Welcome, WHAP! Have out some paper (a Chinese
invention) and something to write with, and be ready
to begin when the bell rings!
WHAP Homework
● Finish reading and taking notes over the rest of Ch. 8 by tomorrow
● Finish taking notes over the rest of today’s presentation (anything we do not get to)
Where did the name ‘Japan’ come from?
The name ‘japan’ comes from the chinese word ri-ben, which means “origin of the sun” or “land of the rising sun”
Japan’s geography
How does japan’s geography make it unique?
What are the effects of japan’s geography?
Japan’s geography
● Archipelago (about 4,000 islands)● 4 main islands: hokkaido, honshu, shikoku, and
kyushu● Mostly mild climate, plenty of rainfall● Mountainous (only 12% suitable for farming)● Natural resources in short supply● Subject to earthquakes, tsunamis● Close yet far enough away from korea and china
Early japan (100 bce-400 ce)
● Not unified● Hundreds of clans controlled their own territories● Shintoism: japan’s earliest religion- worshipped
nature gods and goddesses, respected nature and ancestors; believed in kami (spirits in nature)
Early japanese political development (400-700 ce) ● By the 5th century, the yamato clan had established itself
as the leading clan● By the 7th century, yamato chiefs called themselves
emperors ● Yamato emperor prince shotoku began building a
centralized state- introduced a constitution in 604 that asserted the authority of the emperor over the nobility; buddhism was made the state religion
● 646: all land brought under state ownership; centralized taxation
Early japanese political development (400-700 ce) ● In practice, the emperor had little power; it was the ruling
family behind the emperor that had most of the power● Still not a strong unified central government● This would be the political model in japan until the 12th
century
Early japanese political development (400-700 ce) Japanese emperors would claim to be descended from the sun goddess amaterasu.
Contact with mainland asia (400-900 CE) ● Large chinese influence (through korean travelers and later
missions to tang china)● Buddhism spread to japan- zen buddhism took hold● Some mixing between buddhism and shintoism took place● Japan adopted: the chinese system of writing, art, cooking,
gardening, drinking tea, and hairdressing● Attempted to establish a strong central government with a civil
service examination system- this failed- in japan, noble birth remained the key to getting a powerful position (only a few great families held power)
Buddha in China
Buddha in Japan
Chinese WritingJapanese Writing
Chinese Art Japanese Art
THE HEIAN PERIOD (794-1185) ● Former capital was heijo- buddhist monks were too
involved in court politics● New capital established at heian (kyoto today)● Japan’s noble families formed a refined court society● Emphasis on poetry and painting● Lady murasaki’s 11th century work the tale of genji is
considered the world’s first novel
Beginning of japanese feudalism (1050-1192) ● The fujiwara family held most of the power during the
heian period● Central government declined in the mid-11th century● Landowners set up private armies ● Farmers and small landowners gave their land to
warlords in exchange for protection ● Each lord had a group of loyal warriors called
samurai, who lived according to the bushido code (expected to be loyal, generous, and honorable)
Early shogunates (1192-1467) ● In the late 1100s, the minamoto family emerged victorious● Yorimoto, a minamoto leader, was given the title of shogun
(military dictator)● From 1192-1868, japan would have an emperor, but the shogun
would have the real power● Shoguns controlled the provinces through shugo (military
constables)● In the 1200s, the kamakura shogunate was able to repel the
mongol invasions; however, this depleted japan’s funds- samurai turned their loyalty to local lords
● 1300s: weak shogunates, unstable government
FUN fact!
“Shogun” literally means “barbarian-conquering great general”
Sengoku: japan’s warring states period (1467-1600) ● Centralized rule ended● Powerful samurai seized control of old feudal
estates, offered protection in return for loyalty- were called daimyo (feudal warlords)
● Emperor was still a figurehead (no real power)● Resembled european feudalism● Disorder, chaos
Korea
What are some of Korea’s geographic features?
How do you think geography affected Korea?
● Mountainous peninsula● Only part of land is
arable● Developed in
semi-isolation from its neighbors, but had more direct contact from China (and times of occupation by China)
● Not as isolated as Japan
Korea
● Like japan, korea adapted chinese cultural
elements and adapted them as they saw fit
● Early history: different clans
● 108 bce: han dynasty conquered much of
korea- set up a military government there
Korea
● From china, received:
○ Centralized government
○ Confucianism
○ Buddhism
○ writing
Korea
● Later in korea: 3 rival kingdoms
● Kingdom of silla defeated the others and
drove out the chinese
● Under silla rule, buddhism spread
(monasteries built)
Korea
● 935: silla rule weakened- koryu dynasty
took control
● Centralized govt, civil service system
(modeled after china)
○ Did not provide social mobility for
koreans as it did for chinese- population
sharply divided (landed aristocracy at the
top) - nobles received the best positions
Korea
● 1231: the mongols came to korea, demanded
huge tribute
● Mongol rule lasted until the 1360s
● 1392: choson dynasty established- would rule
korea for 518 years.
VIETNAM
VIETNAM● Of SE Asian societies,
Vietnam was least
influenced by India and most
influenced by China
● Northern vietnam taken
over by han and tang
dynasties
● After the tang declined in
the early 900s, vietnam
became an independent
kingdom, dai viet.
VIETNAM● Of SE Asian societies,
Vietnam was least
influenced by India and most
influenced by China
● Northern vietnam taken
over by han and tang
dynasties
● After the tang declined in
the early 900s, vietnam
became an independent
kingdom, dai viet.
VIETNAM● From china, vietnam
received:
○ Buddhism
○ Ideas about education,
government, and
agriculture
● Vietnamese women had more
freedom than chinese women
VIETNAM● Ly dynasty (1009-1225)-
capital was at hanoi, had
centralized government,
encouraged trade
● Resisted the mongols
● Tran dynasty (1225-1400)
● Conquered by ming china in
1407; drove ming out in 1428
Southeast Asia
-Mainland
-Islands
Southeast Asia● Several powerful kingdoms and empires emerged
during this time
● Strong cultural influence from india- hinduism and
especially buddhism spread there (largely replaced
hinduism)
● China was less influential (mainly in vietnam)-
often demanded tribute from local rulers
● Islam eventually overtook hinduism in indonesia
● Large trading presence
Southeast Asia
● Cambodia: dominated during this time by the
khmer people
● Khmer state of chen-la was originally a
vassal state to funan, but later took over
funan
● Temple complex at angkor wat created-
originally a hindu temple, later buddhist
Angkor
Wat
Southeast Asia
Thailand
● Thai people begin to build states (such as
Nan chao, and, later, sukhothai and ayutthaya,
which became the most powerful kingdom in
the region by 1400. These kingdoms competed
with others in the region
● Initially absorbed some hindu culture from
khmer, later became strongly buddhist
Southeast AsiaIsland SE Asia
● Srivijaya became powerful through its control
of trade passing through the strait of malacca
● Srivijaya’s power was eroded by the 13th century
by the expansionist kingdom of sinhasari, which
was destroyed by mongol china and followed by
a new state, majapahit.
● Majapahit, a hindu kingdom, eventually declined
as islam came to the region
Along with Angkor Wat, the Borobudur temple on the island of Java was established as a Buddhist temple by the kingdom of Sailendra