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Japan's History
BRIEF TIMELINE
Jomon Culture (4000 BC)

Yayoi Culture (300 BC)
Yamamota Period (250-710)
Kofun (250-538)
Asuka (538-710)
Buddhism (552 priests from Korea arrive)
Prince Shotoku (574-622)
Taika Reform (645) by Emperor Kotoku
Taiho Code (702)
Nara Period (710-784)
Heian Period (794-1185)
Fujiwara Period (858-1160)
Tale of Genji
Civil War (1156-1185)
Heiji Rebellion (1160)
Gempei War (1180-1185)
Rise of Minamoto leader Yoritomo (1147-1199)
Kamakura Period (1185-1333)
Feudalism
Shokyu War (1221)
Mongol invasions (1274)
Kemmu Restoration (1333-1336)
Ashikaga (Muromachi) Period (1336-1573)
Civil Wars
Unification (1568-1599)
Tokugawa (Edo) Period (1600-1867)
Meiji Restoration (1868-1912)
Taisho Period (1912-1926)
Showa Period (1926-1989)
World WAr II
Heisei Period (1989 to present)
GEOGRAPHY

Four main islands
Hokkaido
Honshu (main island)
Kyushu and Shikoku
Size
146,000 square miles (size of Montana)
Climate: temperate
Slightly warmer on east coast (where most people live)
Economy
Most people live on east coast
Around cities of Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto
Where farmers could harvest two crops of rice annually.
Topography and fertility
Most of Japan is mountainous (from Volcanoes)
Only about 20% of the land is suitable for cultivation
But volcanoes create extremely fertile = very productive
Natural disasters
Japan is prone to earthquakes (1923 earthquake destroyed Tokyo)
Earthquakes cause Tsunamis (as in 2011)
Consequence of geography
Culturally homogeneous (similar features) = culturally and ethnically distinct.
MYTHOLOGICAL BEGINNING
Legend of Amaterasu
Written in 8th c. B.C.E.
Islands formed as result of marriage between god Izanagi and goddess Izanami.
They gave birth to a sun goddess Amaterasu
Full name: Amaterasu-ōmikami
Meaning "the great kami (god) who shines in the heaven
A descendant of Amaterasu descended to earth and became founder of Japanese nation.
Story explains
Uniqueness of Japanese people
And divinity of the Japanese emperor (a descendant of the sun goddess Amaterasu)
EARLIEST CIVILIZATIONS
Japanese islands have been occupied for 100,000 years
JOMON PEOPLE (14,000-300 B.C.E.)
Earliest Neolithic inhabitants
Named for cord pattern on their pottery
Lived in islands from 8000 BC
Hunting, fishing, food gathering (possibly cultivated some food crops)
Agriculture introduced 1000 B.C.E.
Rice cultivation introduced by immigrants from China about 400 B.C.E.
YAYOI (300 B.C.E - 200 C.E.)
Immigrants who drove out inhabitants
Name "Yayoi"
From site near Tokyo where pottery from the period was found
Mixture of Jomon and new arrivals.
Enriched by wet rice brought from immigrants.
Yayoi were descendants of majority of present-day Japanese.
At first lived primarily on southern island of Kyushu
Eventually moved northward to main island of Honshu
Driving out locals (Ainu) (some still in northern islands
In first centuries C.E. Yayoi settled in the Yamato plain
near modern-day Osaka and Kyoto
YAMATO PERIOD (250-710 C.E.)
Legend of Jimmu
Divine warrior who led his people eastward from island of Kyushu to establish a kingdom in Yamato plain
Yamato government and society
In central Honshu, Yayoi set up a tribal society based on a number of clans called uji
Each uji was ruled by a hereditary chieftain
Who protected local population
In return for proportion of annual harvest.
Population
Small aristocratic class
Majority were rice farmers, artisans and household servants of aristocrats.
Society was highly decentralized
Eventually chieftain of the dominant clan in the Yamato region (who claimed descent form sun goddess Ameratsu) had top title.
