Social Studdies- Japan Study Flashcards
What was the early literature like in Japan, and what were they about/how were they written?
Poems, the earliest literary works, were included in daily life during the 7th and 8th centuries. A common form of poetry is called tanka. A tanka contains 31 syllables, divided into five lines of 5, 7, 5, 7, and 7 syllables. These poems are often devoted to love and the beauty of nature.
Where did different carving techniques in sculptures, particularly Buddhas, come from?
The Buddha statues in Japan, including a stone image from China and a Korean artist’s bronze statue were carved by Chinese and Korean immigrants. In the 7th century, a wooden Buddha sculpture near Koryuji Temple in Kyoto was created by a Japanese craftsman. The carvings, dating from the fourth to fifth hundreds of years, displayed the Buddha’s future appearance and showed Japanese craftsmen new methods. The Chinese and Korean immigrants greatly influenced Japan’s religious arts.
What were the early cultural exchanges between China, Korea, and Japan like?
The early cultural exchanges between China, Korea, and Japan were vast and very supportive for the evolution of these countries. China’s effect on Korea during the Japanese Yamato era helped to reinvigorate art, religion, and innovative ideas despite several political and economic obstacles. Along with metalworking and silk production, China and Korea brought the first two-story residences to Japan.
What was China’s influence on Korea?
China had a major influence on Korea. In the fourth century, the Silk Road played a major factor in the development of Buddhism in Korea, as Korean scholars and monks traveled to China to study the religion and educate the locals. Chinese artistic influence was evident in Korean Buddha sculptures, where the Buddha’s facial expressions became more serene. King Sejong and a group of academics created the phonetic Korean language, which was designated as the “script of the people” in 1446. Wang Kôn established the Koryŏ dynasty in 918, which brought about the reunification of the Korean peninsula and the introduction of Chinese-style civil service examinations.
How did Prince Shotoku influence Japan?
- He encouraged cultural diffusion, which is how he obtained a large amount of power
- He was born into a royal bloodline, which automatically gained him lots of power
- He was able to obtain authority and leadership of the clans when he gained power, keeping everyone safe and everything under his control
What was the Fujiwara Clan’s influence?
The Fujiwara Clan’s influence on Japan was extreme. The mid-9th century saw the shift of power in the imperial court from the emperor to aristocratic families, with the Fujiwara family controlling Japan for nearly 300 years. The Fujiwara were not rulers, but rather acted as advisers to the emperor, often coaxing older emperors to retire so a child could take the throne. The most successful Fujiwara leader was Fujiwara Michinaga, who led Japan from 995 to 1028. Despite never holding an official position in the government, Michinaga was respected and built a wealthier family, including the famous Phoenix Hall temple. In the Heian Period, he focused on Japanese culture by building temples, palaces, mansions, including the iconic Phoenix Hall representing Japan’s golden age.
What were the social ranks like, and what were the rules that they followed?
During the Heian period, rank played a significant role and was primarily based on one’s family background. The Heian court hierarchy consisted of nine main ranks, with the top three ranks filled by high court nobles appointed by the emperor. These nobles, along with officials in the fourth and fifth ranks, received profits from rice farms and taxes paid by peasants. The sixth to ninth ranks were occupied by minor officials, clerks, and experts. There were nine main ranks with sub-ranks, each with specific privileges and conduct rules for social interactions. Apart from determining privileges and conduct rules, social rank also influenced factors such as housing, carriages, number of servants, folds in fans, clothing color, height of the gatepost, and the severity of a sentence for a crime.
Who was Jimmu and what significance did he have on Japan?
Jimmu, the founder of Japan and the first emperor of Japan, was the grandson of the sun goddess Amaterasu.
How was Japan created?
The myth of how Japan was created was that two gods saw the beautiful waters that are now inhabited by Japan and thought it was beautiful so they created a water drop. Once that water drop hit the water Japan was created from it.
What were the three items given to Jimmu when he founded Japan?
A jewel, a sword, and a mirror
What was the main religion of Japan? How did it change by the influence of India, China, and Korea?
The main religion of Japan before the influence of China, India, and Korea was Shinto, and still is. China, India, and Korea brought Buddhism to Japan through diffusion. It traveled directly from China and Korea through monks and others wanting to learn.
What country did Japan take inspiration from for the writing? How?
Japan took heavy inspiration from China. They took the Chinese kanji and made them their own.
How does Japan’s geography impact where people settled and their relationship with other countries?
The Japanese geography impacted where people settled because the people who settled in southwest Japan were closer to Korea, which provided more trading opportunities and China, Korea, and Japan all influence each other and are connected.
How did Japan learn from the Chinese government?
Japan learned from the Chinese government by adopting the style; they had one emperor as well as the 9 rank system.
What were some of the differences between the Chinese Government system and the Japanese government system?
A difference was that Prince Shotoku called for government officials to be chosen based on their ability. As in China, a powerful aristocracy developed in Japan during the 9th century.
