JAPANESE SOCIETY, CULTURE, AND FAMILY lIFE

GEOGRAPHY

• It was surrounded by water
• Has many mountains such as Mt. Fuji
• Only 15% is flat land
• Has many volcanoes, hurricanes, tidal waves, and earthquakes
• Has plenty of rain

BELIEF SYSTEMS

• One belief system is the Shinto
• Influenced by the Chinese
• Based on respect for nature and ancestors
• Religion was combined with Buddhism and Shinto rituals

SOCIETY/FAMILY lIFE

• Divided into clans
• Land was a main resource of wealth
• Each clan was led by a powerful noble
• Had special skills of weaving and pottery
• Shinto religion unified Japanese society

CULTURE

• Japanese culture was introduced by Prince Shotoku
• Influenced by Chinese cultures
• He welcomed skilled workers from China to Japan to learn about their culture
• Japanese culture was also influenced by nature

GOVERNMENT

• Shotoku opened a Japanese embassy in China
• He created guidelines based on Confucianism
• These guidelines were called the Seventeen Article Constitution
• Government was based off of Chinese principles

JAPANESE EMPERORS

• First rulers were established by the Yamato clan
• Traditions say they were the descendants of the sun goddess
• Later a regent named Prince Shotoku ruled
• He was asked by his aunt, empress Suiko, to be her regent
• Shotoku ruled for about 30 years

ART & WRITING SYSTEM

• Writing system used Chinese characters
• Their art employed from Chinese techniques and themes
• Shotoku sent Japanese artists to China to learn about their art
• Japanese clans also had many skilled artists such as potters and weavers

AGRICULTURE & FOOD

• Japan has very little flat land for farming
• Since Japan was surrounded by water they also ate a lot of fish for food
• Also since there was plenty of rain they could grow rice well also.