But not centralized like Chinese rules of Shang and Zhou
Relations with China
At first Japanese didn't pay attention
early 7th century rise of Tang (centralized and expansionist)
Meddled in affairs of Korean Peninsula (worried Japanese)
Reaction of Yamato rulers
First sought alliance with remaining Korean states
Then tried to centralize their authority in order to effectively resist Chinese if invaded.
Kofun Period (250-538)
Characterized by a Shinto culture
Politically, the leadr of a powerful clan won control over much of west Honshu and northern half of Kyushu
Eventually established the Imperial House of Japan.
Asuka period (538-710)
Shotoku Taishi (572-622)
Leading aristocrat of one of leading families in Yamato region.
Served under Empress Suiko (592-628)
Who was the niece of previous emperor Sujun (588-593)
Sent missions to Tang capital of Chang'an to learn about political institutions.
Sent first diplomatic mission to China in 607
17 Article constitution (written 604, published 720)
Based on Chinese model
Called for creation of a centralized government under a supreme ruler
And a merit system of selecting and ranking public officials
wanted to limit power of the hereditary nobility and enhance prestige and authority of Yamato rulers (who claimed divine status)
Articles were very Buddhist and Confucian (morals and virtues)
Buddhism
Shotoku supported Buddhism
From Baetke (Korea)
Built Buddhist Temple Horyu-ji in 607 (Pagoda is one of oldest wooden building in world)
First Japanese traveled to China during this period as pilgrims
By 7th c., Buddhism had become popular among aristocrats
who endowed wealthy monasteries that became active in Japanese politics
At first didn't spread to masses
Then popular sects such as the Pure Land sect (from China) attracted common people
After Shotoku's death in 622
His successors continued to introduce reforms to make the government more efficient
Taika ("Great Change") Reform 645
Set of doctrines established by Emperor Kotoku
After death of Prince Shotoku (622)
Aim: greater centralization and enhance power of imperial court (based on Chinese structure)
Made everyone subject to the emperor
Land and people now belonged to him
In return clan heads given paid official jobs
New tax system established.
Now all farmland technically belonged to the state
So taxes paid directly to central government rather than local nobility
Grand Council of State established
Presiding over a cabinet of 8 ministries.
6 traditional ministries of Tang China
Pus 2 ministers (central secretariat and imperial household)
Borrowed from Chinese
Chinese written language used for all official communication
Territory divided into administrative districts like China
Rural village (ideally 50 households) was basic unit of government.
Village chief responsible for
Assigning forced labor, collecting taxes, law and order, assigning crops and cultivation of mulberry trees, maintenance of household registers
Taiho Code 702
Made leader of Yamato clan an emperor (“son of heaven”)
Criminal laws (applied to all)
Ties with Korea
Ties to Paekche/Baekje people in southwestern coast of Korean Peninsula
552 Buddhist priests from Korea arrived in Japan
Buddhism introduced 538 by Paekche
Promoted by ruling class for own purposes
When Japanese saved King of Paekche from enemies, Koguryo (in north)
Yamato politically became centralized state
NARA PERIOD (710-784)
After Shotoku's Taishi's death in 622
political influence fell to hands of the powerful Fujiwara clan
which managed to marry into the ruling family
and continue the reforms Shotoku had begun
Capital moved from Asuka to Nara in 710
City laid out on a grid similar to the great Tang city of Chang'an
on eastern edge of Yamato plain
Center of Buddhist art, religion and culture
designed in imitation of Tang Chinese capital, Chang’an
Without defensive wall
Yamato ruler began to use title "son of Heaven" in Chinese fashion
But title stayed with imperial house (not individual selected by "mandate of heaven" because of talent and virtue as in Chinese tradition)
If it had adopted Chinese style, Jpan might have followed Chinese pattern and developed centralized bureacratic govt.
