Overview of the Yuan Dynasty and Feudal Japan

Yuan Dynasty

A Dynasty founded by Kublai Khan and is a part of the Mongol empire, First time China is being conquered by an outside source, Maintained many of the same things as previous dynasties but with the Han and Nan as the lower class.

Mongols

Nomadic people from central Asia who were feared, Conquered China to create the Yuan Empire, Worshiped Horses, Feared by others, extreme punishments, but gentle with their own.

Pastoral Nomadism

An agricultural practice where people move with herds of livestock to fresh pastures and arable land.

Chenggis Khan

First great Khan of the Mongol empire, Respected and Loved by his people; was elected, 40 horses were sacrificed when he died.

Kublai Khan

Grandson of Genghis Khan and the 5th Great Khan. He is best known for founding the Yuan Dynasty and for his attempts to expand mongolian influence in East Asia, including invasions on Japan. The Yuan Dynasty was the first non-Chinese ruler to govern China.

4 Class System of the Yuan Dynasty

A social Hierarchy created by the Mongols to control the population of China, Mongols - Semu - Northern Chinese(Han) - Southern, Chinese(Nan), Formed tensions across the 4 groups.

Marco Polo

A traveler and merchant who went to China to study the Mongol Empire.

Red Turban Rebellion

A peasant run rebellion during the Yuan dynasty that's pure goal was to collapse the dynasty.

Insular climate

The climate that's characterized by the influence of surrounding waters leading to weather close to that of the U.S. East Coast.

Equal field system

The distribution of land to prevent the hoarding of land from rich elites.

Terracing

The agricultural practice of terraforming the land on mountains to make it arable enough to farm.

Ring of Fire

The area around japan that causes disasters like Earthquakes, volcanoes, and tsunamis.

Tsunami

A long and tall wave of water, Very Destructive to Chinese societies.

Four main islands

Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu, Shikoku.

Graying population

Japan's average age is creeping higher.

Feudalism

A political, economic, and social system that was governed by a hierarchical system of land ownership and military.

Shogun

Acts as the emperor of japan, Had control over most land and people.

Daimyo

Military Generals that had control of Samurai and owned land and controlled certain Provinces.

Samurai

Knights or Warriors who upheld the law, Very loyal to the Shogun and Daimyo, Upheld the Samurai code.

Ronin

People below the Samurai, Samurai in Training, Not wealthy enough to become Samurai.

Yamato Period(573-621 CE)

Chinese Influence, Merit System, Study Groups were sent, Writing System, Tripartite System, 17 Article Constitution, Taika Reforms.

Prince Shotoku

He made significant contributions to the culture and the governance of Japan as well as spreading Buddhism. He is credited with writing the Seventeen Article constitution which was one of the earliest form of governance in Japan and outlined the principles of ethics with elements of Confucian and Buddhist beliefs like harmony and the respect for authority. This in turn encouraged a centralized government system.

Taika Reforms

First of the 3 great reform periods, 645 CE.

17 Article Constitution

Written in 604 CE, Guidelines and Principle written by Prince Shōtoku, Written with Confucian and Buddhist beliefs, Merit based system, Shogun is above all.

Nara Period(710-814CE)

Buddhism, Historical Literature, Poems such as Waka, Land Distribution.

Zen Buddhism

Influenced religion and political structure, Upheld by the help of Shoguns and Daimyos.

Haiku

5-7-5 Syllable Poems.

Heian Period

794-1185 CE, Cultural Borrowing, Buddhism stays farther away from the main population, Stops sending study missions and census stops in 894 CE.

Pillow Book

Written by Sei Shonagon.

Tale of Genji

Written by Lady Murasaki Shikibu.

Kamakura Shogunate

1185-1333 CE, Founded by Minamoto Yoritomo, Followed the laws of the Heian Period even though Heian laws are not made for a warring shogunate.

Minamoto Yoritomo

A prominent japanese leader(Shugo) in 1192 CE, Established new Political System, Shifted power from imperial courts to military leaders.

Code of Bushido

Developed in Japan between the Heian and Tokugawa Ages (9th-12th century). Meaning the way of the warrior, the Bushido Code was the moral and ethical code of the Samurai. It was a combination of principles, moral values, and behavior that guided the samurai through life. These ideals were emphasized and influenced by Confucianism, Buddhism, Shinto, and Zen which further emphasized loyalty, honor, and self discipline.

Seppuku

The act of samurai to give an honorable death.

