Japan Learns from China and Korea

1. Japan Learns from China and Korea

2. Early Japanese Society • Early Japanese society received little influence from the rest of Asia • But, by the 500s, Japanese leaders started sending people to China and Korea to learn more about their cultures

3. Changes in Language • Early Japan had no written language • Japan borrowed Chinese as a written language • Chinese characters represented Japanese sounds

4. Language • The rich and educated learned to write in Chinese • Chinese was the official language of Japan’s government

5. Religion and Philosophy • Remember Shinto? • It originated in Japan • Shinto is Japan’s traditional religion • Shinto is the worship of nature spirits, called kami

6. Religion and Philosophy • One of the most influential leaders to bring Chinese ideas to Japan was Prince Shotoku • Prince Shotoku was a regent- a person who rules a country for someone who is unable to rule

7. Religion and Philosophy • Prince Shotoku sent scholars to China- they brought back Confucianism • What two principles did Confucius teach? • Japanese families began to live by the rules of Confucianism

8. Religion and Philosophy • Korea introduced Buddhism to Japan • People knew about Buddhism, but many still wanted to practice Shinto

9. Religion and Philosophy • Prince Shotoku was Buddhist- he worked to make Buddhism popular in Japan • He even built a Buddhist temple that still stands today

10. Government • Villages in Japan were ruled by clan chiefs • What is a clan? • One clan, the Yamamotos, became powerful by conquering other clans • They called themselves the emperors of Japan The son and grandson of Japan’s current emperor

11. Government • Prince Shotoku wanted Japan’s emperors to be powerful, like China’s • But, the clans didn’t agree • As a result, Japan’s emperors gained little power

12. Review Questions True or False- Japan is made up of mountains, volcanoes and flat coastal plains

13. Review Questions • How did Japan’s location both separate it from and tie it to China and Korea? Hint

14. Review Question • What is a clan?

15. Review Questions • What two religions did Prince Shotoku help spread in Japan?

16. Review Question • The influence of China and Korea on Japan’s early history, culture and development is found in all of the following except • Japan’s first writing system • The traditional Japanese diet • Early rules for family behavior • The practice of Buddhism

17. Review Question • What is a regent?

20. Changes in Language • ___________________________________________________ • ___________________________________________________ • ___________________________________________________

21. Religion and Philosophy • __________________________________ • __________________________________ • __________________________________ • __________________________________

22. Government • __________________________________ • __________________________________ • __________________________________ • __________________________________ The son and grandson of Japan’s current emperor