Chapter 12: Shaping a unique worldview Flashcards
(18 cards)
What were the five terms of the exclusion laws?
- Christian missionaries and foreign traders were forced to leave Japan and newcomers were no longer allowed to enter.
- The Japanese were not allowed to go abroad (visit other countries)
- Ships large enough to make voyages were no longer allowed to be built, and existing ones were to be destroyed.
- Japanese who were out of the country were forbidden to return
- Most foreign objects were forbidden. All foreign books containing Christian messages were banned, scientific books were forbidden.
Why did the Shogun pass the exclusion laws?
What was the punishment for breaking the exclusion laws?
-If the Shogun heard any rumors about the Daimyo planning a surprise attack they would go for their relatives.
- If anyone tried to disobey the Shogun, all their family members would be killed.
Who were the one exception to the exclusion laws?
-The Dutch were the one exception to the exclusion laws as they were interested in trade not religion.
What were the four ways Japan had a booming economy during the Edo period?
How did isolation hold the Economy back?
How did isolation affect Japan’s culture?
How did the hierarchy change at the end of the Edo period?
What disasters and hard times fell on Japan at the end of the Edo period?
Who did the Japanese blame for Japan’s problems at the end of the Edo period?
Why is Japan geographically isolated?
-Japan is geographically isolated from its nearest neighbors Korea, China, and Russia.
-it is very difficult to get to Japan because their is 185 kilometres of ocean between Japan and Asia
-Europeans also didn’t have the means to reach Japan either across the Pacific Ocean or around the southern tip of Africa and across the Indian Ocean.
-Once the necessary technology was built to make that long journey, it would take several months and was extremely dangerous.
Significance of cherry blossoms:
-were the most beloved flowers
-Represented new beginnings, beauty, and the shortness of beauty and life.
Connection between nature and the Ainu:
-Nature had a big role in the culture of Japan’s Indigenous people
-They regarded things like flower, water, wing, thunder, animals and plants as gods called Kamey
-The brown bear was the most important Kamey
Shinto
-is the ancient religion of Japan
-The love of nature is the most important aspect of Shinto
-Shinto is based on the belief that sacred spirits called Kami take the form of objects in nature such as mountains, trees, and stones.
How is Japan affected by natural disasters?
-Japan is located in an area where several continental and oceanic tectonic plates meet resulting in earthquakes.
-Earthquakes and volcanoes that occur on the ocean floor are common near Japan resulting in tsunamis
-Japan also experiences hurricanes
Significance of rice:
-Is the main food in Japan
-For centuries, rice was Japan’s money system
-The value of land was determined by how much rice it could produce
-A lods rank and wealth was determined by the total rice production in his territory
How is Japan a homogenous society?
-The majority of Japan’s population lived along the coast allowing many people to interact, exchange ideas, beliefs, values, and goods.
