Korea/Japan - History

T’aebaek:

Mountain range that runs down the eastern side of the Korean Peninsula. Made rice farming easier in the west then the east, it shaped settlements to be more west population based.

Shilla:

One of the three kingdoms during the chinese Han dynasty. And drove out the Tang chinese dynasty and mongols. With the help of Wu Zhao they were able to keep out the mongols.

Koryo:

Founded by Wang Geon and was a Korean dynasty (Koryo mean “Korea”) Its capital was Gaesong.

Yi-Song-Gye:

A general who ended the koryo dynasty and founded the Choson dynasty, he became know as king Taejo

Choson:

Longest and main dynasty after Koryo, this dynasty centralized and brought confucianism. Also shaped Korea’s tradition (Ex. hangul) The capital was moved to Hanyang - Seoul

Kaesong: (Gaesong)

Capital city of the koryo dynasty before the Choson dynasty

Celadon:

A famous green and glazed pottery style produced during the koryo dynasty, symbolizing Korea’s artistic and cultural aichevment.

King SeJong:

A Choson ruler who created Hangul, expanded education, and strengthen confucian governance.

Hangul:

Is the Korean alphabet created by King SeJong in the Choson dynasty to increase literacy and give Koreans their own writing system.

Literacy Rate:

Refers to how many people in society can read and write, and in Korea it increased drastically after Hangul was created under King Sejong.

Admiral Yi Sun-Shin:

Was a Choson naval commander who defeated Japanese forces during the Imjin war using superior strategy and turtle ships, saving Korea from conquest.

Kim Jong II:

The 2nd North Korean leader (1994-2011) who strengthen nuclear weapons, continued human rights abuse, and promoted isolationism

Archipelago:

A chain of islands and countries (Ex. Japan) Japan developed distinct cultures and strong naval traditions because of their islands geography.

Tsunami:

Tsu mean “harbor” and nami means “wave”; A powerful ocean wave caused by underwater earthquakes, ecpseically common in Japan due to its location on tectonic plate boundaries.

Ring of Fire:

A belt of tonic plate activity around the Pacific Ocean that causes frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions in regions like Japan and Southeast Asia.

SHinto:

First Japanese religion that focused on Nature and worships of ancestors. Shinto mean “The way of Gods”

Amaterasu:

The shinto sun goddess, and the Yamato clan was believed to be direct descendants of: thus, giving the Yamato clan lots of power because of how important the sun was in Japan.

Kami:

The spirits or sacred forces in Shinto that exist mainly in nature. (Ex. Big trees or big rocks in unique geographic locations)

Uji:

Powerful family clans in early Japan that controlled land and politics before centralized imperialism began.

Yamato Clan:

The most powerful Uji clan that established imperial rule (Imperial = Hereditary + complete control and divine right) and became the foundation for the Japanese monarchy.

Prince Shotoku:

A Japanese ruler who led the 1st or 3 missions where Japanese scholars went to China and took culture they wanted, He led Japanese government after China to create a centralized government, he also promoted buddhism and tried to promote CSES. (Civil service Examination system)

Selective Borrowing:

Is when a society adopts useful ideas from other cultures while keeping its own tradition and identities. (Ex. Japan: Japanese take Kana, and leave CSES from china)

Kana:

Japan’s phonetic writing system (sounds) that helped increase literacy and create a distinct Japanese written language.

Sei Shonagon:

Wrote vivid sketches of court life in her diary, called The Pillow Book.

Lady Murasaki:

She wrote The Tale of Genji and is an account of the life of a prince in the imperial court. This novel is considered the first novel ever.

Shogun:

means “the supreme general of the empires army”. The shogun led the authority of taxes, roads, and officials. The shogun held the majority of the power as the figure head “emperor” was being controlled by the shogun. (Shogun = Puppet master during the real work ——— emperor = figure head/ what the people see)

Ronin:

A failed Samurai who couldn’t complete his bushido duties, and was masterless.

Daimyo:

was a feudal Japanese lord who controlled land, samurai armies, and was regional governments.

Samurai:

Were Japanese elite warriors class who served Daimyo and Shoguns and lived by the Bushido code of Honor.

Bushido:

The Samurai code of honor that followed loyalty, honor, discipline, and duty. (Bushido is like Chivalry but Samurai are not forced to god or wife)

Minamoto Yoritomo:

First shogun of Japan who founded the Kamakura shogunate. (Kamakura = capital where shoguns lived)

Seppuku:

A form of ritual suicide enforced by Samurai to restore honor after disgrace or failure after the failed Bushido (Cutting open belly-Slow + painful)

Kamikaze:

Means “divine wind” and refers to both the typhoons that destroyed mongol invasion fleets and to WWII Japanese suicide pilots who sacrificed themselves for their country.

Tokugawa Ieyasu:

Man who unified Japan ad founded the Tokugawa shogunate (After Kamakura) in 1603, creating a centralized military government and a long period of peace and isolation.

Edo:

Was the capital of the Tokugawa shogunate and the political center of Japan, later became where modern day Tokyo is.

Zen:

A form of buddhism that emphasizes meditation, self-discipline, and inner peace, and strongly influenced Samurai culture.

Noh theater: (Elite+ Spiritual)

A traditional Japanese dramatic art form that uses masks, music, and symbolic movement to express spiritual and philosophical themes, especially influenced by Zen Buddhism.

Kabuku: (Made for all + Dramatic)

Japanese popular theater known for colorful costumes, dramatic acting, and entertainment focused storytelling, especially popular during the Edo period.

Bunraku: (Puppetry)

Means “bunch of puppets” and is puppet theater that uses puppets, narration, and music to tell emotional stories. (Edo period)

Haiku:

Japanese poem 5-7-5 syllables structure that reflects nature, simplicity, and zen philosophy.