History and Culture
Early Records
“wa” earliest Chinese names for
Japanese
Early inhabitants were believed to have
come from Northeast Asia by means of
Korea
Account of the Three Kingdoms
- Japan as appendage to Korea
- highly matriarchal (unmarried
queen/priestess)
Pottery Cultures
Jomon culture
- coil-made or cord patterns in their
pottery
Pottery Cultures
Yayoi culture
- potter’s wheel (mainland influence)
- agriculture
- tomb period
Yayoi tomb
Haniwa (Guardians of the Tomb)
Mythical Histories
Kojiki (Records of Ancient Matters
Nihon Shoki or Nihongi (Chronicles of
Japan)
- it gives Japan a history to behold as a
people
- combination of various myths
Divine History of Japan
Izanagi and Izanami
- islands of Japan
came from
- gave birth to
Amaterasu
Divine History of Japan
Amaterasu Ninigi
Divine History of Japan
Jimmu Tenno
- First Emperor
- “Divine Warrior”
- extended the
Japanese empire
Uji
Traditional Japanese clans ruled by
hereditary chiefs
Worshipped the clan’s ancestors
Combined religious & political functions
Kami
Divine spirits of nature, as well as,
ancestors
Nature-worship – Shintoism
(the way of the Gods)
Shoen
Private estates ruled by hereditary
aristocracy
Contributed to the rise of local military
class
Kana
Japanese syllabary
- phonetic Chinese characters were
simplified into a new set of symbols
a. Hiragana (ordinary, no kanji)
b. Katakana (kanji, pronunciation)
Kana
Hiragana Katakana
Samurai
“Gentlemen warriors”
Aristocratic group educated and trained
in the arts of war
Also known as “bushi”
Bushido
“the way of the warrior”
- Loyalty to the emperor or overlord
- Honest and trustworthy
- Frugal lives; whose interest is Honor
and Pride
- Men of true valor
- No fear of death
- “To die in battle is to bring honor to his
family and lord”
BU – martial arts
SHI - warrior
DO – the way
Seppuku
Death or ritual suicide
(disembowelment)
A samurai would rather kill himself than
bring shame and disgrace to his family
name and his lord.
This was considered an act of true
honor.
The Samurai Creed
I have no parents; I make the Heavens and the Earth my parents.
I have no home; I make the Tan T'ien my home.
I have no divine power; I make honesty my Divine Power.
I have no means; I make Docility my means.
I have no magic power; I make personality my Magic Power.
I have neither life nor death; I make A Um my Life and Death. I have no body; I
make Stoicism my Body.
I have no eyes; I make The Flash of Lightning my eyes.
I have no ears; I make Sensibility my Ears.
I have no limbs; I make Promptitude my Limbs.
I have no laws; I make Self-Protection my Laws.
I have no strategy; I make the Right to Kill and the Right to Restore Life my
Strategy.
I have no designs; I make Seizing the Opportunity by the Forelock my Designs.
I have no miracles; I make Righteous Laws my Miracle.
I have no principles; I make Adaptability to all circumstances my Principle.
I have no tactics; I make Emptiness and Fullness my Tactics.
I have no talent; I make Ready Wit my Talent.
I have no friends; I make my Mind my Friend.
I have no enemy; I make Incautiousness my Enemy.
I have no armour; I make Benevolence my Armour.
I have no castle; I make Immovable Mind my Castle.
I have no sword; I make No Mind my Sword.
7 Principles of Bushido
Gi: the right decision, taken with
equanimity, the right attitude, the truth.
When we must die, we must die. Rectitude.
Yu: bravery tinged with heroism.
Jin: universal love, benevolence toward
mankind; compassion.
Rei: right action--a most essential quality,
courtesy.
Makoto: utter sincerity; truthfulness.
Melyo: honor and glory.
Chugo: devotion, loyalty.
Shogun
Emperor’s chief military commander
and agent
“bakufu”
Four Shogunates
Minamoto
Kamakura
Ashikaga
Tokugawa
Noh
Distinctively Japanese drama
Zen Buddhism
Disciplined meditation
Oneness with universal creation
Unity with nature
