Ancient Japan

Amey , Julian, Melvern , Omar.

Society

Most ancient Japanese people usually became farmers, because of this farmers grew lots of rice, and Japans rice industry started to incline. About 80% of Japan became farmers. And the population of Japan started to increase.

(food related)

Language spoken

Kanji is a Japanese writing system in which they use. Over 120 million Japanese people have used it. But before Japan were introduced to the writing system kanji they had used an old writing system named Kojiki. After they had been in introduced to Kanji writing system they have used it all the way up until now.

SocietyDifferent cultures

Japan has a various amount of different cultures and beliefs. Some of there different cultures are samurais, geishas and Japans tea ceremony. Because of these different types of cultures it has made a big impact in the society around Japan.

Information about the people who lived in japan (ancient)

The Japanese People are a nationality originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese elders who live in other countries are referred to as nikkeijin Ethnic Japanese may also be used in some contexts to refer to a locus of ethnic groups including the Yamato, Ainu and Ryukyuan people.

SocietyValues of the people

Ancient Japanese people valued lots of different stuff but they mostly valued paper cranes. There was a legend that is still believed in about paper cranes. The legend was if you made 1000 paper cranes you would’ve retrieved a wish, so there was a girl who was named Sadako and she was diagnosed with a sickness called leukemia the doctors said that she won’t be living for long because she only has a few months left . But then Sadako’s best friend had told her “if you make 1000 paper cranes the paper cranes will give you 1 wish” so Sadako tried to make 1000 paper cranes she then unfortunately passed away left with 644 paper cranes before her death. So that is one of Ancient Japan’s legend.

ANCIENT JAPANESE TRANSPORT

PHYSICAL/CAUSE AND EFFECT• For many centuries there had been no organised system of transport in Japan because they didn’t travel

much. The cause of this was because thy did not travel much and the effect was no organized system of transport.

• There were horse powered buses, many types of traditional hand-drawn carts and rickshaws which carried people from place to place as well as transporting food supplies. The cause for having the transport was for transporting food supplies and people. The effect of this was they built all these types of transportation.

• By the 11th century they had especially designed carriages for members of Japan’s royal and noble people. The enclosed vehicles based on a Chinese design, stood high off the ground covered with rich coats of lacquer and beautifully decorated with silk curtains. They were identified by their green gabled roofs. The cause of the noble and royal people having different carriages was that they wanted to show a difference between a royal or noble man compared to a average man even in their transport. The effect was that they had to build special carriages for the royal and noble people.

• Carriages owned by members who are less noble commonly had thatched roofs. The people with even lower status still owned carriages, however these were made simply from poles that together held a roof of stretched straw and a floor of wooden boards, but all carriages held a maximum of four people. The cause of less noble people having simple carriages was because they were less noble so the effect of this is that whoever wasn’t noble had simple carriages.

PHYSICAL/CAUSE AND EFFECT• In ancient Japan, for governments to control security there were many rivers that you could not cross because

there were no bridges built over those rivers. The reason for this was to discourage enemies from gaining access to certain areas. The result of this made it impossible for some people to travel throughout Japan. However people, who had the money to afford it, could hire people to carry them over the water or would pay to be carried in litters which were a type of shelter that was carried on the shoulders of four men. The cause of this was so government could control security and the effect was people couldn’t travel throughout Japan unless you had the money to afford it.

• One of Ancient Japan’s traditions were flat bottom boats. They were slightly different as they were used for different purposes like some for gathering seaweed, some for cargo. Some were even used as water taxis. The largest cargo boat which was of this type weighed 80 tonnes and was 40 feet long. The cause was that people like seaweed gatherers or transporting cargo or water taxis and the effect of this was it made things like transporting cargo, seaweed gathering easier and could be used as water taxis.

• Soon after 100 CE there was a highway system which was used for movement of people or goods. People known as the Yayoi-Japanese had developed a fleet of ships which its purpose was to move goods up and down Japan’s coast as well as between Japan and other Asian countries. Because of this closer ties were made between Japan and Korea. The cause of building a highway system was to transport people or goods up and down Japans coast and other Asian countries. The effect was they built a highway system and they were able to move people and goods up and down japans coast as well as other Asian countries. They also made closer ties between them, the Japanese and the Koreans.

