An Introduction to Japan

E. Napp

Objective: To identify and explain Japan’s Geography and Early Civilization

Do Now: Multiple-choice questions from previous lessons

1.A similarity between Shinto in Japan and animism in African societies is that both
(1) use the Torah to establish law codes
(2) stress the importance of the Eightfold Path
(3) believe that spirits exist in nature
(4) base social rank on a caste system
2. The introduction of Buddhism into Japan and of Christianity into Africa are examples of
(1) modernization
(2) ethnic conflict
(3) cultural diffusion
(4) isolation
3. Which geographic factor had the most influence on the development of Inca society and Japanese society?
(1) frequent monsoons
(2) large deserts
(3) mountainous topography
(4) tropical climate / 4.Which statement about the geography of Japan is most accurate?
(1) Location has made it easy to invade.
(2) The irregular coastline has many natural harbors.
(3) Large plains are its primary physical feature.
(4) Earthquakes do not threaten the islands
5.One similarity between animism and Shinto is that people who follow these belief systems
(1) practice filial piety
(2) worship spirits in nature
(3) are monotheistic
(4) are required to make pilgrimages
6. Which pair of belief systems share a belief that spirits reside in natural objects and forms?
(1) Hinduism and Confucianism
(2) Islam and Judaism
(3) Shintoism and animism
(4) Christianity and Buddhism

Cornell Notes Outline: An Introduction to Japan(Add Key Words and Summaries)

The Key Words: / The Notes:
  1. Geography
  2. Archipelago
1-Series of islands
a)seas for fishing and trade
  1. Mountainous
1-did not separate the people
2-less land for farming
a)much of the land is not arable
3-leads to overcrowding
  1. Few Natural Resources
1-Must trade or die
  1. Chinese Influence
  2. Japan’s proximity to China
1-cultural diffusion through Korea
  1. Writing, Confucianism, Buddhism, Chopsticks, and Tea Drinking
1-But selective borrowing
2-Did not adopt Mandate of Heaven
  1. Traditional Culture
  2. Shintoism
1-Japanese animism
2-Importance of nature
  1. Emperor
1-descendant of Sun Goddess
  1. Golden Age
1-Heian Period
2-Earliest novel
a) Tale of the Genji by Lady Murasaki
The Summaries:

Please read the passage below and answer the questions:

Japan is an archipelago or a series of islands. While Japan consists of more than 3,000 islands, the Japanese live on four main islands. The four main islands are Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu. The waters that surrounded Japan protected it from invaders. Unlike China and India, foreign armies never conquered Japan. However, cultural diffusion did occur. Japan received many ideas from Korea and China. The Japanese adapted these ideas to fit their own culture. Thus, while the Japanese borrowed many ideas from other cultures, they still maintained their own unique culture.

Japan is also mountainous. While the mountains are not high enough to separate the people of Japan, the mountains make farming difficult. Japan has little arable or good for farming land. In addition, Japan lacks many natural resources. As a result of this lack of natural resources, the Japanese have had to conquer other lands or trade to acquire these natural resources.

Questions:

What is an archipelago? ______

What are two geographic effects of the Japanese islands on the people of Japan? ______

Who have the Japanese borrowed cultural ideas from? ______

Why is farming difficult in Japan? ______

Why do the Japanese believe that they must trade or die in the world today? ______

Because of Japan’s nearness to China, it was greatly influenced by Chinese ideas, culture, and technology. Scholars and merchants brought Chinese culture to Japan, including their method of writing, Confucianism, Buddhism, which had spread from India to China. However, Japanese culture was never an exact copy of China. The Japanese rejected several Chinese practices. For example, the Japanese never adopted the Chinese idea of the Mandate of Heaven or the belief that the gods chose the emperor but could also remove a corrupt emperor. The Japanese, unlike the Chinese, believed that the emperor was directly descended from the Sun Goddess. The Japanese had one dynasty of emperors due to this belief.

Why was Japan influenced by China? ______

How did the Chinese influence the Japanese? ______

What aspect of Chinese culture did the Japanese reject? ______

Why did the Japanese reject this? ______

The Heian Period was a golden age of Japanese culture. It lasted from 794 to 1185 A.D. Members of leading noble families spent much of their time at the imperial or emperor’s court. Art and literature flourished. One of the earliest novels ever written and a classic of Japanese literature, the Tale of the Genji, was completed in 1008 by Lady Murasaki.

Describe Japan’s golden age: ______

More Questions:

Which aspect of Chinese culture was never adopted by the Japanese?

1-the Mandate of Heaven

2-chopsticks

3-ceramics

4-Buddhist beliefs

The traditional Japanese concept of the role of the emperor and the Chinese belief in the Mandate of Heaven were both based on

1-the democratic election of rulers

2-a division of power between the nobility and the emperor

3-the belief that political power comes from a divine source

4-a constitution that defines individual rights

Korea greatly influenced the development of early Japan by

  1. acting as a bridge for ideas from China
  2. providing Japan with the technology for industrialization
  3. serving as a barrier against Chinese aggression
  4. protecting Japan from early European exploration