1. Land and Climate
1.1. Japan is part of the Ring of Fire, a region of volcanoes and earthquakes that circle the Pacific Ocean. Mount Fuji last erupted in the early 1700s, but other volcanoes in Japan are still active. Japan has many hot springs, which also indicate underground volcanic activity.
2. ------------------------------------- Lesson Title: Rise of Japan Lesson Duration: 15 Minutes --------------------------------------
3. Geography of Japan
3.1. Japan is an archipelago, or chain of islands, near the coast of Asia
3.2. They called their country Nippon, which means “land of the rising sun.” In Japanese myth, the Sun Goddess was the country’s special protector.
4. Its Neighbors
4.1. Early Inhabitation
4.1.1. Land bridges linked Japan with Korea in the south and with Siberia in the north.
4.1.2. The first wave of settlers most likely came during the Ice Age, which ended about 11,000 years ago
4.1.3. By about 300 B.C., another group of settlers had arrived from Asia. Their culture included skill in working iron and bronze. They also knew how to weave cloth. Most importantly, they introduced a new farming technique: growing rice in irrigated fields. Rice soon became Japan’s most important crop.
4.2. Borrowed Writing System
4.2.1. Around A.D. 500, the Japanese began to borrow the Chinese writing system.
4.2.2. Early Japanese writing used Chinese characters in two ways: Some characters stood for ideas, as they do in written Chinese. Others stood for the sounds of Japanese syllables.
5. Buddhism
5.1. Japan also developed ties with Korea. In A.D. 552, Buddhist priests from Korea arrived in Japan.
5.2. The Japanese believed that Shinto gods created Japan as a special group of islands. Buddhism, however, immediately appealed to many Japanese.
6. Myths
6.1. A Chinese writer who visited Japan in the 200s observed a country divided into many local clans.
6.1.1. Most people in a clan were farmers. Some were craft workers such as weavers. Others were soldiers. This social organization lasted for hundreds of years.
6.2. Under Shinto, each clan worshiped its own local kami, or gods and spirits
6.2.1. Shinto myths explain how Japan came to be ruled by an emperor.
6.2.2. According to legend, the Sun Goddess and her brother, the Storm God, often quarreled. Each supported different clans who were fighting to rule Japan.
6.3. The Sun Goddess won the conflict and sent her grandson Ninigi to rule Japan. She gave Ninigi three treasures. The first, a bronze mirror, was a symbol of truth. The second, an iron sword, stood for wisdom. The third, a curved jewel, symbolized kindness. All three were passed down to Ninigi’s grandson Jimmu. According to myth, Jimmu became Japan’s first emperor in 660 B.C.
6.3.1. Yamato emperors claimed descent from the royal “Sun” line. As descendants of the Sun Goddess, the emperors were thought to be living gods on Earth. Even today, Japan’s imperial family traces its descent from this same Sun line.
7. The Mongol Invasion
7.1. Since the reign of Prince Shotoku, the Japanese had borrowed much of their culture from China. But in about 900, Japan stopped sending official missions to China. Then, as you have read, Mongol invaders took over China in the 1200s. The Mongol ruler, Kublai Khan, soon ruled all of East Asia.
7.1.1. In 1268, Kublai Khan sent official representatives to demand tribute from Japan. If Japan did not pay for the Khanís friendship, they said, there would be war. However, the shogunís government sent the representatives away. This so angered the Great Khan that he began to build a fleet of ships to do something that had never been done before: invade Japan.
7.2. The First Mongol Invasion
7.2.1. In November 1274, the Khan sent an armada,or large fleet of ships, to Japan. The 450 ships carried more than 25,000 Mongol and Korean troops, along with their horses and weapons
7.2.2. The Mongols fought in trained units of mounted cavalry. They had strange new weapons in the form of bombs that exploded with deafening bangs. This was the first experience Japanese warriors had with gunpowder weapons. Yet the samurai fought bravely and held off the invadersí first attack.
7.2.2.1. A fierce storm arose as predicted by an experienced Korean sailor, but ignored. Those ships not shattered by the heavy winds were blown out to sea. Nearly 13,000 men were drowned.
7.2.2.1.1. Kublai Khan blamed the storm for the failure of the invasion. He sent more officials to Japan demanding tribute. This time, the shogun had them beheaded on the beach!
