JP 2700 Study Guide - Fall 2018, Comprehensive Midterm Notes - Japan, Empire Of Japan, Shinto
JP 2700
MIDTERM EXAM
STUDY GUIDE
Fall 2018
Japanese History Part 1
Japanese Historical Time Periods:
- Jomon period: 800-300/250 B.C.
- Yayoi period: 300 B.C. - 300 A.D.
- Tomb/Tumulus period: 250 - 710 A.D
- Nara period: 710 - 794
- Heian period: 760 - 1194
- Warring States period: 1467 - 1568
- Meiji period: 1868 - 1890
- Taisho democracy: 1912 - 1926
- Showa depression: 1930 - 1935
- Occupation of Japan: 1945 - 1952
- “Bubble” period: 1980 - 1989
●In the Jomon period (800-300/250 B.C.) the Japanese people were
hunter gatherers.
●The Yayoi period (300 B.C. - 300 A.D.) was largely characterized by rice
cultivation, and the smelting of metal.
Nara period (710 - 794):
- was the first truly historical period as the Japanese first began writing
during this period.
- A permanent capital was set in place for the Emperor.
- Accounts were first written by the Japanese.
- The administration was too large.
- The Japanese first learnt to write; they learnt to write history from the
Chinese.
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- Official histories of Japan: “Konjiki” (Records of Ancient Matters) and
“Nihongi” (History of Japan).
- The earliest records of Japan came from the Chinese. The Chinese wrote:
“The country formerly had a man as ruler. For some seventy or eighty
years after that there were disturbances and warfare. Thereupon the
people agreed upon a woman for their ruler. Her name was Pimiko. She
occupied herself with magic and sorcery, bewitching the people.” Thus
early Japan may have been a matriarchy.
- Pimiko ruled the kingdom of Yamatai in Japan as queen during the 3rd
century according to the Chinese chronicles. She lived from 170 - 248
A.D. and ruled from 183 - 248 A.D. and lived hidden in the depths of a
great, guarded castle, where she spent her time in communication with
the gods, allocating the everyday affairs of the state to her younger
brother.
- Many of the tombs that the Yamatai rulers were buried in were
originally decorated with terracotta figures called “haniwa,”
represented houses, people, animals, and objects of local everyday life.
Mythological Origins of Japan:
- The islands of Japan were created by a god and goddess named Izanagi
and Izanami who were married, and who leaned down from the floating
bridge of heaven and stirred the ocean with a jewelled spear.
- The first island was formed from drops of brine that fell from the spear
as it was lifted out. The heavenly couple descended to this island, where
they gave birth to what is known as an Eight Island Country.
- When the female goddess gave birth to the fire god, she was burned and
died.
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
In the jomon period (800-300/250 b. c. ) the japanese people were hunter gatherers. 300 a. d. ) was largely characterized by rice cultivation, and the smelting of metal. Was the first truly historical period as the japanese first began writing during this period. A permanent capital was set in place for the emperor. Accounts were first written by the japanese. The japanese first learnt to write; they learnt to write history from the. Official histories of japan: konjiki (records of ancient matters) and. The earliest records of japan came from the chinese. The country formerly had a man as ruler. For some seventy or eighty years after that there were disturbances and warfare. Thereupon the people agreed upon a woman for their ruler. She occupied herself with magic and sorcery, bewitching the people. thus early japan may have been a matriarchy . Pimiko ruled the kingdom of yamatai in japan as queen during the 3rd century according to the chinese chronicles.
