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Japanese Traditional Culture and Society

by Steve McCarty

Yeungnam University Short-Term ProgramDay 1 at Kansai University, 14 January 2016

Self-Introductions

Warm-up: Getting to know each other First, let’s introduce ourselves. Say your name and what you are studying or researching. Then tell us something interesting about yourself, or an intercultural experience you have had. During the presentation, please think of any questions or comments you have about history, Japanese culture, people, etc. I will ask you later.

Geography & climate Prehistoric periods: Jomon pottery, Yayoi rice, Kofun mounds Mythical origins of the Imperial family & Japanese nation Japanese religions

Indigenous Shinto religion Asian civilization adopted through Buddhism Co-existence & fusion of Shinto with Buddhism First country to spread Buddhism to the masses

Classical periods: Asuka, Nara, Heian (Kyoto) From Asian influences to distinctive Japanese culture

Capital moves from west (Kansai area) to east (Tokyo area) Kamakura Period: Shogun, samurai, martial arts, tea, Zen Edo Period: from warring states to peace and isolation

Modernizing, not so religious anymore, war and peace again Meiji, Taisho, Showa, & present Heisei periods

Conclusion / last questions & comments

Outline

Geography and Climate

The ancient is renewed:3D projection mapping onto the Shinto shrineKashihara Jingu in Nara（橿原神宮、奈良県）

Screen shots from aSankei newspaper1 April 2014 video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FMdfB6-DMA

The Hashihaka Kofun ( 箸墓古墳 ) also in Nara (Yamato), around 250 AD, may be the tomb of shaman Queen Himiko (or Pimiko). The Yamato clan may have begun the Imperial family after that time, but the Kojiki & Nihon Shoki do not mention her name.

http://matome.naver.jp/odai/2139478598254597201/2139651501531105703

伊勢神宮 外宮別宮 月讀宮 - Tsukiyomi no miya (Geku of Ise Grand Shrine) by Tamago Moffle, 2010, CC BY-SA 2.0 https://flic.kr/p/7QLJKP

Ancient styleShinto architecture

NARA: 法隆寺 Horyuji temple by ume-y, 2013, CC BY 2.0 https://flic.kr/p/eSekCB

Nara PeriodBuddhist architecture

KYOTO spring:Kiyomizu Temple

Summer: Gion Festival

KYOTO fall

Kukai (空海 ), Kyoto, and Mt. Koya

http://www.waoe.org/steve/Japanese_People_and_Society.pdf

Kukai and the Pilgrimage of Shikoku

http://www.waoe.org/steve/island.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yayoi_periodhttp://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/history/b_chron-txt.htm

Japaneseperiods

Buddhisthistory

K = KoreaJ = Japan

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JJ

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J

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J

K

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Buddhist history (continued)K = Korea J = Japan

Least Religious Countries Today

http://i100.independent.co.uk/article/how-strongly-different-countries-around-the-world-feel-about-religion-in-one-graph--WkKNcG11nx (2016)

Questions & Comments

Let’s discuss traditional East Asia Please ask any questions you have about Japanese history, culture, or ways of thinking. Or make a comment: for example, compare traditional Korea with traditional Japan, or say what you think about East Asian history. At the end of the presentation, and tomorrow, I will ask for questions or comments again.

Japanese ways of thinking• Other-oriented values• Individual and peer group• Concept of time• Environment and nature• Status and hierarchy• Male-female differences• Importance of age• Reasons for many suicides• Human relations most important

Social behavior & relationships• Levels of social distance– Intimate circle, face relations, strangers

• Politeness, indirectness, formality– Avoiding confrontation

• Inside and Outside – uchi & soto, honne & tatemae– Private self (reserve) & public self (restraint)

• Many Obligations: gimu, on, giri• Balancing give & take of gifts & favors– Symbolism of gifts and objects

Discussion / Conclusion

Final Questions or Comments Please volunteer any questions or comments you have about Japan or this presentation.

Tomorrow I will ask for questions or comments about contemporary Japan. Enjoy more interaction including a fun quiz to check your understanding.

Thank you!

Publications by Steve McCarty:http://www.waoe.org/steve/epublist.htmlwaoesteve on Facebook, Twitter, & @gmail