japan + korea study guide

Nobles - Nobles (rich people) gained power over the imperial family. They earned trust, then took power and married into the imperial family to keep control. Nobles got high-ranking jobs and convinced the emperor to give them tax-free land. The emperor lost real power and became a figurehead.

Daimyo - a specific type of noble who were land owners

vassal - a person under the protection of a lord to whom he has vowed loyalty, a low-ranking noble under the protection of a feudal lord

Bureaucracy -  a system of government

Samurai - a warrior who served a Japanese lord and lived by a strict code of loyalty

Bushido - code of honor followed by the Samurai, they served with absolute honor and if they failed to serve it they would commit suicide 

Katana - long sword, a warrior who served a Japanese lord and lived by a strict code of loyalty, if they failed to serve they would fall on the katana

Wakizashi -  short sword

Yumi - Japanese longbow. This weapon allowed a warrior to strike at enemies from a great distance

Odachi - very long, two-handed Japanese sword used by the samurai to fight multiple opponents outdoors, four to seven feet long. More rarely, some of them were as long as 12 feet, it greatly increased a samurai's deadly range


Yari - This weapon was designed for thrusting, and spear combat was much simpler when compared to the complex range of motions required in fencing, or sword fighting.


Archipelago - many scattered islands surrounded by an expanse of water (Honshu, Kyushu, Shikolu, Hokkaido, the 4 islands of japan)

Celado - it is a tea kettle made out of very fine porcelain

People/places/Dynasty’s

4 main islands- Honshu, Kyushu, Shikolu, Hokkaido

Yamato Clan- produced 1st emperor, Emperor considered descendents of Sun Goddess, People of Japan felt the Emperor gained this position since he was a direct descendant from the Sun Goddess, since he got power from the gods they felt he had powers to protect Japan from any and ALL invaders, was only a spiritual leader not a political one at first, was the most important person with the SHINTO religion


Shinto - emphasizes the worship of kami (spirits or deities) residing in nature, ancestral spirits, and the importance of purity and harmony


Shotoku - Prince Shotoku saw what m,China had in the government that worked and copied it in Japan, wanted all the power, copied Chinese writing, art, poetry, architecture, and government bureaucracy


Heian Period - (794-1185) Nobles (rich land owners started to take power) earned the trust of the emperor and convinced him to give them the power over all the people on their lands, nobles gain trust over the imperial family, earned trust of emperor and gained control, married daughters to princes to keep power in family, received most high ranking jobs govt, convinced emperor to give them tax-free estates as gifts for loyalty, dominated emperor, Emperor loses power-position becomes ceremonial, refined life of court nobles, maintained elegant appearance, elaborate clothes and makeup, practiced refined behavior-strict rules, manners, ALWAYS maintained decorum-strict rituals, Devoted free time to hobbies, games


Fujiwara Clan - In the 800’s AD the Fujiwara Clan became the “real” rulers of Japan, ruled Japan for 300 years, were wealthy/rich Nobles, 1100’s CE  Japan’s central government became very weak and the lost power, lost their power and authority to the Daimyo


Feudalism - Unlike a strong central government, power was distributed among regional lords (daimyo) who controlled their own territories, Society was rigidly structured, with the emperor at the top (though with limited political power), followed by the shogun (the military leader who held real power), daimyos, samurai (warriors), and then farmers, artisans, and merchant, Daimyo controlled vast territories and were responsible for maintaining order, collecting taxes, and providing military service


Peasants - were poor and had no power, worked farms


Shogun - gave big parts of lands, powerful military leader, ruled in the emperor's name, samurai serves them, did have all the real power, followed their own interest first, first shoguns was Minamoto Yoritomo who took over in 1192, controlled a Huge Army and ruled ALL of Japan


Emperor - has no political power, emperor is also recognized as the head of the Shinto religion, which considers him a direct descendant of the sun goddess


Minamoto Yoritomo - The first shoguns was Minamoto Yoritomo who took over in 1192, controlled a Huge Army and ruled ALL of Japan, Japan was a military government for 700 years after that


Oda Nobunaga - (1534-1582) “Little bird, if you do not sing, I will kill you”, disobedient as a child, he gained more land by being ruthless, was willing to hear more ideas, he allowed christianity to spread, never called shogun. Oda piled the rice


