Japanese Civilization Mid Term

House of Yamato

The imperial family, still today the current ruling family of Japan. The first and only dynasty in Japan. (6th century-present)

"Land where the sun rises"

Refers to Japan due to its geographical location (east where the sun rises). Also seen as a politically charged term at times due to Japan's association with imperialism.

Nihon (Nippon)

A name for Japan; literally means "the sun's origin".

Empress Suiko & Prince Shotoku

Empress Suiko - Japan's first female monarch (late 500s); key figure in terms of religion

Prince Shotoku - the Empress' regent

The Taika reforms

a set of doctrines established by Emperor Kōtoku in the year 645. They were written shortly after the death of Prince Shōtoku, and the defeat of the Soga clan, uniting Japan.

Ritsuryo ("regular") state

Government structure defined by ritsu, the criminal code, and ryo, the administrative civil codes. originally was enforced in China.

Shoen (tax-exempt manors)

Private and tax exempt states in Japan (8-15th century). Often owned by noble families and/or those with contribution to the growth of clans.

Nara

Japan's first capital city, modeled on the Chinese capital of Chang'an (710-784). Buddhism introduced to Japan, Chinese culture was implemented a lot into Japanese society.

Kanji vs. kana

Kanji - a system of Japanese writing using Chinese characters

Kana - syllabaries used to write Japanese phonological units

Japan's first permanent capital

Nara

Heian

Japanese city later called Kyoto; known for its art, literature, and culture, Japanese golden age (794-1185).

Regent

a person who governs in place of a ruler who is ill, absent, or still a child Ex. the Prince Shotoku

Marriage politics

Marriages were arranged based on political interests and in order to keep others in power.

Retired emperor

A former emperor who retained influence and attempted to govern from behind the scenes (Daijo Tenno)

Fujiwara Clan

Aristocratic family that dominated the Japanese imperial court between the ninth and twelfth centuries.

The Tale of Genji

written by Lady Murasaki; first novel in any languange; relates life history of prominent and amorous son of the Japanese emperor's son; evidence for mannered style of the Japanese society.

Murasaki Shikibu

Lady Murasaki (English), was a Japanese novelist, poet, and a maid of honor of the imperial court during the Heian period. She is best known as the author of The Tale of Genji, written in Japanese between about 1000 and 1008, one of the earliest novels in human history.

Japanese illustrated handscroll

emakimono/emaki; long horizontal scrolls that are painted with scenes and text

The tension b/w civilian & military rule

Military often exerted substantial influence over political decisions, little civilian control

The rise of the samurai

During the Heian period, warrior class protecting estates and land owners. Took control of government power during the kamakura period (shogunate)

Emishi Wars

conflict between the Emishi and Japanese people. Rebellion

Shogun

In feudal Japan, a noble similar to a duke. They were the military commanders and the actual rulers of Japan for many centuries while the Emperor was a powerless spiritual figure.

The Genpei War

war between the Taira and Minamoto clans. Ended in the fall of the Taira clan and Minamoto's establishment of the Kamakura shogunate.

The Tale of the Heike

tells the story of the fall of the Taira family and the rise of the Minamoto clan

Taira vs Minamoto

which two families are battling for power during the genpei wars

Minamoto no Yoritomo

Founder of the first shogun of the Kamakura shogunate

Taira no Atsumori

a samurai from the late Heian, very young and remembered for his tragic death during the battle of Ichi-no-Tani (Genpei war)

Noh theater

a classic form of Japanese drama involving heroic themes, a chorus, and dance

Shinto

A Japanese religion whose followers believe that all things in the natural world are filled with divine spirits

Shin (jin) vs. kami

Shin Buddhists founded by Shinran Shonin during the Kamakura

Kami are forces of nature, both good and evil

Izanagi and Izanami

Japanese mythology; brother and sister who became husband and wife and created Japan

Amaterasu

Japanese sun goddess, the supreme deity of the Shinto pantheon

Grand Shrine of Ise

Forest complex of 125 shrinesdedicated in 4 BCPlace of pilgrimage for those following ShintoRebuilt in replacement ritual every 20 years

The "relocation of kami" ceremony

The relocation of kami is a Shinto ceremony that involves moving the kami from one place to another. he kami are shrouded with sheets so as to be kept free from impure gaze, there may be gagaku music, and priests may make eerie sounds to indicate the presence of the divine

Torii

A gatelike structure that marks a Shinto sacred place.

Heaven & hell in early Japan

Depictions of serene paradises to grotesque realms.

Buddhism in Japan

Brought over by Korean travelers who adopted it in China. Eventually spread through Japanese society. However, it mixed with Shinto rituals, gods and goddesses.

The Buddha

Means "Enlightened One." He is said to have found a path for overcoming suffering.

Bodhisattvas

Compassionate beings that decide to stay in the life and death life cycle rather than reaching Nirvana to help others.

