Japan Learns From Korea and China
Essential Question
How did China and Korea influence Japan’s government, language, religion, and art (Remember to discuss Prince Shotoku)?
Japan Borrows From China and Korea
Japan, for most of its history, was separated from Korea and China by over 200 miles of seawater. At about 500 BCE the Japanese adopted the Chinese writing system. The Japanese sent their finest scholars to learn to read and write in China. The Japanese later began to write in their own language using Chinese characters and continued to adapt and change the written language for their use. In 522 BCE Buddhism priest arrived from Korea to Japan. Buddhism became very popular in Japan and became one of its main religions along with Shintoism. Shintoism (way of the gods) is an ancient religion of Japan that believed the Shinto gods created Japan.
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Prince Shotoku
Activity 1: Primary Source-The Constitution of Seventeen Articles
Read the Introduction to the Constitution of Seventeen Articles and the primary source excerpt. Then answer the questions remember to use details from the text to support you answer.
Discussion Questions
What ideas did Japan borrow from China?
What ideas did Japan borrow from Korea?
How did Prince Shotoku try to improve the Japanese government?
Activity 2: What effects did China and Korea have on Japan?
Using the information from this lesson, answer the questions in a thinking map. Complete this assignment digitally or on paper. It will be collected in your portfolio.