Japan, 400 A.D./C.E. – 1500s

 

Students analyze the geographic, political, economic, social, and religious structures of the civilizations.

 

 

Japan
Japan

An exciting image of Ezo kōkyō yochi zenzu. Tonsai Fujita Ryō, Hashimoto Ransai shukuzu. It was taken Edo, Harimaya Katsugorō, Kaei 7 i.e. 1854. Hokkaido (Japan). Scale ca. 1:360,000. Wood-block print. Relief shown pictorially. Japanese. Includes text.

Tokyo in 1600s
Tokyo in 1600s

A stunning map of Tokyo in the 1600's; Bushū Toshima-gun Edo-shō zu. It was made in1682. Scale ca. 1:7,500. On cover, annotated in black ink: Edo ōezu. Title on label on cover: Kan'ei Edo kozu. Wood block print. Relief shown pictorially. Pictorial map. Cadastral map showing land ownership in central Tokyo. Includes distance chart.

Japan
Japan

An exciting image of Ezo kōkyō yochi zenzu. Tonsai Fujita Ryō, Hashimoto Ransai shukuzu. It was taken Edo, Harimaya Katsugorō, Kaei 7 i.e. 1854. Hokkaido (Japan). Scale ca. 1:360,000. Wood-block print. Relief shown pictorially. Japanese. Includes text.

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ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS
VOCABULARY

REFLECTION

 

Focus Question: What were the major economic, political and religious developments in Japanese history?

  • How did Japanese feudalism affect their relations with mainland Asia? 

QUOTATION

 

 

  • "Art is the illusion of spontaneity." ~Japanese Proverb

  •  

    "Fall down seven times, get up eight." ~Japanese Proverb

ENDURING UNDERSTANDINGS STUDENTS WILL UNDERSTAND:

 

  • Japan had religious, economic, and cultural relationships with China and Korea.

 

VOCABULARY:

  • Buddhism

  • daimyo

  • Edo [Japan (ancient)]

  • kami

  • Kyoto

  • Lady Murasaki Shikibu (The Tale of Genji)

  • Nara

  • samurai

  • Shinto

  • shogun

  • tea

  • Tokugawa

  • Tokyo

  • tsunami

  • Zen Buddhism

 

 

ONLINE LESSONS

KEY LINKS ON JAPAN

 

A timeline of Japanese history which includes a sidebar with events from Western history for comparison.

Religion in Japan...

7.27 Compare the major features of Shinto, Japan’s indigenous religion, and Japanese Buddhism.

 

 

MAP OF JAPAN PROJECT

To provide a very basic introduction to the geography of Japan, and also to experiment with the art technique of drawing with a wax that will resist the application of a water-based paint.

 

THE EVOLUTION OF SHINTO AND JAPANESE BUDDHISM

 

There are two principal religions in Japan

More of a set of traditions and customs than religion.  Not bound by a formal set of rules, like the Bible in Christianity or Koran in Islam. Classified as an animist religion.  People believe in the spirits of nature (kami).  Can be found in a tree, rock, waterfall, etc.

 

Japanese people are not very religious, greatest part of the population only visiting temples for the New Year.  The Japanese also do not mind mixing elements of Buddhism and Shinto with one another.  Many people would be at a loss to say which element belongs to which religion.

 

There is a Christian minority in Japan.  Dates back from the contact with Portuguese and Spanish missionaries in the 16th century.  Christians only make up 1% of the Japanese population, most are to be found on the southern island of Kyushu and especially in the city of Nagasaki.

 

There are only a few thousand Muslims residing in Japan.  All of them are immigrants from Muslim countries, mostly Indonesia, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Iran and Turkey, or recent Japanese converts who married them.

 

Confucianism, Shintoism and Taoism:  World History Review...

(Confusianism, Shintoism and Taoism) Although not technically polytheistic, three SE Asian religions will be the focus of this HipHughes lecture.

History of Japan in Five Minutes...

2000 years of Japanese history abridged to 5 minutes.

7.29 Trace the emergence of the Japanese nation during the Nara, 710-794, and the Heian periods, 794-1180.

 

 

 

The Upside of Isolated Civilizations...

What do the ancient Egyptians, the Mayans of Mesoamerica, and the Medieval Japanese have in common? They were all physically isolated civilizations that flourished in their separation. Jason Shipinski explains how each of these societies took advantage of their isolation and ultimately benefited from it.  Lesson ideas...

7.28 Explain the influence of China and the Korean peninsula upon Japan as Buddhism, Confucianism, and the Chinese writing system were adopted.

 

 

RESEARCH LINKS

This lesson will focus on the Confucianism of Korea and Japan. In doing so, it will highlight the importance of the Five Key Relationships and filial piety. It will also explore the role feudalism played in the development of Japanese Confucianism.

 

Contemporary Kyoto...

7.30 Describe how the Heian (contemporary Kyoto) aristocracy created enduring Japanese cultural perspectives that are epitomized in works of prose such as The Tale of Genji, one of the world’s first novels.

 

READINGS

POETRY OF THE SAMAURI WARRIOR

A lesson which teaches the beautiful simplicity of Haiku, and introduces the peaceful ways of the Samurai. 

 

BUDDHA AND THE NIO GUARDIAN FIGURES

 

Explore at World Myths and Legends of Japan.

LU SHIH - THE COUPLETS OF T'ANG

 

Imagine yourself in the imperial court in ancient China. The year is 750 CE. In the court of the T'ang dynasty, the Emperor Hsuan Tsung glances at one of his ministers and says, "Heron." His minister promptly answers, "Oriole." ...This is the foundation of the sometimes whimsical, often poignant poetic form called the lu shih, or "regulated verse."

ACTIVITIES

The Samauri...

A documentary on the history of the Samurai.

POPUP BUNRAKU THEATER SCENE

 

Lesson Overview: A pop-up picture showing a typical scene from a Japanese Bunraku theater performance. This type of theater is the main subject of the popular bookThe Master Puppeteer by Katherine Patterson.

 

 

 

JAPANESE WOODCUTS TO COLOR

The download is just some black and white pen drawings of famous Japanese woodcuts that you can color or paint.

VIRTUAL FIELDTRIPS
7.31 Analyze the rise of a military society in the late twelfth century and the role of the shogun and samurai in that society.

 

JAPANESE FEUDALISM

 

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One of the most significant figures in Japanese history, Ieyasu was a warrior, statesman and founder of the Tokugawa dynasty of shoguns.

WELCOME TO EDO

 

Edo is the ancient name for Tokyo. During the reign of the Tokugawa Shoguns, Japan's emperor reigned in secluded majesty at the imperial capital in Kyoto; however, the true center of power, government, the economy and social life was Edo, where the Shogun lived and ruled the country.

HumorousMoment

The Tale of Genji:  Yugao

Primary Documents and Supporting Texts to Read: excerpts from The Tale of Genji

Samaurai Warriors Rap...

Learn key information about ancient Samurai warriors through this rap by Mr. Bloom. From "History Alive: The Medieval World" textbook, Ancient Japan unit.