* Archipelago- a chain of islands
* 4 islands- Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, Kyushu
* 4/5 is barren land- bad (mountains too)
Have to live on the sea- seaweed/ fish
rain helps some farming
* Fish industry
* Far enough to not be invaded.
Close enough to trade/ be influenced/ take ideas
* Ring of Fire- surrounded by volcanoes
Earthquakes cause Tsunamis
= Feared Nature
Ainu- people before Japan was established
* pushed out to Hokkaido
Uji - clans
* own chief & ancestral god
* can be women
Yamato Clan: (ONLY DYNASTY IN THE WHOLE OF JAPAN)
* Conquered corner of Honshu (1000yrs)
* Set up 1st and only dynasty
* Rising sun- flag/ symbol (yellow)
* Ancestors- sun goddess Amasterasu
Shinto:
* Kami- superior power in nature
* Shinto = “the way of kami”
* Temples:
* Located in beautiful naturesque places/ pas de fancy buildings
Korea influences Japan:
* Language- Japanese is related to Korean- but not to Chinese at all!
* Migration- Korean metal workers/ artisans went to Japan
* Fought sea wars all the time
* Korea gave Buddhism to Japan
* Chinese language
* Curiosity about China to Japan
(even though its not something to give -.-)
China influences Japan:
1. Japanese students study in China- bring back culture (tech)
2. Government:
*
‘Heavenly Emperor’- rules w/ absolute power
* Bureaucracy- only for royals, not small clans
* Similar Law Code
3. Capitol Nara- designed after Chang’an of the Tangs
* Chinese fashion, food, music, dance, and tea parties
4. Officials wrote imp. documents in Chinese
5. Buddhism
6. Confucianism (feudalism/ hunger for learning)
7. Pagoda architecture
Selective Borrowing:
* Borrowed some from Chinese and left out/ modified others
* Ex 1. In china, anyone could take test & become an official (earned)...
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