The History and Arts of Feudal Japan :

An Interdisciplinary Unit

Mark McGuigan, Global Studies Teacher

Carolyn Holmes, English Literature, Teacher

Len Eichler, Art Teacher

History Outline

I. Japan Geography Introduction ( M. McGuigan A - D)
A. Islands formed by volcanoes along meeting of Asia and Pacific tectonic plates
B. Four main islands (Honshu, Shikoku, Kyushu, Hokkaido), about 3,900 smaller islands
C. Total present population approximately 128 million
D. Religions: Buddhism, Shintoism, Christianity
II. Prehistory Introduction:
A. Indigenous people, probably the Ainu, Caucasoid from northern Asia ( M. McGuigan)
B. Early pottery - Jomon (means cord) -13,000 BC - 300 BC (L. Eichler)
III. Ancient Period (660 BC - 200 AD) ( M. McGuigan A - C) (L. Eichler D)
A. Emergence of Yamato Clan
B. Migrations of Chinese and Koreans to southern Japan
C. Introduction of rice, tea and silk
D. Development of Yayoi pottery (300 BC - 300 AD)

IV. Imperial Period (200 - 1192 AD) ( M. McGuigan A. - E.) (L. Eichler F)

A. Yamato dynasty proclaims Emperor as descendant of Sun Goddess (Amaterasu Omikami)
B. Buddhism introduced from Korea, 6th. C.
C. Fujiwara dynasty (668 - 794) establishes Capital of Japan at Nara, early 8th. C.
D. Capital moved to Heian-kyo, late 8th. C. (later site of Kyoto)
E. Emergence of Samurai warrior class, Imperial power crumbles
F. Bizen and other stoneware pottery are fired in anagama kilns starting in 8th. C.

V. Feudal Period (1192 - 1868) (M. McGuigan A-C1-4, D1-5&8, E1-5&8-10) (L. Eichler C5, D6&7, E6&7)

A. Feudalism - social, economic and political system similar to European feudal system

Europe of Middle Ages
Japan of Feudal Period
King - legal ruler
Emperor - divine ruler
Nobles - major landowners
Daimyo - vassals of Shogun
Knights - warriors' code, chivalry
Samurai - warrior's code, "bushido"
Merchants, Craftsmen
Peasants - tied to land
Peasants - tied to land
Merchants, Craftsmen

B. Kamakura Period (1192 - 1333) - Emergence of Shogun

1. Minamoto Yorimoto is named first Shogun, military aid (General) to Emperor
2. Office of Shogun formed to prepare for invasion by Mongols.
3. Invasion attempts by Kublai Kahn in 1274 & 1281 AD. Both failed
due to destruction of fleets by typhoons called Kamikaze (Divine Wind)

C. Muromachi Period (1333 - 1573)

1. Position of Shogun becomes permanent
2. Ashiga family becomes dynasty of Shoguns
3. Period of Civil Wars - Japan's " Dark Ages"
4. 1548 - Portuguese first, then Dutch and British trade on limited basis

5. Cultural developments include:

a. Zen Buddhism - emphasis on meditation
b. Cha No Yu - tea ceremony
c. Haiku - poetry
d. Ikebana & Bonsai - flower arranging and gardening
e. Noh (opera), Kabuki (music & dance theater) & Bunraku (puppet theater)

D. Momyama Period (1568 - 1600) (M. McGuigan 1-5 & 8) (L. Eichler 6 & 7)

1. End of Ashiga Shogunate 1573 - Nobunaga overruns Kyoto
2.Oda Nobunaga begins unification of Japan - assassinated in 1582
3. Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Nobunaga's chief general assumes power.
4. Hideyoshi unifies Japan, Daimyos must swear loyalty oath
5. Hideyoshi attempts to conquer Korea in 1592 & 1597, fails
6.Hideyoshi's Teamaster, Rikyu, formulates Cha No Yu (tea ceremony)
7. Rikyu commissions Chojiro to make special austere tea bowls (Raku)
8. Hideyoshi dies in 1598 and is succeeded by Tokugawa Ieyasu

 

E. Tokugawa Period (1603 - 1868) (M. McGuigan 1-6 & 8 - 10) (L. Eichler 7)

1. Tokugawa is given title of Shogun by Emperor, who rules only symbolically.
2. Capitol is moved to Edo. Emperor stays in palace in Kyoto.
3. Japan expells foreigners, except limited trade with Dutch at Nagasaki.
3. Tokugawa hands title of Shogun to his son in 1605.
4.Edo becomes world's largest city.
5. Merchants amass wealth while Samurai increasingly lose wealth.
6. Shogun tries to control morality of Edokko "Children of Edo", forbids
women to perform in Kabuki. Pleasure districts grow larger.
7. Artists, such as Hokusai, Utamaro and Hiroshige record life in Edo
with "ukiyo-e", pictures of the "foating world" (fleeting pleasures).
8. Commodore Perry sails "Black Ships" into Edo Bay 1853.
9. Shogun allows Perry ashore 1854. Treaty with U. S. signed in 1858.
10. Shogun loses power and yields to Emperor, "Meji Restoration" 1868

 

The Modern Era in Japan Begins.

 

Raku Tea Bowl Unit Plan Pinched Tea Bowl Lesson Plan

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