7.2.3. Second Invasion
7.2.3.1. In 1281, Kublai Khan tried again. This time his force was even largerósome 140,000 soldiers. The Japanese warriors held off the invaders for nearly two months. In desperation, the Japanese prayed to the gods for help.
7.2.3.1.1. Without warning, a typhoon, or violent tropical storm, came roaring across the sea. Strong winds battered the Mongol ships, and towering waves drove them against the shore. Thousands of Mongol and Chinese soldiers were drowned. Thousands more were stranded on shore, where Japanese warriors killed them.
8. Feudal System
8.1. In 1185, Minamoto and Taira forces clashed at sea. On one of the Taira ships stood seven-year-old Antoku, the emperor of Japan, along with his mother and grandmother. The three carried the ancient symbols of imperial power—the mirror, sword, and jewel.
9. Map of Japan
10. Prince Shotoku
10.1. in 593, a young leader known as Prince Shotoku took power in Japan. Shotoku was not an emperor. He served as regent for the empress, his Aunt Suiko. A regent is someone who governs a country in the name of a ruler who is too young or otherwise unable to rule.
10.2. Reform
10.2.1. Shotoku undertook the difficult task of uniting Japan under a strong central government.
10.2.2. Spread Buddhism
10.2.2.1. Japan had two different capitals in the 700s. Buddhist influence was an important factor in this period.
10.2.3. Prince Shotoku studied the writings of Confucius. Shotoku believed that Confucianism could help unify his country. In about A.D. 604, the prince gave Japan its first constitution, or plan of government. It is called the Constitution of Seventeen Articles.
10.2.3.1. Examples: first article: harmony and second article: reverence and respect for devotion,
11. Shift in Power
11.1. Rival clans battle for power
11.2. Rise of the Fujiwara
11.2.1. In the 800s, the emperor’s power began to fade. By about 850, the Fujiwara family was running the country.
11.2.1.1. The Fujiwara rose to power by having their daughters or sisters marry princes of the imperial family. As soon as a son was born, the emperor was persuaded to step down from power. A Fujiwara leader would then become regent for the child. When the young emperor was finally old enough to rule, his uncle or grandfather would become his advisor until a new son was born. Then the cycle began again.
11.3. Rival Clans
11.3.1. The most powerful of these warrior clans were the Taira and Minamoto. They worked together just long enough to drive the Fujiwara from power. Then they turned against each other.
11.4. First Shogun
11.4.1. In 1185, Minamoto and Taira forces clashed at sea. On one of the Taira ships stood seven-year-old Antoku, the emperor of Japan, along with his mother and grandmother. The three carried the ancient symbols of imperial power—the mirror, sword, and jewel.
12. The Way of the Warrior
12.1. Samurai Warriors Samurai warriors provided protection for the daimyo. A samurai treasured his armor and weapons, and worked tirelessly to improve his fighting skills. Critical Thinking:
12.2. The Code of Bushido The code of bushido governed a samuraiís life. He trained fiercely, fought bravely, and died with honor. He spent years learning how to use a sword and shoot an arrow with deadly skill. ìA samurai should live and die with sword in hand,î one samurai advised
12.3. Loyalty and Honor Under the code of bushido, loyalty to oneís lord was more important than loyalty to family, religion, or even the emperor. If a samuraiís lord was in danger, he would follow him
13. Japan is Unified
13.1. After centuries of conflict, three strong rulers finally brought peace and unity to Japan.
13.1.1. Finally, in the 1500s, three ambitious leaders managed to end the constant warfare. The first, Oda Nobunaga ,worked all his life to bring Japan ì under a single sword.While Nobunaga did not fully succeed, he reduced the power of the warlords
13.1.2. The second great leader, Toyotomi Hideyoshi ,unified Japan in 1590. However, the peace he brought to the country was held together only by personal loyalties to him. When Hideyoshi died, clans began to quarrel once more
13.1.3. The third leader, Tokugawa Leyasu ,united the country once more in 1600. After taking the title of shogun, Leyasu founded a new capital at Edo (present day Tokyo). He ordered the daimyo to destroy their castles and spend much of the year in Edo, where he could watch over them. These measures ended the violence at last. The Tokugawa family ruled a peaceful, unified Japan until 1868.