ClassicalJapanquestions
Classical Japan
An Introduction
1. Japan was highly influenced by which culture during its classical period?
The Japanese were highly influenced by China.
2. What centuries did Japan’s classical period span?
Japan’s classical period spanned from the 6th to the 12th Century.
3. What is a pattern that often recurs in Japanese history?
The Japanese borrow from different areas, in this case, it is China.
4. The classical period gave birth to a refined court culture, in which many of the prominent figures were women.
The Capital at Nara
5. What were the two capitals the Japanese established in the classical period? Also identify the years they were established.
Capital of Nara was established in 710. Capital of Heian or what is now Kyoto was established in 794.
6. How did the new capital reflect influence from China?
The people lived in small towns and villages. As a result of Buddhism, the Japanese built a permanent capital instead of moving around.
Influence of Chinese Culture
7. During the classical period, Japan came into the sphere of what civilization?
Chinese Civilization
8. What important developments in Japanese history does the Nara period signify?
The First Great Reform. It signifies the cultural borrowing and establishment of an imperial state.
Four Elements Borrowed from China
9. What were the four important elements of Chinese civilization the Japanese borrowed and adapted?
Buddhism, centralized imperial state, Confucian thought, and Chinese writing system
10. What is one example of adaptation or syncretism the Japanese made to the Chinese notion of the imperial rule?
When Japan established an imperial state ruled by an empire, they didn’t use the “Mandate of Heaven” like China, but instead they used their own mythological tradition which one imperial family ruled eternally.
Eternal Rule by One Imperial Family
11. What was the central story of the mythological traditions which supported the eternal rule of one imperial family?
The Sun
An Introduction
1. Japan was highly influenced by which culture during its classical period?
The Japanese were highly influenced by China.
2. What centuries did Japan’s classical period span?
Japan’s classical period spanned from the 6th to the 12th Century.
3. What is a pattern that often recurs in Japanese history?
The Japanese borrow from different areas, in this case, it is China.
4. The classical period gave birth to a refined court culture, in which many of the prominent figures were women.
The Capital at Nara
5. What were the two capitals the Japanese established in the classical period? Also identify the years they were established.
Capital of Nara was established in 710. Capital of Heian or what is now Kyoto was established in 794.
6. How did the new capital reflect influence from China?
The people lived in small towns and villages. As a result of Buddhism, the Japanese built a permanent capital instead of moving around.
Influence of Chinese Culture
7. During the classical period, Japan came into the sphere of what civilization?
Chinese Civilization
8. What important developments in Japanese history does the Nara period signify?
The First Great Reform. It signifies the cultural borrowing and establishment of an imperial state.
Four Elements Borrowed from China
9. What were the four important elements of Chinese civilization the Japanese borrowed and adapted?
Buddhism, centralized imperial state, Confucian thought, and Chinese writing system
10. What is one example of adaptation or syncretism the Japanese made to the Chinese notion of the imperial rule?
When Japan established an imperial state ruled by an empire, they didn’t use the “Mandate of Heaven” like China, but instead they used their own mythological tradition which one imperial family ruled eternally.
Eternal Rule by One Imperial Family
11. What was the central story of the mythological traditions which supported the eternal rule of one imperial family?
The Sun