But Japan didn't avoid eventual domination by aristocracy
Civil Service Exam
Unlike China, exam was not open to all but restricted to individuals of noble birth
Led to officials being awarded large tracts of land
and powerful families able to keep taxes from the lands for themselves.
increasingly, central govt. steadily lost power and influence
In 770, a Buddhist priest named Dokyo tried to become emperor
HEIAN PERIOD (794-1185)
Influence of powerful Buddhist monasteries in Nara became too powerful
In 794, Emperor Kamu moved the capital from Nara to Heian (Kyoto)
(Heian-kyo – “capital of peace and calm” court)
Heian was his family's original power base.
Like Nara, it was laid out in familiar Chang'an checkerboard pattern but on a larger scale than Nara
Emperors were more self-confident
So stopped emulating Tang
No longer sent missions to Chang'an.
Tang was also declining in 838
Japanese indigenous writing system (like kana) was established
800
Emperor’s power began to fade
Royal line descended om sun goddess
continued to rule in name
but actual power in hands of Fujiwara clan
who intermarried to link its fortunes to imperial family
a senior ember of the clan served as rgent forr the emperor.
By 850
Fujiwara family was running country
Emperor was “puppet”
Fujiwara Period (858-1160)

Imperial family lost political power
Fujiwara had daughters or sisters married to princes
When son born they became regent
Titles Shessho and Kampaku (imperial regents)
Government decentralized (like before Shotoku Taishi)
Central governments attempt to impose taxes directly on rice lands failed
rural areas came under control of powerful families
whose wealth was based on ownership of tax-exempt farmland called schoen
To avoid paying taxes
Peasants gave up lands to local aristocrat
Who allowed peasants to cultivate lands in return for rent
To obtain protection from government officials
Local aristocrats might grant title of their lands to more powerful aristocrat with influence at court
In return, these individuals would receive inheritable rights to a portion of the income from the estate
Tale of Genji
By Murasaki Hikibu (978-1016)
Civil War 1156 to 1185
Rebellions:
Hogan Rebellion (1156-1158)
Led to first stages of feudalism in Japan
Heiji Rebellion (1160)
Gempei War (1180-1185)
A society led by samurai clans emerged under rule of shogun
Beginning of feudalism
End of Heian period
Between Taira and Minamoto clans
1159
Minamoto forces stormed Kyoto
Attacked emperor’s residence
Taira
Dominated imperial government from 1160-1185
Gempei War (1180-85)
Final struggle be Taira and Minamoto clans
Fighting off coasts of Dan-no-ura beach – sea battle
Rise of Minamoto leader Yoritomo (1147-1199)
Instituted the (Kamakura) Shogunate (lasted until 1868)
Persuaded 13-year old emperor to give him title of Shogun
Made title hereditary

Feudal Japan (1185-1868)
Emperor was technically at the top
Although the emperor was only a figurehead
The government was dominated by warlords (shoguns)
While dominant power in countryside was in the hands of regional families (daimyo)
Who hired samurai (warriors) to defend the manor and the peasants
Power of merchants weak
Kamakura (1192-1333)
Shogunate
1192 court appointed Yoritomo of the Minamoto clan
To a number of high positions in government
Yorimoto defeated the Fujiwara clan (miltiary captain, north of Japan)
Positions were consolidated and he became first person designated the Shogun
Capital at Kamakura
To prevent corruption
Yoritomo established his own government away from the capital
Based in Kamakura (south of modern-day Tokyo)
Called the Bakufu
Samurai
Government was comprised entirely of samurai (warriors)
Samurai replaced nobles as real rulers of Japan
Emperor and Imperial court remained in Kyoto
Beginning of military rule (military dictatorship
Yoritomo's sons not as capable
Power in Kamakura eventually shifted to the Hojo family
Shokyu War of 1221 (shogun v. emperor)
Conflict between the Bakufu in Kamakura (shogun)
And Imperial government in Kyoto (emperor)
Question over who was really in control
Imperial army was defeated
And the Bakufu assumed total control of Japan
Mongols
Genghis Khan and Mongols terrorizing China
By 1271 Mongols under Kublai Khan
Conquered most of Asia
Sent emissaries to Japan with demands of recognition
Bakufu sent back negative reply resulting in war
All Japan united
First invasion Kyushu 1274
Saw mass murder of women and children
Samurai disadvantage
Virtually no real fighting in Japan for century
Samurai preferred simple charge into battle
No recently built castles in the area
Soldiers to old castles from Yamato Period, almost 600 years ago
Mongols ran out of arrows
Tactical withdrawal
Great storm devastating Mongolian ships as they tried to escape (lost 13,000)
7 years Kublai in China
Giving Bakufu change to organize better defense
Another wind – “kami-kazi” (divine wind)
A lot of money spent
To keep samurai ready for a possible third invasion by Mongols
Death of Emperor Go-Saga in 1272
Bitter dispute over succession to throne within the imperial family
Kemmu Restoration (1333)
Kamakura shogunate was overthrown in coup led by Emperor Go-Daigo and followers
Kusunoki Masashige
Nitta Yoshisada
Ashikaga
Goal was to bring Imperial house back to power
ASHIKAGA (MUROMACHI) SHOGUNATE (1336-1575)
New warrior government in Kyoto held weak control of country
From base in Kyoto's Muromachi district.
