Japanese History
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Where did the Jomon people come from? Were they the ancestors of modern Japanese?
The Jomon people are believed to have lived in the Old Stone Age. At this time, they are believed to have advanced, mysteriously, in pottery (Craig et al. 2011). Their origin is determined by the scientists to be Southern Siberia and somewhere around Korea, Chinese, and Taiwan. It was found that they shared their DNA with modern Japanese women (Hammer et al., 2005). Therefore, it can be rightly concluded that Jomon is the ancestors of modern Japanese.
Was the Yayoi Society defined by its eastern frontier? What changes in its early frontier society led to the building of tombs and the emergence of the Yamato great Kings?
Yayoi society was defined by the eastern frontier especially in the development of agriculture, particularly rice planting from the Korean area (Craig et al., 2011). They are believed to have originated at Yangtze River (Ibid). It is Yayoi culture that replaced the Jomon to spread eastward up the Inland Sea and the Japanese Sea Coast (Criag et al., 2011). The Yayoi culture came with new technology like bronze and iron making. The 300AD brought a new culture distinct from Yayoi culture in the eastern frontier. It was marked by the building of giant tombs called Kofun. This culture was ruled by the so-called Yamato Great Kings.
Japan’s cultural ties with China during the Nara and Heian periods
During the seventh century, the Japanese studied China, and Chinese institutions were established in Japan in the eighth century. There was the establishment of Tang courts in 607 BCE. During this period, Emperor Temme began institutional changes and used Chinese systems to consolidate power. Heavenly Emperor replaced the great King (Craig et al. 2011). Nara was established in 710 BCE while Heian was established in 794 BCE. Emperors at this period were Confucians following Chinese law. There was also Shinto ruler who is believed to have descended from sun goddess.
The rise in Japan of military lords and their vassals
The last phases of Heian period brought the conversion of agricultural economy to equal field system. The introduction of tax quotas was established. The nobles and the temples were exempted from taxes. Small landowners were forced to hand land over to nobles. This period brought the emergence of a private band of warriors called Samurai. They rode on expensive horses, armor, weapons and training (Craig et al. 2011). Their work was to collect taxes. There were confrontations between regional military coalitions (Craig et al. 2011). The Kamakura era brought the feudal system (ibid). This period is marked rule by military houses. There was also the rise of Shogun as the de facto ruler (ibid).
Contrast the Heian culture with the military culture of the Kamakura and Ashikaga eras. Contrast Heian Buddhism with Kamakura pure land and Zen
Heian culture was marked by rule of emperors. A court government differed from China. There were no Eunuchs in their government structure or tension between the emperor and bureaucracy. This period was marked by the rise of Samurai. The Kamakura age is on the other hand marked by feudalism. There was rule by military houses, which were the non-Chinese type of government. The shogun rose as the de facto ruler. The period was marked by bureaucracy, otherwise known as Bakufu (Craig et al. 2011). Ashikaga era destroyed the Bakufu, and each regional state was governed by a lord.
Heian Buddhism is marked by monasteries and temples, which were involved with the state. The state played a supportive role in the monasteries and temples. The Japanese are believed to have been drawn to Buddhism through magic and mystery of Shinto (Craig et al., 2011). During the Kamakura era, pure land Buddhism was practiced. Buddha ruled over pure land known as Western Paradise (ibid). They believed in salvation through faith, and that perfect faith was a gift from Amida (Ibid). Peasants were militarized and in some case rebelled against the feudal lords who had developed political and military power. Zen Buddhism taught meditation techniques (ibid).