Korea and Japan
Dec 26, 2015
Korea
“Shrimp between two whales” the whales are ______ and _____ .
Korea is settled 5000 years ago by farmers; they grew rice, made tools, and worked with bronze.
Early Koreans practiced Shamanism, a form of animism where good and bad spirits inhabit living things
Chinese Invasions & 3 Kingdoms
109 BC China invades Korea (Han Dynasty). 220 AD Han Dynasty falls, by 313 AD three
kingdoms form. During three kingdoms period (313-668) Koreans adopt elements of Chinese Culture including: Buddhism, Confucianism, Calligraphy, and ideas about government. – Silla– Paekche (pa-eek-chee)– Koguryo
668 A.D. Silla Conquers Peninsula
Ushers in era of peace, prosperity, and creativity.
Koreans perfected the use of porcelainScholars compiled the Tripitaka Koreana,
the largest collection of Buddhist scriptures.
Yi Dynasty
1392 AD the Yi come to power, call kingdom Choson and build the city of Hanyang (city of Seoul) as their capital.
Adopt Neo-Confucianism as the state doctrine from China.
Developed a simple written language, makes reading more accessible.
After Japanese invasion fails Korea becomes increasingly isolated and is known as the Hermit Kingdom.
Summary Korea
Shrimp between two whales
Chinese InvasionsAdoption of
culture, religion, govt. structure
Japanese invasionHermit Kingdom
Japan
Geography- 110 Miles east of Korea Four large islands: Honshu, Shikoku, Kyushu,
Hokkaido- and many smaller ones. Geographic Determinism…. Island, very
mountainous, 20% arable land. How do they survive???
Creation Myth: Explains turbulent weather, climate, and geological events. Page 360.
Early Japan
Inhabited 10,000 years ago.200BC Koreans Invade: Bring farming &
rice.Separate classes ruled their own regions.
Practiced Shinto (Notes Coming). Shinto means “the way of the Gods”-Worshiped ancestor’s spirits called Kami-Chiefs were both military leaders and priests
Influence of China
552 AD - Koreans send a large statue and Buddhist writings. Adopted by Japanese soon after.
Japanese borrow many Chinese innovations including architechture, art, philosophy, astronomy, and medicine.
Japan borrowed the concept of a strong central government from China.
Nara
Nara becomes capital of a very Chinese style central government.
Nara is a smaller version of Chinese capital Changan. Same style imperial palace, squares, and Buddhist Temples.
752 Todaiji Temple- Buddhist Religion at its peak. People practice both Shinto and Buddhism
First written literature is produced in this period.
Heian Period
In 794AD Capital is moved to Heian, later called Kyoto. Remained capital for 1000 years.
By 900’s Japan is increasingly isolated.Japanese aristocrats create “Heian
Culture”– Pursuit of Beauty is central focus– Valued poetry, art, writings, perfumes, etc.– Because of the focus on Beauty, government control
weakened and eventually lost control.
Shogun Period
As Heian Power fades, two powerful families struggle for power.
1185 Minamoto family is victorious, granted title of Shogun by the emperor.
Emperor remains in Kyoto, Minamoto family runs a shogunate.
Mongols (Yuan Dynasty) try to invade Japan twice… Stopped by Divine Wind… Hurricanes sink fleets, force Yuan to return.
Shogun Vocab & Concepts P. 363
Shogun-SamuraiDaimyoBushido
Be able to compare and contrast Japanese Shogunate Social Structures and European Feudal Structures.
Merchants and Zen
Trade and towns grew during Shogun period. Merchant guilds called Za traded with Korea
and Japan. Grew wealthy. Exported goods and imported medicines,
books, and pictures. Buddhist Religion impacts artwork, Zen
philosophy takes over much of Japan. Zen teachings include: Meditation, Tea
Ceremonies, Flower Arranging… “Cleanse Senses”