9.5 The Island Kingdom of Japan

Japan is an archipelago (ahr kuh PEL uh goh), or chain of islands, about 100 miles off the Asian mainland and east of the Korean peninsula. Its four main islands are Hokkaido, Honshu, Kyushu, and Shikoku.

Prince Shotoku was an advisor to Empress Suiko. He revolutionized Japan by creating a government based on Chinese practices and Buddhist teachings.

Objectives

• Explain how geography set Japan apart.
• Understand how China influenced Japan, and describe the Heian period.
• Summarize the Japanese feudal system.
• Explain how the Tokugawas united Japan.
• Identify how Zen Buddhism shaped culture in Japan.

Key Terms

• archipelago
• tsunami
• Shinto
• selective borrowing
• kana
• samurai
• bushido
• Zen
• Murasaki Shikibu

Japan's Geography

Like Korea, Japan felt the powerful influence of Chinese civilization early in its history. At the same time, the Japanese continued to maintain their own distinct culture.

A Mountainous Land

Japan is about the size of Montana, but most of its land is too mountainous to farm. As a result, most people settled in narrow river valleys and along the coastal plains. A mild climate and sufficient rainfall, however, helped Japanese farmers make the most of the limited arable land. As in ancient Greece, the mountainous terrain at first was an obstacle to unity.

The Sea Sets Japan Apart

The surrounding seas have both protected and isolated Japan. The country was close enough to the mainland to learn from Korea and China, but too far away for the Chinese to conquer. Japan thus had greater freedom to accept or reject Chinese influences than did other East Asian lands. At times, the Japanese sealed themselves off from foreign influences, choosing to go their own way.

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