Learn about the history of the Chinese and Japanese!
There isn't much known regarding the first Japanese Islands and inhabitants who arrived several thousand years ago. There were 2 major religious faiths, Shintoism and Buddhism. Shintoism was the belief of elements in nature. Buddhism emphasized life's impermanence to overcome sorrows. Rather than competing, both of these religions were maintained.
They began farming and irrigation to produce rice. This gradually Japanese culture. The society was divided into clans called Uji. These were dominated by aristocrats, warriors, and spiritual leaders.
The Yamato brought Chinese ideas to the Japanese. The Japanese copied architecture, art, clothing, and even forms of writing. They also reformed their political structure, through emperial rule.
The Empirial capital was built at Heian(Kyoto). The emperors' powers began to diminish and fell into the hands of the aristocrats in the Fujiwara family. Other aristocrats built huge estates.
Rural lords grew powerful and Japan became a fuedal society. They were governed by Ssamurai, which also included daimyo. They followed a code of conduct, and the daimyo Minamoto Yoritomo became the most powerful figure in Japan.
The shoguns created a peaceful society, but felt threatened by european traders and missionaries. In 1639, they closed Japan from the world.
United States Commander Perry arrived in Tokyo, to end Japanese isolation. Eventually, the shogun ended, and the Japanese became a more modern, industrial nation.