Episode 27: Japan – Geography and Early Cultures

Foundations of Eastern Civilization

Dr Craig Benjamin (2013)

Film Review

In this lecture, Benjamin describes how Yayoi society became hierarchical with the population increase following introduction of wet rice farming.

Unlike the peaceful and egalitarian Jomon* culture, the Yayoi tended to build hilltop communities, which they surrounded with defensive stockades and moats. It’s common to find weapons caches in Yayoi tombs, with skeletal remains showing evidence of violence.

According to Benjamin, the Yayoi imported bronze weapons from Korea and melted them down to produce their own. Less militaristic Yayoi cultures made bronze bells, instead of weapons, which their communities used in agricultural rituals.

Although printed books didn’t appear in Japan until the eighth century AD, there is considerable information about the Yayoi in Han Dynasty records. The former had a tributary relationship with the Han (sending them cloth, pearls, bows, arrows and slaves in return for silk, gold and jade).

Laer Wei Dynasty (3rd century AD) records describe the Yayoi as living in more than 110 small states under the overall control of the Yamatai. Strongly influenced by Korea’s Three Kingdoms period (see Ancient Korea: Consolidation of Class Society), they are best known for the elaborate tombs and burial mounds constructed by their elites.

With the rise of the Tang Dynasty in China (618-907 AD), the Yamatai feared invasion by them or the powerful Silla regime in Korea. Reducing regional semi-autonomy, they substantially increased taxes to strengthen coastal fortification. When King Tenmu came to the throne (673-686 AD), he introduced a census to increase taxes still further and to facilitate  military and forced labor conscription. Tenmu also introduced legal codes that reduced the power of nobles, while bringing Buddhism under formal state control.

It was under his regime, the Yamatai adopted the name Nippon (translated “origin of the sun”) as the name of their state.*

In 710 AD, capitol moved to Heijo (Nara). Strongly influenced by the Tang, the latter is laid out in a grid pattern like Chang’an China.

*Japan’s indigenous Ainu people are believed to share a common ancestor with the Jomon.

**The current Japanese name for Japan is Nippon-Koku.

Film can be viewed free with a library card on Kanopy.

https://www.kanopy.com/en/pukeariki/watch/video/5808608/5808665