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Ch. 8
Five Themes of Geography: Japan
Directions: Out to the side of each statement (#1-70) decide what theme of geography each statement is
describing. Themes are: (L) Location, (P) Place, (I) Interaction, (M) Movement, and (R) Region .
An Island Nation
1. Japan is an archipelago.
2. An archipelago is a group of islands.
3. Japan consists of four major islands – Honshu, Kyushu, Shikoku, and Hokkaido
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The Sea
The sea has been a source of food. Folks eat lots of seafood!
The sea has served as a highway for transportation and trade.
The sea allowed cultural borrowing from China.
The sea has served as a barrier to foreign invasion.
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Close to Korea and China
Japan lies east of Korea.
From Korea, you can sail across the Korean Strait to Japan.
It is only 100 miles from Korea to the island of Kyushu in Japan.
Japans lies east of China
From China, you can sail across the East China Sea to Japan.
Japans lies 500 miles east of China.
Japan lies on the easternmost fringe of Asia.
Cultural Borrowing
15. Medieval China had a great influence on Japan.
16. Beginning in 500 A.D., Chinese culture spread from China to Japan.
17. What did Japan learn from China? Buddhism and the beginnings of their literature, art, philosophy, technology, and
government.
18. Chinese and Korean artists and craftsmen settled in Japan.
19. In 500 A.D., the Kingdom of Korea adopted calligraphy (Chinese writing) and then passed the knowledge on to the Japanese.
20. In 550, the Kingdom of Korea sent Confucian scholars to Japan.
21. In 550, the Kingdom of Korea sent a stature of Buddha and a Buddhist monk to Japan.
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The Major Impact of China
Three Chinese imports – writing, Confucianism, and Buddhism – had a major impact on Japan.
At Nara, life at the Imperial Court was China in miniature.
At Nara, the customs, politics, and architecture were identical to those of China’s glorious Tang dynasty.
At Nara, imposing Buddhist temples were built and filled with Chinese-inspired art and architecture.
Prince Shotoku
26. Beginning in 600 A.D. Prince Shotoku encouraged Japan to adopt Chinese culture.
27. He was the first ruler to make “cultural borrowing” the official policy of the government.
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Adopt, Adapt, Adept
The Japanese aristocracy (Empress, princes, nobles) adopted Chinese culture.
They adapted it to Japanese traditions.
They became quite adept at these lifestyles.
The best example is tea: China invented tea and the Japanese developed the elaborate tea ceremony.
Ch. 8 Japan Unit
Social Studies 7
Geographic Isolation
32. The Japanese adopted and adapted elements of Chinese culture.
33. But the Japanese have not had to submit to foreign rule.
34. As a result of its geographic isolation, Japan has forged its own strong cultural identity.
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Mountainous
At 12,000 feet, Mount Fuji is Japan’s highest mountain.
Japan is a land of forests, hills and mountains.
The mountains are actually the tops of volcanoes that rise out of the ocean floor. Many are inactive, but some are very active.
The mountains made overland travel nearly impossible.
Great feudal lords ruled giant estates in remote places.
During the Middle Ages, the Imperial government in Kyoto was NEVER able to reach or rule the countryside.
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The Inland Sea
Japan, an island nation, depends upon the sea.
People depend upon the sea for transportation.
Fishing villages arose along the coast of each island.
During the Middle Ages, the Inland Sea was the main waterway.
A Gorgeous Country
45. The landscape of Japan was breathtaking – with mountain, rushing rivers, and thick forests.
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The Forces of Nature
Japan has serious earthquakes – it lies where three earthquake zones collide!
Underwater earthquakes cause tsunami – great tidal waves.
Japan lies on the Pacific Rim, which is nicknames “The Ring of Fire”
In summertime, Japan has typhoons.
A typhoon is a violent tropical storm in the western Pacific Ocean.
A typhoon is like a hurricane; winds can reach 150 miles per hour.
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Shinto: A Religion Based on Nature
Shinto, Japan’s first religion, respects the mystery of nature.
The forces of nature are called kami.
At simple shrines, people offer gifts to the spirits that control nature.
Holidays and festivals mark the changing of the seasons.
Japanese artwork is full of nature – landscapes, cherry blossoms, mountains.
The Japanese garden is world famous and much copied.
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A Shortage of Land Created Warfare
In Japan, only 20% of the land was fit for farming.
Clans went to war over land suitable for growing rice.
War played a central part in the history of Japan.
The central government could never control warfare in the countryside.
The struggle for land eventually gave rise to the samurai.
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A Lot like England
Like England, Japan is an island nation.
Like England, the sea protected Japan from foreign invaders.
Just as England lies off the coast of Europe, so Japan lies off the coast of Asia.
Like England, Japan has a maritime climate – with cool winters and lots of rain.
Medieval England and Medieval Japan arose at the same time in history.
Medieval England (castles, lords, knights) and Medieval Japan (castles, daimyo, samurai) are very similar.
Like England, towns arose at the foot of castles.
Japan is larger than England: England is 95,000 square miles. Japan is 126,000 square miles. (California is 159,000 square
miles.)
Ch. 8 Japan Unit
Social Studies 7