Japan and Mongols (Medieval Times)

Mountainous Japanese archipelago (__four main islan__ds)

Japan’s closeness to China and Korea influenced its development

The Sea of Japan (also known as the East Sea) connected Japan to the Asian Mainland.

Japan’s Geography

Mountainous:

  • Not much arable land but climate favorable for agriculture

The good:

  • Barriers to invasion
  • Seas protected Japan

The bad:

  • Kamikaze - Divine Wind
  • Earthquakes
  • Tsunamis

Japan’s Ancient Religion: Shinto

“Way of the Kami”: gods or nature spirits that lived in natural objects.

  • Importance of natural features, forces of nature, and ancestors.
  • Ethnic religion unique to Japan
  • Rituals, prayers to Kami, emphasis on cleanliness

Practicing Shinto:

  • No established scripture or doctrine.
  • Prayers and rituals to the kami.
  • Concerned with cleanliness.

Shinto and Government

  • Shinto unified early Japan.
  • Later became state religion (Meiji Peirod, 1800s) - worship of the Emperor as divine figure (descendent of Shinto gods)
  • Yamato clan established Japan’s ruling dynasty

China’s Influences

Buddhism arrives in Japan around 6th century CE (500’s CE)

  • Blended into existing Shinto beliefs/rituals

Chinese Writing - Calligraphy based on Chinese Characters

Chinese Architecture - Pagodas (places of worship, Buddhist holy relics - stupas)

Buddhism

  • Brought to Japan via Korea and China
  • Coexists with Shinto

“Zen Buddhism” comes from mingling of Buddhism and Taoism.

Zen Buddhist Practices

  • Tea Ceremony
  • Bonsai Trees
  • Rock Garden ( one in Kyoto)

Writing

Adapted from Chinese in 700’s A.D.

Architecture

Pagoda Style buildings.

Pagoda is at Horyu-Ji temple in Japan and is around 1300 years old.

Japanese Feudalism

  • Emperor
  • Shogun (Supreme Military Commanders)
  • Daimyo
  • Generals
  • Samurai

Samurai:

  • Hired Warriors
  • Bushido: Way of the Warrior

Genghis Khan and the Mongol Empire

  • Nomadic herders
  • Genghis Khan
  • Golden Horde (Russia)
  • Mongols converted to local religions, such as Islam, after conquest

The Secret History of the Mongols

By Arthyre Waley

  1. Describe how Chingis became Khan of the Mongols.
  2. Describe how Chingis becomes the Great Khan of ALL the tribes of Mongolia.

Mongol Armies

Genghis Khan - Invaded Russia, China, and Muslim states in Southwest Asia, destroying cities and countryside

  • Created an empire (the largest)

Genghis Khan’s Tax Laws:

  • If you do not pay homage, we will take your prosperity.
  • If you do not have prosperity, we will take your children.
  • If you do not have children, we will take your wife.
  • If you do not have a wife, we will take your head.

Used cruelty as a weapon when necessary → some areas never recovered from Mongol destruction!

Yuan Dynasty - Kublai Khan

  • Great Grandson of Genghis
  • Protected Silk Road and increased trade

More important:

  • Facilitation of trade between Europe and Asia
  • Mongol peace of the 1200s-1300s helped with an exchange of ideas and increased the wealth of merchants
  • Europeans would invest in voyages of exploration to continue trade after the decline
  • Bubonic plague/Black Death - 25 million killed in China, ⅓ of Europe’s population (helped bring an end to manorialism)

Mongol decline leads to brutal conquests of Amerlane (Turk) from Central Asia.