12-3 Japan, Korea, SE Asia

The Civilizations of East Asia

Section 3: Japan, Korea, and Southeast Asia

In this section you will learn how the geography of Japan influenced its development. You will discover how China influenced the early development of Japan. You will find out how changes in government influenced society in feudal Japan. You will also learn about the development of Korean culture and society. Finally, you will learn about civilizations in Southeast Asia and how they were influenced by China and India.

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Focus Questions

1. How did the geography of Japan affect Japanese contact with other peoples?

2. What changes helped Japan develop its own culture?

3. How did the confusion in government offer new opportunities for people in

Japanese society?

4. How did Korean aristocrats differ from Chinese nobles?

5. In what ways did Korea and Southeast Asia develop their own cultures despite the

influences of China and India?

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Vocabulary

kami: Japanese gods or nature spirits

Shinto: “Way of the kami,” the indigenous religion of Japan, which involves rituals and prayers to appease nature spirits

The Tale of Genji: Story of courtly life in Japan written by Lady Murasaki Shikibu in about 1000; considered the world’s first novel

Fujiwara: First family to gain control over the central government in Japan, who reigned from the 800s to the 1100s

Minamoto: Clan reigning in Japan who changed government by introducing shoguns

shogun: Chief military and governmental officer in feudal Japan

Ashikaga: Family of shoguns who ruled in Japan for nearly 250 years

samurai: Japanese warriors hired for protection by wealthy landlords in feudal Japan

Bushido: “Way of the warrior”; code of behavior of the samurai, stressing bravery, loyalty, and honor

Seppuku: Form of ceremonial suicide of defeated or disloyal samurai to avoid dishonor

daimyo: Powerful local lords in feudal Japan

Yi: Korean dynasty founded in 1392 when Koreans drove out the Mongols; lasted until Korea was annexed by Japan in 1910

Sejong: Korean emperor during the 1400s who ordered the development of a Korean alphabet

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Section 3 Summary

Japan consists of a string of thousands of islands off the east coast of Asia. Remember that an archipelago is a chain of Islands. Japan has 4 major islands. It is 85% mountainous. Although there is little land for farming (arable land), Japanese farmers produce much food, aided by plentiful rainfall and sun and a long growing season. Many rivers provide irrigation. Despite the fact that Japan has few natural resources, it has managed to become a leading industrial power today.

Japan is located along the "ring of fire." Consequently, earthquakes, tidal waves (tsunamis), and typhoons often strike. For centuries the Sea of Japan protected Japan, allowing it to choose whether it wanted foreign contact.

Because of its location to China and Korea, many ideas from China came to Japan by way of Korea ("cultural diffusion" - architecture, language, belief systems). The Japanese would take the ideas that met their needs and leave behind the new ideas that did not meet their needs as a society. This is called "selective borrowing."

In prehistoric times people from the Asian mainland settled in Japan and organized themselves into clans.

The Japanese believed in gods or nature spirits called kami. Kami lived in natural objects such as sand, waterfalls, or trees. Each clan traced its origin to a kami. This religion is now called Shinto, meaning “way of the kami.”

Mt. Fuji is thought to have special Kami

Shinto prayers and rituals are designed to please the kami and ask for favors. Shinto helped unify Japan. Early emperors acted as Shinto priests.

For all of Japan’s history one family has reigned—the Yamato clan, who came to power in the 300s. The Japanese adapted Chinese writing by the early 700s. Buddhism was introduced in the 500s, but it did not replace Shinto. Most Japanese believed in both religions. Chinese art, science, government, and fashion also influenced Japanese society

In the 700s the emperor introduced a law code modeled on Tang laws. It centralized the government and gave the emperor more power.

The Japanese built a capital, Heian-kyo (hay·ahn·kyoh), which later became Kyoto. There the ruling class began to turn away from Chinese influence. Japanese culture became less dependent on Chinese models. Poets began to write in Japanese. Lady Murasaki Shikibu wrote The Tale of Genji in about 1000. A literary masterpiece, it told the story of Prince Genji, the perfect courtier, and was the world’s first novel. After the 800s, the political system adapted from China declined.

Japan developed a feudal system with two sources of power. One was the central government, where important families influenced the emperor. The first family to gain control was the Fujiwara, who reigned from the 800s to the 1100s. Then the Minamoto clan gained power and changed the structure of government.

The emperor granted Minamoto Yoritomo the title of shogun, or general. The emperor kept his throne, but the shogun controlled the military, finances, and laws. In the 1300s an emperor tried to regain power but failed. One of his generals, Ashikaga Takauji (ah·shee·KAH·gah tah·KOW·jee) claimed the shogunate for his clan.

The Ashikaga shoguns ruled for nearly 250 years. The other source of power in feudal Japan was a group of powerful local landowners.

They hired warriors called samurai for protection. A samurai followed a code of behavior called Bushido, meaning “way of the warrior.” Bushido stressed bravery, loyalty, and honor. If samurai displeased their masters or were defeated, they sometimes practiced seppuku. Seppuku was ceremonial suicide to avoid dishonor.

