Japan Civilization

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Annotated Bibliography on Japan Civilization

Steininger, B. (2020). Chinese Literary Form in Heian Japan: Poetics and Practice. Brill.

This source discusses japan civilization during the Heian period. The change of the Japanese capital from Nara to Kyoto marked the Heian period, rising political uncertainty, and a remarkable cultural achievement. The introduction of Buddhism to Japanese from china and Korea cause massive lifestyle changes. Since japan created and maintained close connections with the Chinese and Korean courts during this period, the Japanese borrowed their sophisticated culture in architecture, literature, art, science, philosophy, medicine, and statecraft. The induction of the Chinese writing method revolutionized japan which before had no writing structure of its own. Fostered by the imperial family and the influential Fujiwara Clan, who reigned as imperial advisors from the late 9^th to the 11^th era, music, literature, painting, and decorative arts reached a peak of aesthetic and technical elegance, and a characteristic national style emerged. This source is important because it highlights how art, mostly poetry and literary works, thrived during this era. This period is noted for its cultural success, which comprises Japanese writing (kana) utilizing Chinese characters that allowed writing the world's initial novel, The Tale of Genji by Murasaki Shikibu.  

Schirokauer, C., Lurie, D., & Gay, S. (2012). A brief history of Japanese civilization. Cengage Learning.

This book discusses japan civilization history. Schirokauer, Lurie, and Gay (2012) argue that the Paleolithic people from the Asian mainland settled in japan roughly thirty-five thousand years ago and developed a culture called Jōmon. The Jōmon were hunter-gathers who made fur clothing, sophisticated clay vessels, and wooden houses. The second settlement wave by the Yayoi persons introduced weaving, rice growing, and metal-working in japan. Kofun was the initial era of the chronicled history in japan. Upper-class warlords controlled the Kofun, and they approved several Chinese practices and novelties. During the Asuka era, 538-710 Buddhism, architecture, sculpture, and Chinese writing structure entered japan. During the Nara era, 710-794, the initial robust central government was formed, and the aristocratic class exercised Buddhism and Chinese writing, whereas agricultural inhabitants exercised Shintoism. During the Heian period 794-1185, Japan embraced the Chinese style of power controlled by the Fujiwara clan. Also, the imperial court supported art, prose, and poetry and the samurai warrior class grew this time.

Monk Eisai’s Zen Buddhism was developed amidst the Kamakura era 1085-1336 when Japanese feudalism was introduced. The integration of the samurai culture and the court outcome led to the growth of the traditional Japanese arts in the Muromachi era. In 1331, Emperor Go-Daigo wanted to overthrow the shogunate ensuing in a civil war between contending northern and southern courts that eventually concluded in 1392. In this period, a class of stout regional lords termed Daimyo spread in power, and their rule continued through the conclusion of the Edo era termed as Tokugawa Shogunate in 1868. A new constitutional empire was formed that year led by the Meiji emperor, who modernized Japan. Railway and electricity were made and japan conquered Korea and Taiwan. Following emperor Meiji's death, the Taisho emperor took over. His chronic disease kept him from exercising his duties and permitted Japan’s legislature to introduce new democratic changes. Amid WWI, japan ratified its rule over Korea and captured domination of northern china. The Showa emperor, Hirohito, supervised Japan's violent expansion amid WWII, its submission, and its re-birth as a modern industrialized country. This book is essential because it explains Japanese civilization in different periods and how Japan transformed into a current civilized government.

Lowe, B. D. (2017). Ritualized Writing: Buddhist Practice and Scriptural Cultures in Ancient Japan. University of Hawaii Press.

This book discusses Japanese civilization during the Asuka era. Lowe (2017) states that during this period 538-710, Shotoku is praised for transforming and centralizing government on the Chinese model by developing the Seventeen Article Constitution, uprooting corruption, and intensifying ties with china. During the Asuka era, Fujiwara no Kamatari did a coup that snatched power from the influential Soga clan. Hence the new government was re-fashioned along Chinese lines, and several changes called Taika reforms were made where land was nationalized, taxed paid in kind rather than in labor. Also, social ranks were re-classified, there was the creation of absolute emperor authority, written law codes, and civil service entrance tests were introduced. During this period, Buddhism was introduced in Japan and officially embraced by emperor Yomei and promoted by Prince Shotoku, who constructed various exciting temples like Horyuji. Japan’s elite welcomes Buddhism because it fostered Japan’s cultural status as an industrialized country in the eyes of influential neighbors Korea and china. During this period, the Japanese increased Chinese cultural customs and re-organized the government and the penal directive under the Chinese administrative framework. Thus, this paves the way for the instrumental Confucian philosophy in japan until the 19^th century. This source is important because it highlights the origin of Confucian practice amongst the Chinese, and also it details when, how, and why Buddhism started and spread during this period. This source makes the reader aware of the ruling class's efforts in championing Buddhism and their reasons for supporting it.

Treatise on Cold Damage Disorders 

The Treatise was written by Zhang Zhongjing and was a crucial medical text in Japan used in treating different diseases and disorders. The Treatise was used in Japanese traditional medicine Kanpo for treating various ailments. The physicians of the ancient formulas current gave other new principles to deal with all treatment elements and sought authentic therapy in Treatise. Also, they supported treating with formulas as highlighted in the Treatise. The Treatise helped in the commercialization and popularization of therapeutic practice amid the Edo period in Japan. Yoshimasu Todo was amongst the innovative physicians in the Edo era who created a new medicine framework via his exceptional interpretation of the Treatise. Treatise popularity emerged from the transcultural flows of therapeutic knowledge and localized circumstances in the Edo era. This primary source highlights the Treatise's role in transforming therapeutic formations of Kanpo in the Japanese community via Yoshimasu Todo activities and how Treatise was implemented to a new social and therapeutic condition in the 18^th era japan.