Early StatesEarly States

Continental Civilization and JapanContinental Civilization and Japan

• Population• Islands• Mountain and rivers• Natural dangers

Rainfall and avg. temperature

• Korea divided amongst three principal kingdoms: Koguryo, Paekche, Silla

• Japanese have base in Kaya, friendly w/ Paekche

• Involved in wars on Korean peninsula

Yamato’s relations with KoreaYamato’s relations with Korea

• Nihongi claims that Emp. Jingu conquered Korea in 4th c. CE

• Above: 1880 Yoshitoshi print of Empress Jingu landing on the Korean peninsula.

• Korea divided amongst three principal kingdoms: Koguryo, Paekche, Silla

• Japanese have base in Kaya, friendly w/ Paekche

• Involved in wars on Korean peninsula

• Lose Korean foothold, when Silla triumphs

T’ang, Silla, Yamato Connections: 600s

•By 600s, power concentrated in Japan•Yamato clan, and allies, involved in Korean struggles

T’ang

Silla

•“Import” of Buddhism ca. 550•Accelerated by Prince Shotoku (574-622), in earlly 7th c. in alliance with Soga family

Buddhism in IndiaBuddhism in India

• World is a place of suffering and pain

• Suffering comes from desires and acquisitiveness

• Must deny desire, deny the self

• Find release (nirvana) in the eight-fold path

Gautama (563 - 483 BCE)

Hard for most people to realize; instead accumulation of karma (cause and effect) leads to cycle of rebirth (samsara)

Buddhism in JapanBuddhism in Japan

• Early reception of Buddhism in Japan: – 1 life is suffering , impermanent– 2 Buddhism offers healing powers and

salvation, through faith and acts– 3 legacy in art & architecture– 4 sense of partaking in higher

ShShōōtoku's other accomplishmentstoku's other accomplishments• 1. Merit based ranking system

– Cap ranks (Kan'i)– Overlapped the existing hereditary system

• 2. Seventeen Articles of 604– Moral codes based on Confucianism

• One ruler• Bureaucracy to replace clan heads

• 3. Missions to China (607, 608, 613)– "From the Sovereign of the Rising Sun”

• Nippon (Nihon) > Japan

T’ang, Silla, Yamato Connections: 600s

Shipwreck

Hōryūji TempleHōryūji Temple

Hōryūji templeYakushiji temple

•The T’ang model: 640s through end of century•Especially under Temmu, 672

•Emperor at apex of political order•Built up military•Law codes•Land allocation and tax system•Provincial capitals and governors•Official patronage of religion (Buddhism)

Imperial grants of court ranks and office

Public land (equal field= jri) systemRitsuryō law codes

Nara, first permanent capital, 710

•In early days, “moving capitals”• from 601in Asuka Plain

Provincial governor sent off to his post

Legitimizing the political orderLegitimizing the political order

• Via origin myths, or history

• Kojiki (Chronicle of Ancient Japan), 712

• Nihon shoki [also called Nihongi] (Chronicles of Japan), 720

Construction of the Great Buddha at Tōdaiji

Legitimizing the Political Order: Promoting Religion

Great Buddha, Of Tōdaiji Temple

Dedication ceremony of Great Buddha, 752

Move to Heian (794) [Emperor Move to Heian (794) [Emperor Kammu]Kammu]

North

Present day Kyoto (former Heian)

Concluding pointsConcluding points

• Importation of culture and political order-First in diffuse fashion, then systematicallyvia “missions

• State system on Chinese model– Political and economic institutions– imperial and allied aristocratic families

• Cultural foundations– Buddhism– Myth of “Japanese” founding