In time local lords known as daimyo and their samurai gained great power. Japan had no central government, and war was common. Peasants produced greater crop yields, creating more tax money for the daimyo. Wars offered people a chance to rise in society. Any man could join a daimyo’s army and, if he fought well, be promoted.

The Mongols tried twice to conquer Japan but failed. A great storm destroyed the Mongol vessels. The Japanese belief that the Kami (spirits) were protecting their people.

A religious awakening occurred as Buddhism established new sects. Zen Buddhism, which came from China, appealed to warriors. Zen Buddhists ignored the body and developed self-discipline through hours of meditation. These skills helped warriors in battle. The Ashikaga shoguns supported Zen Buddhism and encouraged the art of Zen monks. New art forms inspired by Zen appeared, such as the art of arranging gardens, the tea ceremony, and the Noh play, a highly stylized dance drama.

Korea is a mountainous peninsula that juts south into the sea between China and Japan. Korea has long served as a bridge allowing people and ideas to pass from the mainland to neighboring island chains. It was first settled by nomadic people who found abundant game, seafood, and plant foods. The first strong Korean kingdom, Chos_n, emerged in the north in the early 100s B.C. Then Han troops from China conquered Chos_n and made it a Han colony.

For 400 years the Chinese maintained tight control. Three Korean kingdoms—Koguryo, Paekche, and Silla—arose to oppose China. The three kingdoms fought each other and China for several centuries. In the mid-1200s Korea became part of the Mongol Empire. In 1392 Koreans drove out the Mongols and established the Yi dynasty, which lasted until 1910, when Korea was annexed by Japan. China had a strong and lasting influence on Korea. Korean rulers adopted Chinese as their written language and followed the Chinese model of government. Buddhist teachings became part of Korean culture, philosophy, and morality, and Buddhism became the state religion. In the 700s Zen became the dominant form of Buddhism in Korea. Korea worked hard, however, to maintain its own identity and traditions. Korean Buddhism includes elements of traditional Korean beliefs.

Korean aristocrats, unlike Chinese nobles, had great influence on the country’s political development. Also, Korean society never developed a large middle class of merchants, government administrators, and scholars, as China did. During the 1400s the emperor Sejong ordered the development of a Korean alphabet. Adapting Chinese technology, the Koreans designed movable type blocks made of metal rather than wood for printing.

The mainland of Southeast Asia is made up of the modern nations of Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam. Like Japan and Korea, these kingdoms and peoples were strongly and continuously influenced by China. However, these cultures also have their distinct identities. Northern Vietnam, known as Annam, was ruled by China until the 900s. Vietnam adopted Mahayana Buddhism, which became the guiding philosophy of Vietnamese culture. Vietnam also borrowed the writing system and political organization of the Chinese.

Much of the rest of mainland Southeast Asia was shaped by Indian culture and tradition. People from India settled in the region early on and used the Sanskrit language, helping to spread Indian literature and thought. In present-day Cambodia, scenes from Hindu epics adorn the temple of Angkor Wat, one of the architectural wonders of the Far East. Centered in modern-day Cambodia, the Khmer Empire grew to control much of Southeast Asia between 850 and 1250. Khmer rulers adopted many Hindu and Buddhist beliefs, such as the principle of a god-king. Khmer rulers probably used forced labor and income from taxes to build elaborate cities, government centers, and temple complexes. They also built hospitals, canals, and water-control systems. Their abuse of power eventually led to rebellion. Theravada Buddhism, which had no place for splendid ceremonies or elaborate temples, spread throughout Southeast Asia, and the Khmer kings were overthrown.

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Focus Questions

1. How did the geography of Japan affect Japanese contact with other peoples?

• The seas surrounding Japan protected the islands from foreign influences. These seas allowed Japan to choose whether it wanted to have limited contact with others or to remain isolated. Sometimes it chose one, and sometimes the other.

2. What changes helped Japan develop its own culture?

• Changes that helped Japan develop its own culture occurred after it built its own capital, Heian-kyo. There the ruling class began to turn away from Chinese influence. Japanese culture became less dependent on Chinese models. Poets began to write in Japanese. Lady Murasaki Shikibu wrote The Tale of Genji, the world’s first novel.

3. How did the confusion in government offer new opportunities for people in Japanese society?

• The confusion in the government offered new opportunities for people of lower status to advance by fighting well in a daimyo’s army. Those who fought well could be promoted to a higher rank.

4. How did Korean aristocrats differ from Chinese nobles?

• Korean aristocrats, unlike Chinese nobles, had a great influence on the country’s political development. Also, Korean society was more sharply divided between a small upper class and a very large lower class.

5. In what ways did Korea and Southeast Asia develop their own cultures despite the influences of China and India?

• Korea and Southeast Asia developed their own cultures despite the influence of China and India by working to maintain their own cultures and traditions and rejecting many Chinese and Indian influences over time.