RR1
Concept of ie, family or house, living quarter
Name several key cultural values that the authors (Japanese college students in the late
1990s) relate to the role of samurai in Japanese history.
Davies & Ikeno, Bushido pp. 41-49
Name several key cultural values that the authors (Japanese college students in the late
1990s) relate to the role of samurai in Japanese history.
Written by Jap students studying English
How is content presented
Chronological,
With some evidence given
Easy language, gives definitions to terms such as bushido, satori
Uses quotes to make a point
Split into different sections, each focusing on a elements of bushido, such as loyalty,
honor, Confucianism
Strength and Weakness
PRO: In time order, see the development and change in bushido, Uses quotes to make a
point
CON: Doesn’t have many supporting evidence, such s statistics, to support point, such as
the point how some modern Japanese don’t respect elders or their sensei
Name several Key Cultural values related to Role of
Samurai
bushido spirit of samurai - means no-mind
Zen Buddhism based on Confucianism
Bushido involved not onlymartial spirit and skill with weapons, but also absolute loyalty
to, a strong sense ofpersonal honor, devotion to duty, and
the courage, if required, to sacrifice one's life in battle or in ritual
Role: protect private
manors and to maintain public order, leadership
(Zen Buddhism] stressed physical discipline, self-control,
and the practice of meditation in place of formal scholarship,
Allign with their existing attitudes
The Moral values of Neo-Contucianism, li (propriety) and jen(humanism), were needed
to give Samurai, who had a political role that play par tin government, the “”correct
mORAL attitudes
Enlightenment is seen as a liberation from man's
intellectual nature, from the b
urden offixed ideas and feelings about
THE ORIGINS OF BUSHIDO CONFUCIANISM
:
reality.
spiritual elements of bushido include being conscious of the unconscious, prevents them
from thinking about themselves,
Role: allows them to be calm while training and fighting
bushido vanished as the Meiji period ended
During 20th century, the idea were abused, misinterpreted, people became fanatic,
kamikaze, killing own children and wife if they are sick to show loyalty to emperor
Hendry, pp 1-30
From bureaucratic(run by formal rules that have been established)
to feudal(warlords, military, run by personal power and influences),
European missionaries came and kicked out, to Tokugawa,
isolation period(2 and Half century long), retain more unity retain
degree of bureaucracy - Edo/Tokugawa period(relatively peaceful) -
18th century Western ships came, Satsuma clan advocated trade
with western - "Restoration' of the 15-year-old Emperor Meiji led to
modern Japan - up to second world war(modernized, western tech,
legal system parliament established)
WW2 defeat, learn from Americans, demilitarisation and democratisation, eliminate
extreme nationalism - modern Japanese choose their own identity, change is rapid there is
even difference between generations in contemporary Japan
Based on the readings, briefly explain how one of the
following contributes to Japanese identity:
The islands of Japan were created by a god and goddess, who leaned down from heaven
and stirred the ocean with a spear. The water dropped from the spear first the first island.
This mythology correlates to the appreciation of nature found in Yahoo craftsmanship,
which can be seen in the detailed decorations of samurai blades. The grandchild of
Amaterasu, the sun goddess, spend years in adventure away from the southern islands
and landed on Japn’s central island to establish palace, and became he first emperor. This
myth is linked to the emperor line that remains unbroken and valued today. My culture
background in China also has has roots in mythology. China’s first dynasty, Xia, which
its existence is debated was founded by You The Great, which started a line of dynasties.
• Mythological origins
• Japanese history, from the Nara through the Tokugawa, Meiji, and post-war
periods (you may pick one historical period to write about)
Does your own cultural background include similar shared identity from mythology?
From history? If so, how? If not, why not?
The Yayoi period represent the start of cooperation, social devision/organization, due to
introduction of rice cultivation
Mythological origins: The islands of Japan were created by a god and goddess, who
leaned down from the floating bridge of heaven and stirred the ocean with a jew- elled
spear.
First Island formed by water dropped form the spear, The couple lived there
The Sun goddess was created, however due to turmoil caused by her younger brother, she
hide in a cave, no sunlight. The other goddess sued a mirror and, jewels beads, and
danced to lure her out to have sunlight again.
Identity: fine decorative work often found along the blades combinesa Jomon love of
nature with Yayoi craftsmanship.
grandchild of Amaterasu and his companions spent many years in battle and adventure
away from southern island, where the landed on central part of island of Japan,
established palace, became first emperor.
Identity: established the emperor line people still value today, remain unbroken
social and political organisation
The Imperial Palace ni Tokyo occupies a piece of land said at the height of Japan's
economic success to have had a real estate value approximately equivalent to that of the
whole of Callfornia
Similar to Hierarchy is ancient china, where emperor, rulers live rich and sophisticated
lifestvle.
How is content presented, P13-23, from aristocracy to WW2
Split in sections
More historical events orientated, comprehensive, not only focused on bushido, samurai
More chronological, characteristics of different era
See transformation from bureaucratic(run by formal rules that have been established) to
feudal(warlords, military, run by personal power and influences), to
Compared between artistic occupations of court life and Provincial rulers when Fujiwara
came to power,(concerned with the acquisition of military skills, and they developed a
code of ethics
Strength and Weakness