Kamikaze

Meaning divine wind, Protected Japan from invasions and attacks.

Ashikaga Shogunate

Decentralized power, Daimyos held most power.

Warring States Period

The Civil war of provinces in japan between Daimyos, Began as a result of the Onin War, Weakened the Ashikaga Shogunate.

Kami

Meaning God/Divine Power.

Amaterasu

Important deity in Shinto, Goddess of light, Symbolizes light, life, and fertility, Worshiped.

Matsuri

Festivals celebrated throughout Japan, Religion, cultural, and historical significance.

Torii Gate

Gates at the entrances of Shinto Shrines, Symbolizes the transition of mundane to sacred and into a space that is considered holy.

Origami

The practice of folding paper to create vast amount of things. Wrapping gifts to the gods

Zen Buddhism

A school of Mahayana Buddhism that emphasizes enlightenment through meditation (Zazen), Koan practices and art. It came to Japan in the Kamakura Period through the Chinese version of Zen Buddhism called Chan Buddhism through study groups. Zazen is seated meditation and essential to achieving enlightenment. Koans are intense stories or questions that provide deep thought and deny logical thinking to break one's dependance on reason.

Chan Buddhism

Basically Zen Buddhism.

Zazen

Seated Meditation, Essential act in Chan/Zen buddhism to achieve enlightenment.

Koan

A story that provoke deep thought.

Jizo Bosatsu

Beloved in japanese Buddhism, Protector of children, Guides souls through the afterlife.

Odo Nonbunaga

First Great unifier of Japan, Assassinated by his own general as a result of a Buddhist, Seized Kyoto, Fought rivals with a gun, Consolidates power.

Toyotomi Hideyoshi

Means Abundant Provider, Capital at Osaka, Expands power to southern island, Attempts to conquer Korea and China failed.

Tokugawa Ieyasu

Ally of previous aligners, Maneuvers warlords to battle, Wins battle and becomes leading daimyo, reclaimed Shogun, Creates Edo Bakufu, Tent government.

Tokugawa Shogunate

Imperial government powerless, Shogunate controlled a network of Daimyos, Daimyos stayed in Edo for part of the year, National isolating.

4 class system of the Tokugawa Shugunate

Merchants - Craftspeople - Farmers - Samurai, Rise in merchant class.

Kabuki theater

A traditional form of Japanese theater originating in the 17th century  involving drama, music, dance, and the intense expressions and movements of the actors. It started out with actors being played by all actors but moved into only male actors. The makeup on the actors were meant to portray the emotions of the characters as well as disguising the male actors to look like women. It had elaborate stage features to help immerse the audience into the story and the cost to view these plays were cheap allowing the less fortunate people of japan to have a form of entertainment.

Woodblock printing

Carving an image into a block of wood to create a picture, Involved much planning to create prints faster, Available to the less wealthy people, Increases merchant wealth.

Sakoku

Locked Country, Isolated Japan.

Arquebus

Gun Used by Oda.

St. Francis Xavier

Brought Christianity to Japan.

First Christian Martyrs

People who were killed for the belief in Christianity.

Shimabara Uprising

A large-scale uprising of Christians under the rule of the Tokugawa Shogunate as a result of Christian persecution. This ended in a vast execution of Christians and the complete ban of Christianity in Japan also resulting in increased isolation or the Sakoku Policy.

Terauke

People had to register to a Buddhist temple, Result of the government's effort to control and monitor the population.

Kakure kirishitan

Hidden Christians, People who practiced their Christian faith secretly.

The Act of Seclusion

Also known as Sakoku, the act of seclusion was a set of policies during the Tokugawa Shogunate  which restricted foreign contact to preserve political stability and the shogunate power. This was mainly a result of the Shimabara Uprising and the threat of Christianity to the Shogunates ideals. The main policies restricted foreigners from entering Japan, a ban on travel abroad unless for government business, and the ban on trade besides those from the dutch on a man made island. 

Tokaido Road

1 of 5 main highways created by the Tokugawa Shogunate that provided transportation and communication between cultures increasing diversity among the people. This road facilitated administrative control over the Daimyos of Japan as they had to spend part of the year in Edo the capital, a policy called Sankin kotai, and would use this road to make it there as it connected Edo and Kyoto. The 53 official post stations along this road provided a place to eat, sleep, and cultural exchange. Many woodblock prints were made in a popular collection relating to the stations and the road itself.