Chapter 12, Section 4

“Feudal Powers in Japan”

Shintoism

Japan around the 1st century B.C. was organized into clans. Each clan worshipped its own nature god or goddess.

This god worship developed into Shintoism, the belief that divine spirits dwelled in nature. Shinto also believed ancestors could manifest themselves in nature.

The Yamato Clan

By A.D. 400s the Yamato clan had established itself as the leading clan, claiming to be descended from the sun goddess Amaterasu.

The Yamato clan leader claimed to be emperor of Japan. From this point forward, Japan would always have an emperor claiming heritage to the Yamato clan.

Buddhism in Japan

Korean travelers to Japan brought with them Buddhism.

By the 8th century, Buddhist ideas had spread throughout Japan.

Many Japanese merged Shintoism with Buddhist thought.

Cultural Influences from China

In 607, Prince Shotoku, fascinated with Chinese culture because of Buddhism, sent 3 missions to China to study Chinese culture.

The Japanese adopted the Chinese system of writing, Chinese landscape painting, and the simple arts of everyday living such as cooking, gardening, and drinking tea.

Japanese Feudalism

As Japanese central power declined, local leaders took more power and a state of feudalism developed in Japan.

By the 11th century large landowners living away from the capital set up their own private armies.

These private armies were made up of samurai warriors, who lived by “bushido” (the way of the warrior)