ENVIRONMENTAL

Ancient Japanese compared with Modern Japanese

In ancient Japan they had carts and horse-pushed buses, now they have

aeroplanes, trains, automobiles and bikes.

Today not many use cars, but rely on train networks

to get around.

Modern Japanese Train

ENVIRONMENTAL

Ancient Japanese compared with Ancient Rome

In ancient Japan has carts and horse-pushed busses but

unfortunately, in ancient Rome poor people had to walk

because they couldn't afford a donkey or a cushioned carriage

pulled by oxen. If they were lucky they would be able to

hitch a ride in a lumbering farm wagon which was not

comfortable.

Ancient Rome:people on a donkey

ENVIRONMENTAL

In ancient Egypt the main method of

transportation was boats. Ancient Japan

had boats to but boats weren’t the main

method of transportation in

ancient Japan

Ancient Egyptian boat

Ancient Japanese compared with Ancient Egypt

ENVIRONMENTAL

Ancient Japanese compared with Modern Australia

In Australia we have aeroplanes to travel

from country to country but in ancient Japan they used boats

and ships to move from country to country.

Australian aeroplane

Ancient Japanese boat

Strengths and weakness• Hand-drawn

Carts and Rickshaws:

• The strength of the carts and rickshaws is that they can transport people and food and some can carry a couple of people however; the weaknesses are that there is a human pulling and carrying you so the speed and distance it goes all depends on the person that is pulling it.

Horse-powered busses:The strengths of this type of transport are that it can carry a quite a few people as it is a bus and it is drawn by horses so It can go longer distances than a cart or rickshaw but, the weaknesses are that you have to take care of the horses and make sure they’re healthy.

The highway system (the fleet of ships):The strengths of the highway system are that they could move people and goods up and down japans coast as well as other Asian countries. They also made closer ties with Korea. The weakness was that if there was bad weather it would be a rough ride.

Flat bottom boats:The strength of the flat bottom boat is that you can modify them so you can use them for different purposes but the weakness is that it is less stable than other boats because it has a flat bottom.

Litters:The strength of the litter is that you can travel over the rivers that have no brides but the weaknesses were that one of the men could trip in the water and you would fall off or the litter might break.

Rights and freedoms

• Buddhism did not prevent anyone from learning other religions. In fact , Buddha encouraged people to learn and compare other cultures , only if the new teaching is reasonable. Buddha even let them follow the religion if they wished to. Buddha wont let others learn dark religions. He wont even let them touch dark religious items.

• Buddha quotes:• Do not accept anything based upon mere reports,

traditions or hearsay,Nor upon the authority of religious texts,Nor upon mere reasons and arguments,Nor upon one's own inference,Nor upon anything which appears to be true,Nor upon one's own speculative opinionNor upon another's seeming ability,Nor upon the consideration: 'This is our Teacher.''But, when you know for yourselves the certain things are unwholesome and bad: tending to harm yourself of others, reject them.'And when you know for yourselves that certain things are wholesome and good: conducive to the spiritual welfare of yourself as well as others, accept and follow them.'

• Japan respected women's rights. They let them do anything. Some women even were let to rule parts of Japan! I think Japans freedoms and rights were reasonable and fair . I wouldn't mind to live in an environment like that.

Plain phisical Japanthree periods jamonyayoikofunJamon period1st periodlasted from 14,000 until 300 BCmeans cord markedwood stilt houses rudimentary form of agricultureweaving unknown at timeclothes made out of furone of the worlds oldest pottery in japan such as combs , knifes and dogu (anccient voodoo dolls)

yayoi period2nd periodlasted from 400 or 300 BC until 250 ADThis period is named after Yayoi town, the subsection of bunkyo , tokyothis period started new practices such as weaving, rice farming, and iron and bronze makingThe Yayoi period brought shamanisim and divination by oracles to Shintothis was to guarantee good cropsone of the items they made out of bronze in this period were dokatu , a japanese bell

kofun period3rd period250 AD it is named after the large tumulus burial mounds (kofun) that started appearing around that timeestablished strong military stateseach of them concentrated around powerful clansjapan started to send tributes to imperial china in the 5th century Close relationships between the three kindoms of korea and Japan began during the middle of this period, around the end of the 4th century.

