyos and shoguns

Ukiyo-e, woodblock printing

Technology improved, and farmers improved irrigation

Interactions

Domestic trade

Japan had rice

Mathew Perry of US went to Japan to persuade them to

open their doors

Harris Treaty signed with the US in 1858 (opened

ports)

Imperial Japan

(1868-1945) Political

Became imperial power

Colonized Korea and Taiwan

World War 2 Meji Restoration

Industrial Revolution is 1870

Economy

Built railroads, and roads

Textiles appeared (cotton and silk)

Bank of Japan founded in 1877

Used to fund steel and textile factories

Education started to expand

Religion

State Shinto became official religion

People forced to practice it and admit that the

Emperor was divine

Those who opposed were persecuted

Buddhism still remained

Culture

Had shoguns

Different diseases are around

Increased attention to children

Reformers, child experts, and well educated mothers

top the upper-class a model of childhood that gave

children space for reading, playing etc.

Interactions

Wars with Russia and China

Japan participated in World War 1 on Allied side

Japan also bombed Pearl Harbor in the USA

America bombed Japan

Postwar Japan

(1945-present day)

Politcal

Transformed into a democratic state

Constitution of Japan

Became economic power state

US want to Japan to establish democratic self-

government Also wanted Japan to be a peaceful nation

Economy

Rice patties Powerful labor unions

Economy continued to boom

Steel working, car manufacturing, and manufacturing

of electronic goods

Had growing trade surplus

Religion

Buddhism Shinto abolished

Christianity Many missionaries came to Japan

Culture

Social reform

Japanese officials

Worked in factories

Had an emperor

Interactions

Japan had a surplus of trade

Made an alliance with the USA

Cold War Treaty of Peace with Japan

Vietnam War

ContinuityPolitical

Heian Culture

ChangesPolitical

Revolutions Great China influence to Japan establishing own

culture

ContinuitiesEconomy

Agriculture Trade

ChangeEconomy

Non westernizing to westernizing

Only farming to having factories and farming

ContinuityReligion

Shintoism Buddhism

ChangesReligion

Having only two religions to many different types

From emperors trying to convert people to Shintoism

to bringing Christian missionaries

ContinuityCulture

Art Literature

ChangeCulture

Push on kids to go to school

Feudalism

ContinuityInteractions

Trade continued

Ideas of China into Japan

ChangeInteractions

Wars with different countries to trying to be peaceful

From having no alliances to making alliances with

countries

Japan vs. China

Culture

Comparison

Both want children to study and do well in school

Both are family oriented

Japan vs. China

Culture

Contrast

Japanese are very quiet because they find it a good

manner, and Chinese are loud

Japan more westernized, and industrialized than

China

China vs. Japan

Similarities

Cultures are mostly the same

China vs. Japan

China is communist, and Japan is capitalist

China has more ethnic minorities than Japan