Toyotomi Hideyoshi - (1536-1598) “Little bird, if you do not sing, I will make, if you do not sing, I will make you sing”, general, rags to riches tale, surprised people with his wisdom, nickname monkey, cunning and strategist, expanded land, made fortress and tax system, never became shogun. Toyotomi kneads the dough


Tokugawa Ieyasu - (1542-1616)“Little bird, if you do not sing, I will wait for you”, 140,000 under Tokaygo destroyed 180,000, shogun, patient, persevering personality, maniplicated people for  complete lockdown of Japan, Haiki. Tokugawa eats the cake


Silla Kingdom - (57 BCE to 935 CE) one of the Three Kingdoms of Ancient Korea, is renowned for its rich gold culture, its role in unifying the Korean peninsula, and its flourishing art and culture, particularly during the Unified Silla period, internal conflicts and peasant uprisings led to the kingdom's fall to the Goryeo dynasty


Yayoi - (300 BCE to 300 CE) marked a transition from the Jomon period with the introduction of rice agriculture, metalworking, and new social structures, likely influenced by the Korean peninsula and China


Taira - Japanese samurai (warrior) clan of great power and influence in the 12th century, name was given to Prince Takamune, grandson of Kammu (the 50th emperor of Japan)(1156 to 1185) monopolized high positions at the Imperial court; in the later year the clan was destroyed in the sea battle of Dannoura



Main Ideas:

Unifiers Of Japan- three great unifiers of Japan are widely recognized as Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Tokugawa Ieyasu, who through their military and political actions, brought an end to the Sengoku period of warfare and laid the foundation for a unified Japan


Social Hierarchy- Class system, Samurai enforced laws collected taxes, Peasants worked farms, Artisans served needs of castle samurai built and repaired buildings, Merchants wealthiest group  could NOT be samurai  created forms of recreation: wrestling gambling and Kabuki, 


Class system Feudalism, Emperor as the symbolic head, followed by the Shogun who held real power, then Daimyo (lords), Samurai (warriors), and finally, commoners (peasants, artisans, and merchants)


7 Virtues Of Bushido- Meiyo: Honor, Rei: Respect, Gi: Integrity, Yuuki: Heroic courage, Makoto: Honesty and Sincerity, Chuugi: Duty and Loyalty, Jin: Compassion 


Tokugawa Shogunate- 1868 he becomes Shogunate, ruled Japan for over 250 years, establishing a period of relative peace and prosperity after centuries of warfare, implementing strict social hierarchies


Mongol Attacks- leader Kublai Khan wanted to take over japan and got 10,000 soldiers ready for invasion, typhoon (Hurricane) came and destroyed ALL the 500-900 ships, emperor of japan got credit for it because his godly power protected the island, Kublai Khan attacks again, Kublai Khan waited 10 years and planned another attack on Japan to take it over for the Mongol Empire, This time he had 150,000 men with 4,400 boats ready, Another Typhoon came destroyed it again, Kublai khan said Forget Japan, emperor of Japan got credit again

Korgo Kingdom

1. Government and Leadership

  • Followed Chinese Model: Like the Silla kingdom before them, the Koryo rulers based their government on the Chinese model.

  • Code of Laws: They established a set of laws to govern the kingdom.

  • Civil Service System: Used examinations to select government officials, similar to China.

2. Religion and Culture

  • Buddhism: Continued to grow and spread across the Korean Peninsula under Koryo rule.

  • Movable Metal Type:

    • Korean artisans developed this printing technology.

    • Produced the world’s oldest book printed using movable metal type.

  • Celadon Pottery:

    • Perfected by Korean artisans.

    • Known for its green color and elegant shapes.

3. Challenges and Threats

  • Internal Disorders: Faced political and social issues from within.

  • Mongol Invasion:

    • Mongols from China were the major external threat.

    • The Koryo royal family fled to an island near modern-day Seoul.

    • After 25 years of struggle, they surrendered and accepted Mongol rule.

    • Kublai Khan used Korean labor to build ships for his invasion of Japan.

4. Fall of the Koryo Dynasty

  • Mongol Decline: As Mongol power weakened, so did the Koryo dynasty.

  • New Dynasty in 1392:

    • General Yi Song-gye (YEE sung-jay) overthrew Koryo.

    • Founded a new Korean dynasty.

Korea was once again ruled by its own people.