Buddhism and the state

Used in political environments and has advanced the arts and literature.

Pure Land

practitioners put their faith in Amida Buddha to be reborn in the Pure Land, a realm where enlightenment comes swiftly.

True Pure Land

"Shin Buddhism" The school of Pure Land Buddhism.

A branch of Pure Land Buddhism focused on devotion to Amitabha Buddha

"He who retreats [goes to] the worst of the eight hells"

refers to the "Hells of Beppu" in Oita Prefecture, which consist of seven hot springs with unique characteristics, often called "hells" due to their boiling mud, vibrant colors, and steamy appearance: Sea Hell (Umi Jigoku), Oniishibozu Hell, Kamado Hell, Crocodile Hell (Oniyama Jigoku), Shiraike Hell, Chinoike Hell (Blood Pond Hell), and Tatsumaki HelL

Kamakura

the emergence of the samurai, the warrior caste, and for the establishment of feudalism in Japan. Shogun's headquarters.

Ashikaga

founded the Ashikaga shogunate (hereditary military dictatorship) that dominated Japan from 1338 to 1573

The Onin War

1467-1477 Civil War that entered into Warring States period - mass struggle of Daimyos

Sengoku

Japanese history in which civil wars and social upheavals took place almost continuously in the 15th and 16th centuries.

The Mongol invasions

1274 and 1281 devastated Japanese resources and power in the region, nearly destroying the samurai culture and Empire of Japan entirely before a typhoon miraculously spared their last stronghold

"The Low Overthrowing the High"

signifying a situation where those in lower social positions rebel and overthrow those in higher power

Ikko-Ikki

This rebellion in Japan was led by Jodo Shinshu Buddhist priests, peasants, and merchants against the ruling daimyos during the 15th and 16th centuries.

Fushimi

the Fushimi Inari Taisha shrine is believed to be a guardian deity that provides blessings such as prosperous business, a good harvest, and family safety

one of the biggest cities in the country after Edo, Osaka, and Sakai, and it served politically as the de facto capital of Japan

Azuchi

Azuchi Castle was one of the primary castles of Oda Nobunaga located in the Azuchi neighborhood of the city of Ōmihachiman, Shiga Prefecture.

Japanese Pirates

also known as kaizoku or wakō, were a group of marauders who raided the coastlines of East Asia from the 13th century to the 17th century

Sengoku Daimyo

military lords who fought for control of Japan during the Sengoku period, also known as the Warring States period

Domains

estates owned by daimyo during the Edo period (1603-1868)

Azuchi-Momoyama

a time of political unification, cultural flourishing, and economic growth in Japan.

Nanban Trade

a period of cultural and technological exchange between Japan and Europeans that began in 1543.

"Red seal" ships

Japanese armed merchant sailing ships bound for Southeast Asian ports with a red-sealed letter patent issued by the early Tokugawa shogunate in the first half of the 17th century.

"Hidden Christians"

Kakure Kirishitan, are Japanese people who practiced Christianity in secret after it was outlawed in 1614

Unification of Japan

culminating in the establishment of the Tokugawa Shogunate which brought relative peace and centralized power to Japan; this period is often called the Azuchi-Momoyama era.

Oda Nobunaga

a ruthless daimyo who extended his power over much of central Japan and deposed the reigning Ashikaga shogun

Toyotomi Hideyoshi

one of Japan's most powerful and influential figures. Through his military prowess, strategic thinking, and shrewd diplomacy, Hideyoshi succeeded in unifying Japan after more than a century of civil war and strife.

Tokugawa Ieyasu

Vassal of Toyotomi Hideyoshi; succeeded him as most powerful military figure in Japan; granted title of shogun in 1603 and established Tokugawa Shogunate; established political unity in Japan.

The Honno-ji Incident

a surprise attack on Japanese warlord Oda Nobunaga in 1582, which led to Nobunaga's suicide

The Imjin War

a series of Japanese invasions of Korea launched by the Japanese leader Toyotomi Hideyoshi in the late 16th century

The sword hunt

The sword hunt was a series of policies in Japan that confiscated weapons from the general population

Battle of Sekigahara

The Battle of Sekigahara was a pivotal conflict in Japanese history that took place on October 21, 1600

What is the significance of the Heian era in Japanese history and culture?

- the "golden era" of Japan

- arts, literature, religion etc.

- "rule of taste"

- the tale of genji

- women independence

What is the significance of Buddhism in Japanese history and culture?

- shaped religious views in Japan

- Brought over by Korean travelers who adopted it in China. Eventually, it spread through Japanese society

- Spread of Buddhist sects like Pure Land and Nichiren, making salvation accessible to all classes.

- Zen Buddhism's focus on meditation (zazen) appealed to the warrior class seeking spiritual authority.