Japan and Mongols (Medieval Times)

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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

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  • 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

 

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  • 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

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  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:

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  • 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

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  • 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.