Patrons of newly flourishing art
Influenced by Zen Buddhist culture as well as samurai and court culture
Last time Emperor had any power until the Meiji Restoration 1867
TOKUGAWA (EDO) PERIOD (1600-1867)
Country unified under military government
Maintained 250 years of peace
Japan secluded
Only Dutch could trade with Japanese at Dejima, Nagasaki
Dutch learning
MEIJI RESTORATION (1868-1912)
Early 19th century turmoil
Declining agricultural productivity
Periodic crop failures and famines, strvation
Harsh taxation = economic hardships
Many cultivators had to sell land and move to towns
Price of rice and other commodities rose = urban poor
Samurai and daimyo in debt to growing merchant class
Peasant protests and rebellions (late 18th c./early 19th c.)
Response of Tokugawa bakufu
Conservative reforms
1841-1843, shogun chief advisor, Mizuno Tadakuni
To stem social/economic decline and hellp Tokugawa govt.
Canceled debts that samurai and daimyo owed to merchants
Abolished merchant guilds
Forced peasants to leave cities and go back to cultivate rice
Reforms resulted in strong opposition = Tadakuni fired.
Foreign pressure
Trade in Japan controlled/only opened to Dutch and Chinese in Nagasaki
1844 British, French and US ships tried to get Japan to open ports
Tokugawa officials refused
U.S Commodore Matthew Perry 1853
US naval squadron to Tokyo Bay 1852
Perry pointed guns towards bakufu capital, Edo (modern Tokyo)
Demanded that shogun open Japan to diplomatic and commercial relations
And sign treaty of friendship
Shogun quickly gave in to Perry's demands
Britain, Russia, Netherlands also won rights
Unequal treaties
Opened ports to foreign commercial trade
Government had no control over tariffs
Foreigners got extraterritorial right (didn't have to follow Japan laws)
End of Tokugawa rule
Sudden intrusion of foreigners = domestic crisis
Great opposition of conservative daimyo and emperor
Didn't like humiliating terms of unequal treaties
Questioned shogun's right to rule Japan
Centers of discontented samurai: Choshu and Satsuma
1858 opponents gathered at emperor's court in Kyoto
Slogan "revere the emperor, expel the barbarians"
Civil War
Tokugawa reacted by dismissing dissident daimyo
And killing or imprisoning samurai critics
But Bakufu armies suffered defeats by dissident militia trained by foreign experts with modern, imported weapons
Shogun forced to resign
Meiji Restoration 1868
Boy emperor Mutsuhito (later known as Meiji ("enlightened ruler") took power
Emperor Meiji (r. 2852-1912)
Reforms
Reasons
To be a strong as Europe and US
And win revision of unequal treties
How?
Foreign experts hired to help develop economy and train locals
Japanese students sent around world to study, technology, governments etc.