The first chapter of the Nihongi ("Chronicles of Japan") describes the ancient Japanese belief that the world was flat and that dry land floated "like oil" on water:Hence it is said that when the world began to be created, the soil of which lands were composed floated about in a manner which might be compared to the floating of a fish sporting on the surface of the water... ...Of old, when the land was Young and the earth young, it floated about, as it were floating oil. At this time a thing was produced within the land, in shape like a reed-shoot when it sprouts forth.[50]The Kojiki[51] and Ainu folklore also describes a flat earth cosmography where the earth is "floating" on water.[52]

Religion

• Buddhism is divided into three forms: the orthodox Theravada Buddhism which is prevalent in India and most of Southeast Asia; Mahayana Buddhism, which spread to China, Tibet, Vietnam, and ultimately to Korea and Japan; and Vajrayana Buddhism. From the beginning, the largest form of Buddhism in Japan was the Mahayana school. According to the Agency of Cultural Affairs, 91 million Japanese identify themselves as Buddhist. The six Buddhist sects initially established in Nara are today together known as "Nara Buddhism" and are relatively small.

Japanese Currency• Before the seventh century , the Japanese used arrowheads , rice , and gold power as their

currency . They used arrowheads because hunting was popular , rice because there was a spike in the rice industry and gold powder because gold mines were very active . From the seventh to eighth century , Japan used shells as money . There was a shortage in gold and rice , so they had to use shells as a substitute. By 708 , japan started their own formal currency called 'Kōchōsen‘. There new currency was made out of copper. From here on japan just minted coins from any abundance of substance that was available. In the 760’s , japan created ‘Wdōkaichin‘ which was made out of silver with a metallic content added. In 958 , Japan imitated China’s coinage. In the 16th century , Japan experimented by cutting shapes from copper and used that as coinage .

• From the 17th to 19th century , Japan used 'Tokugawa' as there currency which was made out

of gold silver and bronze . Tokugawa included Japan's first notes. Again , Japan used what ever materials they had an abundance of to make there coins. From 1854 to 1868 , Japan used Bakumatsu and ryo as their currency. Bakumatsu was a variation of gold and silver coins. From 1871 to now , Japan have been using yen , which is made out of gold. In 1892 , Japan copied Americas style of note but not fully. Instead of a picture on the note , Japan had writing. I think Japan should have stuck with one coinage . Even if Japan ran out of specific resources , they can just make it with a blend of two similar metallic's.

Children

Japanese children are very well behaved they need to be very respectful and polite. In the morning the children would eat their breakfast on a mat with their legs tucked. Because they are taught to be very generous and nice when they age they become a very loyal person.

Behaviour

Japanese children need to be very well behaved at school, if they mis behave there are some very bad consequences. Children in Japan scrub the hall in their school. They do this because the teachers want their class to learn how to clean up around the house and in the school. Because of this Japanese children grew up to become very disciplined and clean.

School

PoliticsAncient Japan’s leader was called an emperor. The emperor’s regalia, a

mirror, a sword and a curved jewel was a symbol of legitimacy and authority of the emperor. An emperor was believed to possess magical powers and be able to converse with the gods. It was then considered that he be involved in the running of the country.

What some Emperors did

Ancient Japanese emperors in the 700’s to 800’s tried to bring regional clans under Imperial control, Emperor Tenji who ruled between 661 to 672 established direct Imperial rule, Emperor Shotoku created Japan’s first constitution, and Emperor Kammu created a capital city in Kyoshu that is based on the Chinese capital.

Food

Some of the Foods they had in Ancient Japan is:• Sushi• Ramen• Rice• Tonkafu• Deep fried chicken• Gohan

Gohan

sushi

ramen

rice

Thank youmade by Omar , Melvern, Julian,

Amey