The culture of ancient japan

CULTURE OVERVIEW
6 distinct periods:
Jomon
Yayoi
Kofun
Asuka
Nara
Heian

JOMON CULTURE (14000 BC – 300 BC)
Use of chipped and polished tools
Pottery making
Hunting, fishing, gathering edible roots
The initiation of agriculture and cattle rearing - the first signs of agriculture appear c. 5000 BCE
Weaving
Earliest known settlement - c. 3500 BCE
Extracting and filling a tooth – a sign of adulthood

JOMON CULTURE (CONTD)
Population concentrated in coastal areas
100,000 and 150,000 ppl across the islands
First evidence of growing rice in wet fields - c. 600 BCE
The most common burial type – in pits sometimes lined with stone slabs
Clay and stone human-shaped figurines, clay masks, stone rods, and clay, stone, and jade jewelry
Ritual structures of stone circles, lines of stones forming arrow shapes, and single tall standing stones surrounded by a cluster of smaller stones

YAYOI CULTURE (300 BC – 250 CE)
From around 400 BCE - arrival of migrants from continental Asia, esp. the Korean peninsula;
Metal objects;
Iron and bronze implements;
New pottery, bronze, iron and improved metalworking techniques
Specialized trades and professions;
Cultivation of rice;
Establishment of ruling class and alliances of clan groups
Remains of fortified villages;
Population - 4.5 million ppl.

YAYOI CULTURE (CONTD.)
First attempts at international relations
Envoys and tribute were sent to the Chinese commanders
Embassies to Chinese territory (238, 243, and c. 248 CE)
Queen Himico (r. c.189-248 CE).
Ruled over 100 kingdoms
Dual role of ruler and high priest

KOFUN CULTURE (250 AD – 538 AD)
Named after the large burial mounds
Sometimes referred to as the Yamato Period (c. 250-710 CE) by the name of the dominant state or region
From the 4th century CE - an influx of people from the Korean peninsula
Influx of Korean manufactured goods, raw materials (iron), and cultural ideas.
Elements of Chinese culture such as writing, classic Confucian texts, Buddhism, weaving, and irrigation, Korean ideas in architecture

KOFUN CULTURE (CONTD.)
20,000 mounds across Japan
A keyhole shape when seen from above
Several hundred meters across and are surrounded by a moat
Horse trappings
Large terracotta figurines of humans, animals, and even buildings
Centralized state with a fully functioning bureaucratic apparatus

ASUKA CULTURE (538 - 710 CE)
Derives from the capital at that time
The first firmly established historical emperor -Emperor Kimmei
The most significant ruler - Prince Shotoku
Seventeen Article Constitution, rooting out corruption and encouraging greater ties with China

ASUKA CULTURE (538 - 710 CE)
Taika Reforms:
Land was nationalized;
Taxes were to be paid,
Social ranks were recategorized;
Civil service entrance examinations were introduced;
Law codes were written;
The absolute authority of the emperor was established.
Only direct descendants could claim any right to the imperial throne

ASUKA CULTURE (CONTD.)
Introduction of Buddhism to Japan around the 6th century CE
Adopted by Emperor Yomei and further encouraged by Prince Shotoku
Literature and music were actively promoted by the court and artists were given tax reliefs

NARA CULTURE (710 - 794 CE)
The capital built on a Chinese model
Regular and well-defined grid layout
State bureaucracy -7,000 civil servants
Population of Nara -200,000 ppl.
Temples in every region
The largest bronze sculpture of the Buddha in the world
Brutal level taxation

NARA CULTURE (CONTD.)
13 diplomatic embassies
Flourishing trade (exported textiles and Balhae furs, silk, and hemp cloth)
Two most famous and important works of Japanese literature
Agriculture still depended on primitive tools, poor irrigation techniques
Outbreaks of famine
Smallpox epidemics

HEIAN CULTURE (794 - 1185 CE)
The new capital (Kyoto)
Palaces for the aristocracy, and a large pleasure park
No Heian buildings survive today except the Shishin-den (Audience Hall)and the Daigoku-den (Hall of State)
Government - the emperor, his high ministers, a council of state, and eight ministries, which ruled over some 7,000,000 people spread over 68 provinces

HEIAN CULTURE (CONTD.)
Weakening of the royal position - many emperors took the throne as children
Governed by a regent
Continued domination of Buddhism with presence of Confucian and Taoist principles
Imported from China - medicines, silk fabrics, books, ceramics, weapons, musical instruments while export from Japan -pearls, gold dust, amber, raw silk, and gilt lacquerware
Private armies of samurai

ANCIENT JAPAN SOCIAL STRUCTURE

THE UPPER CLASS
The King or the Emperor
The top most rank in the hierarchy.
The supreme power (!)
The order of an Emperor - the final decision
Ruled the kingdom and handled the administration.
The equivalent to the God for the countrymen
The Daimyo - the warlords
Shogun - military and economic power of the kingdom.
The Samurai -brave soldiers that constituted the armies led by Daimyos.

THE LOWER CLASS
The Farmers
topmost Class in the common man class
two sub categories: the Farmers having their own land and the Farmers not having their own land.
Artisans / Craftsmen:
metal and wood work
ardent Samurai’s Sword makers
Merchants
the lowest class in the common man class in the hierarchy because it was thought that their earning is totally dependent on other people’s work