World History / Unit 5: Empires of Africa, Asia and the Americas
5.4 Japan, Korea and Southeast Asia
Notes
Neighbors of China borrowed Chinese ideas but developed their own cultures.
- Japan is an island nation. Its native religion, Shinto, honors spirits (kami) in nature.
- Japan borrowed Buddhism, Chinese writing and Confucian ideas, often through Korea. In the Heian period, Murasaki Shikibu wrote The Tale of Genji (about 1000), often called the world's first novel.
- Feudal Japan: from 1192 the shogun (military ruler) held real power, while the emperor was a figurehead. Daimyo (lords) relied on samurai warriors who followed bushido, a code of loyalty and honor.
- Korea: the Joseon dynasty (1392 to 1897) followed Confucian ideals. King Sejong created Hangul, a Korean alphabet, in the 1440s.
- Southeast Asia: the Khmer Empire built Angkor Wat, first a Hindu temple and later Buddhist. Indian and Chinese influences blended in the region.
| Europe | Japan |
|---|---|
| King | Emperor and shogun |
| Lords | Daimyo |
| Knights and chivalry | Samurai and bushido |
Practice
In feudal Japan, who held the most real political and military power?
The shogun ruled while the emperor was mostly ceremonial.
How was Japanese feudalism similar to European feudalism?
Samurai and knights served lords and followed bushido or chivalry.
Hangul, created under King Sejong, made it easier for Koreans to:
A simple alphabet replaced the difficult use of Chinese characters for many people.
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