CULTURE, LITERATURE AND HISTORY OF JAPAN

Culture, Literature and History of Japan



Culture, Literature and History of Japan

Introduction

The history of Japan is a complex intertwining of culture and historical events that were influenced by the main land's China and Korea. The civilizations in Japan date back all the way to 8,000 B.C.E., but it was not until later in the 11,000 B.C.E. that the first civilization was actually recognizable. In the early History of Japan, the people were separated into 3 distinct cultures. Eventually, the cultures blended, leading to one centralized Japanese civilization.

The first three periods of people in Japan were the Jamon, the Yayoi, and the Tumulus. The Jamon people were the first established group in Japan. They lived in separate tribes. Their period lasted from 11,000-300 B.C.E. They had little technology since they were from the Stone Age, but they developed the tools needed for survival. In time, the Jamon period transitioned into the Yayoi period. (Kurian, 2011)

The Yayoi people lasted from 300 B.C.E -300 C.E. during the Bronze Age. The Yayoi way of life managed through their clans. By the beginning of the 300 C.E., the Yayoi clans had repeatedly intermarried and formed a new period called the Tumulus- known as the great burial period. The large burial size indicated a highly organized upper class society with rulers powerful enough to command huge numbers of workers. In the tombs, iron weapons were buried. The armor found also suggested the use of horses for military control. This period lasted from 300-600 C.E. The Tumulus period was the start of centralized clan based authority in Japan. (Stanley, 2011)

Midway through 400 C.E. the Yamato clan became leaders during the Tumulus period. Japan accelerated its advance in technology by adopting the cultivation of rice, improving its pottery, developing iron working, building social levels, and accomplishing a political, economic, and cultural consolidation of the islands.

Discussion and Analysis

The Yamato conquered all the other clans and formed one centralized authority. The Tumulus period did not end until midway through the Yamato era around 600 C.E. The Yamato command lasted from 400 to 800 C.E. This form of government progressed to an imperial authority. As the Yamato reign started to dwindle the capital was moved to new era in 710. The new era period was the beginning of a new government, ideas and changes (Hauser). Most of Japanese culture during this period was agricultural in nature and centered on villages. In 784, the Fujiwara-Heian period started when the capital was moved again from Nagaoka to Heian where it remained unti11868. By the 10th century, the Fujiwara- Heian period started to decline by 1185 a new a ruling class was already being established. The next era was the Shogunates which was the new name given to the military government leaders. The Kamakura, Ashikaga, and the Tokugawa were sub periods of the Shogunates. The first of the Shogunates, in 1192, were the Kamakura Shogunates. They established the Shogunates government after the Gympie war was won by the ...