AssessmentImagine you are a visitor to medieval Japan. You decide that you want to explain to your friends back home what you have seen and done in Japan by writing two postcards. Unfortunately, you know that Japan is very isolationist and is skeptical of contact with the outside world. For this reason, you will need to describe what you see very carefully and fairly. If your postcards are discovered to be harmful to the reputation of the leadership in Japan, your life could be in danger.

Think about the social, political, religious, intellectual, and economic aspects. that you have learned about in this lesson. When writing your two postcards, be sure to pay attention to the geography of Japan, different social roles in medieval Japanese society, outside influences on Japanese culture, and Japanese reactions to those influences.

Requirements:

Create two postcards telling the outside world about social, political, religious, intellectual, or economic aspects of medieval Japanese society.
Each postcard should have one image showing aspects of medieval Japanese society.
Each postcard should have one full paragraph describing your observations of medieval Japanese society.
Use your senses when describing your observations.
Reminders:

Remember to use images that are detailed enough to describe your observations.
Mention the physical geography of Japan and how it affected the organization of medieval Japanese society.
Mention at least one foreign influence on Japanese culture and the Japanese reaction to this influence.

Postcard 1:

Medieval japan was a great place of flourishment when it came to art and religion. For example, medieval Japan was home to the many renowned Zen gardens and Noh theaters, which are still in use today. Zen gardens are miniature landscapes created by the careful arrangement of rocks (often gravel) by raking to represent ripples and water waves. Some zen gardens even include distinct water features (such as waterfalls), small trees, and bushes trimmed to have a unique and particular shape. Not only that, but Medieval Japanese culture also featured Noh. Noh is a type of classical Japanese dance-drama. It combines traditional Japanese music and dances, often depicting religious Buddhist scenes. Usually, Noh recreates famous scenes from well-known Japanese literature such as The Tale of Genji or The Tale of the Heike. Today, Noh is still very popular in Asia and Europe, and it is considered the oldest significant theatre art that is even performed today. ​

Medieval Japan was also a place of excellent religion and belief. In today's Japan, the two dominant faiths in Japan are Shinto and Buddhism.  Although missionaries and merchants imported Buddhism from China's mainland in the 6th century, Shinto is as old as the Japanese religious culture. The Shinto "religion" is Japan's original belief, as it is inherent to Japan. Shinto is a developed collection of Japanese history, mythology, and Japanese cultural folktales. Although most modern Japanese inhabitants choose to worship zen Buddhism, some still chose to honor Shinto. Buddhism is currently the dominant religion in Japan. When traditional Buddhism was first introduced in medieval Japan by Chinese mainland merchants and missionaries, the Japanese refused to adopt it instead of worshiping Zen Buddhism. Zen Buddhism had a significant impact on Japanese culture, whereas it encouraged even religious temples and architecture worldwide. Zen Buddhism also encouraged awareness and focus, a substantial part of life even in today's Japan. Even the tea ceremony, a widespread cultural activity, was developed in Japan thanks to zen Buddhism's influence.​

Postcard 2:

Medieval Japan was quite diverse when it came to the political structure. In Japan's medieval times, the most potent class was the Yamato family, better known as the royal emperor family. However, much of their political power was taken away by the daimyo, shotguns, and the Samurai. After the Yamato went the Shogun, a very high recognition a soldier could receive. Shoguns were great warlords and had very close ties with the emperor. They often worked with other political servants and had significant influence over taxes and trade. After the Shoguns, came the Samurai. The Samurai were a hereditary, noble military rank. They worked for the shoguns, and depending on their skill, were highly respected and well paid. The Samurai followed a set of principles that dictated the samurai way of life, called Bushido.  Finally, after the Samurai, The middle class, such as merchants and peasants, followed.​

Before merchants established international commerce, Medieval Japan's economy heavily depended on domestic agriculture. Provided by the peasant class, rice was one of the main things grown. Usually, Feudal lords such as Daimyo families controlled large plantations, where the peasant class provided labor. In medieval Japan, the "size" of a farm was valued not in terms of area but rather in the amount of output, or rice, that could be produced from it. However, when merchants established international commerce with medieval japan and the rest of the world, the economy boomed. This resulted in merchants and politicians getting wealthier. This caused an eventual feud between the wealthy and everyone else. In order to stop the unbalance, where merchants and politicians could control society, the Samurais received some of the same privileges as the merchants. This satisfied them, eventually leading to a complete balance of the economy, permitting trading bays and industries to become more prominent than ever.​

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Final answer:

Medieval Japan's social structure was influenced by the geography, resulting in a feudal system. External influences, such as those from China, were adapted by the Japanese culture.

Explanation:

Postcard 1:

In medieval Japan, I have observed a highly stratified social structure that was influenced by the geography of the region. The physical geography, such as the mountainous terrain and limited arable land, led to the development of a feudal system where power and land ownership were concentrated in the hands of the samurai class while the majority of the population were peasants. The image on the postcard showcases the stark contrast between the fortified samurai castles and the humble houses of the peasants.

Postcard 2:

During my visit, I discovered that medieval Japan was exposed to external influences, particularly from China. This influenced various aspects of Japanese culture, including religion and art. The Japanese reaction to this foreign influence was a unique blend of adaptation and modification to suit their own cultural identity. The image on the postcard illustrates a Buddhist temple, showcasing the integration of Buddhism into Japanese society.

Learn more about Medieval Japanese society here:

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