Geography
What is geography?
Geography is defined as the study of our planet and the forces that shape it and are shaped by it— physical, human, and non-human.
What is Shintō?
Shintō is a Japanese religion incorporating the worship of ancestors and nature spirits and a belief in sacred power (kami) in both animate and inanimate things. It was the state religion of Japan until 1945. Among the many objects of worship in Shinto were the kami of the creator, the Moon, stars, mountains, rivers, waterfalls, seas, winds, fire, and some animals. People, commonly major historical figures, have also been enshrined as gods.
What was one key characteristic of The Tokugawa Era?
A daimyo makes an effort to unify all of Japan again. One of his generals, Tokugawa Ieyasu, ends up in power after an intense war. Tokugawa becomes shogun, ruling over the approximately 300 daimyos
This period is defined by its economic growth, strict social order, peace, and arts and culture.
Christianity and more foreign influence come to Japan, but are violently suppressed and Japan takes on a period of 250 years of isolation.
This period ends when the American military forces Japan to end isolation in 1853
How has Japan's geography contributed to its isolation?
Japan’s position as a nation of many islands on the Pacific Ocean often isolated Japan from the rest of the world. This often acted as a natural defense from foreign influence and enemy militaries (e.g. unwanted Christian missionaries, the Mongolian invasion in the 13th century), and allowed Japan to effectively close itself off to outsiders during its period of complete isolation.
What country brought Buddhism to Japan?
Korea
What was the Meiji restoration?
Shortly after the end of isolation, Japan seeks to modernize itself, abolishing the shogunate and giving practical power back to the emperor, Meiji.
Emperor Meiji announced in his 1868 Charter Oath that "Knowledge shall be sought all over the world, and thereby the foundations of imperial rule shall be strengthened."
During this time, Japan opened itself to the world and traditional Japanese life was “modernized”—much of Japan’s traditional practices were outlawed, the Samurai class was abolished
Japan’s military grew, and the country began to become more industrial
What is Japan's most important staple crop? Why is the geography of Japan well-suited for this crop?
Rice is a staple food in Japan, which means it’s one of the main foods eaten there. Japan has warm temperatures, rich soil and mud, and a landscape that allows for the flooding of rice fields—making the nation ideal for growing rice.
True/False: Shintō and Buddhist faiths co-exist.
Why, or why not?
True.
Shintō and Buddhist beliefs can co-exist because of the ways the religions have melded together over centuries, and because neither religion claims one true God above all others. Meanwhile, the cultural backgrounds of Buddhism and Japanese Shintō beliefs are less at odds than is the case with other religions like Christianity, which brought with it European culture, seen as a threat by many.
What came first, the Nara period or Feudal Japan?
The Nara period
What approximate percentage of land in Japan is mountainous? What are the consequences of that?
The land surface of the Japanese islands is rugged. Mountains and hills cover more than 80 percent of the land surface and divide the islands into hundreds of subunits. This creates a landscape of great variety and beauty and gives Japanese life a small-scale compactness. It also creates isolation between different areas of Japan, and can make travel across the country somewhat more difficult!
How did people react to Christianity coming to Japan?
Christian missionaries came to Japan just before its long period of isolation. Most came from Portugal. There were also Dutch and Spanish foreign influences at this time. Missionaries converted hundreds of thousands of Japanese—perhaps half a million—to Christianity.
Oppressed peasants welcomed the missionaries, while merchants and trade-conscious daimyos saw Christianity as an important link with valuable European trade.
In the Tokugawa era, rulers were against Christianity. They were worried about foreign influence and losing control over their subjects, and ordered all missionaries to leave, outlawing christianity and killing Japanese and foreign Christians.
What are daimyos? Who were more powerful, samurai or daimyos?
Daimyos are local lords. Samurai worked for daimyos.
What is one important connection between Japan's geography and Japan's religious and spiritual systems.
Possible answers:
-Shintō emphasized the natural beauty found throughout Japan
-Japan's isolated led to decreased Christianity
-Japan's proximity to Korea led to spread of Buddhism to Japan
What country brought the first missionaries to Japan?
Portugal
During which period would it be more dangerous to be a Christian in Japan?
The Tokugawa Era or after the Meiji Restoration
The Tokugawa Era