Japan, 400 A.D./C.E. – 1500s
Students analyze the geographic, political, economic, social, and religious structures of the civilizations.
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS
VOCABULARY
REFLECTION
Focus Question: What were the major economic, political and religious developments in Japanese history?
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How did Japanese feudalism affect their relations with mainland Asia?
QUOTATION
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"Art is the illusion of spontaneity." ~Japanese Proverb
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"Fall down seven times, get up eight." ~Japanese Proverb
ENDURING UNDERSTANDINGS STUDENTS WILL UNDERSTAND:
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Japan had religious, economic, and cultural relationships with China and Korea.
VOCABULARY:
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Buddhism
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daimyo
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Edo [Japan (ancient)]
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kami
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Kyoto
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Lady Murasaki Shikibu (The Tale of Genji)
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Nara
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samurai
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Shinto
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shogun
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tea
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Tokugawa
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Tokyo
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tsunami
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Zen Buddhism
ONLINE LESSONS
KEY LINKS ON JAPAN
A timeline of Japanese history which includes a sidebar with events from Western history for comparison.
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Asia for Educators: Map of Japan
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Asia for Educators: Map of Korea
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Asia for Educators: Japanese Historical Periods
Religion in Japan...
7.27 Compare the major features of Shinto, Japan’s indigenous religion, and Japanese Buddhism.
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
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Shintosim: 54% of the population
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.
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Buddhism: 40% of the population
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.
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Asia for Educators: Nara Period
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Asia for Educators: Heian Period
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.
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Lesson Idea: A Case Study of Heian Japan through Art. [794-1185 AD]
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Background: The Tale of Genji by Murasaki Shikibu, lady-in-waiting to Empress Akiko.
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The Heian Aristocracy: The Golden Age of Japanese Civilization
READINGS
A lesson which teaches the beautiful simplicity of Haiku, and introduces the peaceful ways of the Samurai.
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.
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.
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.
One of the most significant figures in Japanese history, Ieyasu was a warrior, statesman and founder of the Tokugawa dynasty of shoguns.
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History World: History of Japan
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History Channel: Samurai and Bushido
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
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Women were valued as writers in the Japanese courts. The Tale of the Genji written in AD 1000 by Lady Marusaki Shikibu is the world's first novel!
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Lesson Plan Ideas on The Tale of Genji
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Interactive 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.