Empires in East Asia
Module 3 - Lesson 4

Subtitle: The Growth of Japanese Civilization

1. Define Shinto, and how its beliefs reflected Japan's geography.

Subtitle: Japanese Culture

2. Describe the Chinese influences upon Japanese culture.

Subtitle: Life in the Heian Period

3. Explain the importance of etiquette in the Heian period of Medieval Japan.

4. Why was Japanese society different for women than most societies at the time?

Subtitle: Feudalism Erodes Imperial Authority

5. Explain the causes for the decline in a central authority, and what led to the rise of the Daimyo (lords) period.

6. Describe how Japan returned to a central authority under a Shogun.

7. Explain how the Kamakura Shoguns were able to repel and prevent a Mongol invasion.

The Jomon Period. The first ancient era of Japan is the Jomon Period which comprises c. 14,500 to c. 300 BCE. Shinto is a positive faith, as humans are conceived to be essentially good, and evil is considered to be created by evil spirits. Consequently, the scope of most Shinto ceremonies is to stay away from evil spirits by cleaning, praises, and presents to the kami.