Fukuzawa Yukichi
In 1860 he was on first Japanese mission to the US, then Europe
Laued constitutional govenremtn and modern educational systems in US and western Europe
Argued for equality before the law in Japan
Ito Hirobumi
To Europe 1882-3 to study constitutions and administrative systems
Impressed with recently united Germany
Inspired by German constitution (used for Japan)
Social
Goal: to centralize political power (required destruction of old social order)
Persuaded daimyo to give up their lands to the throne
in exchange for patents of nobility
Old domains replaced with prefectures and metropolitan districts controlled by central governemnt
Samurai class abolished (as well as their stipends)
Samurai no longer had military monopoly
No longer allowed to carry swords or wear hair in topknot
Instead conscript army raised
Samurai given bonds but they declined in value = samurai poor.
Some samurai rose in rebellion - but new national army crushed them
Political
Authority back to Japanese emperor
End to series of military governments (in Japan since 1185)
New government
Formed by coalition of daimyo, imperial princes, court nobles, samurai
Goals
Proseperity and strength
"Rich country, strong army"
Constitution
Pressure for a constitution and representative government
Emperor believed constitutions gave foreign powers their strength and unity.
Meiji constitution
As voluntary "gift" to the people.
Drafted with help from Ito Hirobumi
Established a constitutional monarchy
Diet (legislature)
House of nobles and an elected lower house
Could advise Emperor but never control him
Emperor
Commanded armed forces
Named the prime minister
Appointed the cabinet
Had right to dissolve the parliament
When Diet not in session, the emperor could issue ordinances.
Individual rights granted (but limited to interest of state)
Franchise limited to property restrictions
In elections 1890 only 5% of adult male population could vote
Economic reforms
Tax system revamped.
Peasants traditional paid taxes in grain.
but value of grain fluctuated with price of rice causing revenue to change
1873 Meiji government converted grain tax into a fixed-money tax
Result:
Government had predictable revenue/peasants had to deal with fluctuation
Cost peasants 40-50% of their crop yields
Produced more than 90% of government revenue
Taxes also assessed on potential productivity
= Farmers had to maximize production or sell land
Modern transporation, communication and eucational inrastructure
Established telegraph, railroad and steamship lines
Tied local and regional markets into a national economic network.
No more guild restrictions or internal tariffs.
Education
40% of males and 15% of females literate
through system of universal primary and seoncary education
Universities provided advanced instruction for best students (esp. scientific and technical fields)
Rapid industrialization
90% of government revenue from land tax of 1873
Foreign revenue from export of textiles
produced in labor-intensive industry
staffed by poorly paid workers.
Formation of unions and organization of strikes were considered criminal
Govt. crushed growing labor movement in 1901
By early 20th c. Japan was a major industrial power
Zaibatsus
In 1880s the governmtn sold most of its enterprises to private investors who had close ties to giovernment officials
BUDDHISM IN JAPAN
Tendai
804, Saicho
Monastic form of Buddhism
Isolated monasteries or temples on tops of mountains
Shingon
Introduced from China by Kukai (774-835)
Three Mysteries
Mantras
Practiced by Heian nobles
Pure Land
Bodhisattva Amida
Simpler than Tendai and Shingon
Very popular during a time of degeneration and trouble
In later half of 11th century (or 1200s)
Nicheren
1200s (troubled time)
Lotus Sutra
Zen Buddhism
Chan in Chinese
Meditation
samurai
Mongols 1274
TERMS
Bushi – Warrior
Bushido – Way of the warrior (“death before dishonor)
Samurai
Kuge – aristocratic families
Bakufu – military government
Seppuku – ritual suicide
Sekkan (two titles below, Sekkan family like Fujiwara)
Sessho – title to a regent who assisted a child emperor (1st was Shotoku to Empress Suiko)
Kampaku – chief advisor for emperor (Heian era)
Taiko is a retired kampaku
Writing
Kanji – adopted Chinese characters
Kana – pair of syllaberies
Hiragana – used with kanji for native Japanese words
Katakana – used for foreign words and names and onomatopoeia