World History CP

Early Japanese SocietyEarliest Japanese

society was organized into clans, or groups of families descended from a common ancestor.Each family inherited

its position; warriors, farmers, weavers, potters

By 400 A.D.: Several clans formed a union and settled in the district called Yamato.

Early Japanese SocietyThe clans of Yamato

united much of Japan and even governed a small area of southern Korea.

Tenno ClanLed the unionClaimed to be

descended from the sun goddess Amaterasu.

In time, set up Japan’s first and only ruling dynasty.

Adapting Chinese Patterns500s: Missionaries from

Korea introduced Buddhism and Chinese culture to Japan.Brought Chinese script,

which became Japan’s first written language.

Japanese were impressed with the Chinese.

607 A.D.: Prince Shotoku of the imperial family sent a group of Japanese nobles to China.Spent years studying

Chinese government, art, literature, science, and philosophy.

Adapting Chinese PatternsChinese influence

reached every level of Japanese life.GovernmentConfucian and Daoist

philosophiesUsed Chinese tools

and farming methodsRaised Chinese cropsAbsorbed Chinese

ideas about music, dance, sculpture, and architecture.

Adopted the Chinese idea of one set capital.

Adapting Chinese PatternsDespite borrowing from

the Chinese, Japan still maintained their own identity.Selected the ideas that

worked for them.Wouldn’t use the ideas

that didn’t work. Tried civil service but

scrapped it.Never accepted the

Mandate of HeavenAccepted Buddhism, but

kept traditional beliefs.Did not change

dynasties, unlike the Chinese.

Heian Court794: Emperor moved his

court to Heian, present-day Kyoto.

During this time the developed a new Japanese system of writing called kana.

The power of the emperor was declining, and by the 800s great court families controlled Japan.Divided land into private

estates, which they assigned to local strongmen.

Peasants worked the land.

Heian CourtSlowly, a single

family, the Fujiwara gained great land wealth and concentrated power in their own hands.

Fujiwara ruled Japan for 200 years.Emperor became a

figured head. Carried out religious

duties but had no real power.

Japanese FeudalismDuring the 1100s,

strong warrior families challenged the power of the Heian court.

Samurai, or warrior knights, waged fierce battles for control of the land.

Feudalism emerged out of the conflict.Feudalism: System

where local lords ruled the land, but they had to be loyal to the emperor.

Japanese Feudalism1192: Minamoto

Yoritomo had emerged as the strongest military figure in Japan.The emperor gave

him the title of shogun, or chief general of the army.

A new feudal class system emerged under Minamoto and his successors.

Japanese FeudalismJapanese Feudal

SystemEmperor stood at the

head of the system, but remained a figurehead.

The shogun exercised the most power. Controlled the land and

the people. Commanded an army of

samurai.Commoners

Peasants, artisans, merchants

Japanese FeudalismIn theory, the Shogun

commanded complete loyalty of his lords.

In practice, the samurai lords and their followers battled for power with the shogun and one another.

By the 1400s, Japan was in constant state of war.The shogunate passed

from one military family to another.

Achieving Unity1500s: Several strong

military leaders pushed to reunite Japan.

Toyotomi HideyoshiAble general who was

the most successful in reuniting Japan.

1590: Brought all of Japan under his control.

Invaded Korea and hoped to conquer China.

Failed in his goals, but built the foundations for a united Japan.

Achieving Unity1600: Tokugawa

Ieyasu, Hideyoshi’s successor, claimed the title of shogun.Set up the Tokugawa

shogunate, which lasted until 1868.

During this time, shoguns created a peaceful, orderly society under centralized feudalism.

Achieving UnityTokugawa shoguns left

feudal class in place, but brought the daimyo under their control.Daimyo: great samuraiShogun required

daimyo to spend every other year in Edo (Tokyo).

Daimyo had to leave their wives and children in Edo as permanent hostages to ensure their good behavior.

Emperor remained a powerless figurehead.

Achieving UnityEconomic and Social

Changes:Edo grew from a small

fishing village to a bustling city.

Roads improved.Trade and travel

increased.Cities and towns

sprang up by harbors and along rivers.

New economic markets developed.

Achieving UnityEconomic and Social

Changes:The daimyo and their

samurai followers had to adapt to the changing conditions. No longer spent all its time

fighting. Some samurai became

government officials. Others managed the

estates of daimyos and the shogun.

Education became more widespread.

By the early 1800s, Japan had become a unified nation in many ways.

An Isolated NationEarly on, the Tokugawas felt threatened by the

growing number of westerners who were arriving in Japan.Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch, EnglishCatholic missionaries had success in converting people,

which angered the shogun.Early 1600s: Japanese government began persecuting

foreign missionaries and Japanese Christians.1639: Japan was closed to the world.

Foreigners were forbidden from entering the country.Japanese who left couldn’t return.Outlawed the building of ocean-going ships.Exceptions: Some contact with China, Korea, and the

Dutch.Isolation lasted for more than 200 years.