Japanese History Notes PDF

# History ## Study of change over time & covers aspects of human society - economical - culture - documentation of human past ## Japanese History - **Jomon** - Art (Pottery) - people gathered lived on fishing & hunting. - **Yayoi** - Mystery history. - Agriculture (Rice farming...

# History ## Study of change over time & covers aspects of human society - economical - culture - documentation of human past ## Japanese History - **Jomon** - Art (Pottery) - people gathered lived on fishing & hunting. - **Yayoi** - Mystery history. - Agriculture (Rice farming) - Metalworking (bronze & iron). - Start believing in Amaterasu (god of sun). - Shinto religion. - Chinese historical texts as “Records of Wei." - Provided the earliest records of Japan. - It’s part of a larger historical work known as “Records of the three Kingdoms” - Chinese historical texts referred to Japan by the name, “Wa". - Jomon & Yayoi period differ in body features & dressing due to migrations from Korea. - #300 AD ## Kofun - Yamato clan unify Japan. - Keyhole-shaped tombs (burial mounds/Kofun) were built for Yamato rulers. - #538 AD ## Asuka - First empire. - Chinese influence: - writing system (Kanji) - pattern in government (rank system) - Japan name changed from “Wa” to “Nihon” - Fujiwara clan imperial family - each emperor would marry a Fujiwara daughter - official introduction of Buddhism from Korea. ## Kofun and Asuka periods are usually collectively called the Yamato period. ## Nara - Inc. temples of Buddhism - Capital is Nara - Japanese religions - Buddhism - Bokyo (main in Japan) - influence spirit free from buffering - “Shiku” (life, being born) - old age - disease, death - Confucianism - Jyokyo (influence manners, thoughts & lifestyle) - Shinto - Kojiki (ancient Japanese myths/literature) - Izanami & Izanagi - Often applied in business. - Different writing between men & women - Due to a difference of education. - Kanji, Hiragana, Katakana (formal powerful) ## Heian - Capital is Kyoto. - #794 AD ## Kamaraku - Established Kamakura Shogunate - #1185 AD - Emperor - Symbolic role - Shogun - rule Japan as a military dictator - First Shogun - Diamyo controlled specific territories. - Samurai (warrior class) served the diamyo. - *Minamoto no Yoritomo ## Muromachi - Ashikaga Tarauji overthrew Kamakura Shogunate - Sengoku Jidai (Age of Warring States) - 4 established their own rule. - Azuchi - Monoyama (unification of Japan) - Oda Nobunaga - built Azuchi castle - used firearms obtained from European merchants - The army was based on ability, not birth - Toyotomi Hideyoski - built Osaka castle - Set law freeing majority of slaves ## Edo - Founded by Tokugawa Shoganate - Isolation policies (Sakoku - closed country) - Peace and prosperity (Pax Tokugawa) - #1603 AD ## Meiji Restoration period - #1868 AD ## Taisho period - #1912 AD ## Showa - Pre war: - Militarism & expansion - World War II (1926-1945 AD) - Atomic bombing of Hiroshima & Nagasaki - Post war: - rapid economic growth (1980s) - remarkable recovery & transformation ## Heisei period - Prolonged economic stagnation (Lost decade) - Aging population and declining birth rate - Natural disasters - #1989-2019 ## Reiwa Period - Recent emperor Naruhito - #2019 - Present - Japanese political system - Resemble a Christmas tree - Emperor is above all controlling bone. - Enacted in 1947 as a constitutional monarchy - Governmental Power - National Diet (Legislative) - Has the ability to make laws. - Overseeing the government. - Cabinet (Executive) - Prime Minister (face of Japan) - Not elected by a direct vote from citizens. - Appointed the Diet. - Judiciary (Court) - Those who hold control in the Diet will likely appoint their party leader to be the Prime Minister.