CHAPTER THREE - THE NARA PERIOD
During the
Yayoi period, Japanese society completed the shift from a hunter-gatherer
lifestyle to an agriculturally based civilization. Then, between 300 BCE
- 600 CE, Japan
developed several native, traditional patters:
- nature based religious beliefs and practices (later
called Shinto)
- a clan based hierarchy and social/political structure
- a political system of local leaders loosely united
under a spiritually based emperor
These
remained important traditions throughout Japan's historical
development. However, even as late as the 6th century CE, Japan still had
not developed several other elements of a highly developed civilization.
There was no written language, and as a result no written literary or
scholastic tradition; political leadership and functions were obviously less
formalized and codified without writing. In areas of metal working or
other production technologies, Japan
also had not kept pace with civilizations on the Asian mainland. Not
surprisingly, then, as Japan came into increasing contact with mainland
societies during the 6th - 8th centuries, there was
strong interest on the part of the Japanese to learn from the achievements of
Korea - and even more dramatically from Tang Dynasty China.
INTERACTION
WITH OTHER ASIAN CULTURES
Japan entered into a period of intensive interaction and borrowing from the
Asian mainland from the 500's to the 700's (the 6th century through
the 8th century), In doing so, Japan displayed an important cultural
ability that benefited Japan during this period, and throughout its
history. This was the ability to selectively borrow from other
cultures. In seeking to learn from the achievements of Korean and more
significantly Chinese civilization, the Japanese did not just throw out
their traditions. Instead, Japan
extensively borrowed what it found attractive or useful from these
civilizations, and then merged these borrowed ideas with existing
Japanese traditions to form a new blend, and over a short space
of time moved their civilization to a new stage of development. Such
selective borrowing has produced periods of rapid change in Japan
throughout its history. The benefits can clearly be seen by looking at Japan's relations with Korea and especially China in the 6th and 7th
centuries.
KOREAN
INFLUENCES
By the 500's CE (6th
century) Japan was involved
in increased interaction with the Asian mainland, specifically Korea.
The Yamato kings became involved in the divided politics of the Three Kingdoms
of Korea, establishing
diplomatic relations with both the Paekche kingdom in
the north of Korea
and the Kaya federation of states in the South. Economic
interaction also increased, and for a while the Yamato clan displayed an
interest in gaining territory in the Korean peninsula (a traditional interest
that continued into the modern era). The most important consequence of this
interaction was that Japanese leaders were increasingly exposed to the ideas
and abilities of the Asian mainland - both Korean influences and the powerful
cultural influence of China.
During this period of intensified Korean-Japanese interaction, the religion of
Buddhism was first introduced to the royal family in Japan. This initiated the spread of
Buddhism into the Japanese islands. In the areas of metal working,
shipbuilding and even weaving, Japan
also gained important technical knowledge from Korean civilization. (see map)
Although Korean and
Japanese interchange declined by the late 6th century, Japan remained connected to Asian development
through direct relations with China.
Recognize, Japan and China entered into a period of close relations
just at the time that China
was reuniting under the Sui dynasty and blossoming under the Tang period.
CHINA'S INFLUENCE
Japanese leaders, which
included the emperor's court and advisors and the clan-based aristocracy, were
deeply impressed by the sophistication of the Chinese state and culture. One of
the first and most important elements of Chinese civilization that Japan borrowed was the written language of China. Just as
in Korea,
the first written language used by the Japanese was the Chinese character based
system. This was a difficult task, since matching the Chinese written language
to Japanese spoken language was awkward, and mastering the characters was
difficult for Japanese students. However, once the Chinese written language was
adopted by the Japanese elite, easier communication resulted between Japan, Korea
and China.
In fact, once the elite in Japan
could read and use the Chinese writing, the knowledge and scholarship of
Chinese culture was now open to them.
Within a short space of
time, Japan
acquired the knowledge of Chinese science, including the calendar and
astronomy, medicine, and mathematics. Japanese culture was also deeply
influenced by the teachings and wisdom of Confucianism, which echoed
existing Japanese traditions of family loyalty and ancestor worship. A deeper
investigation of Buddhism occurred in Japanese elite circles, ultimately
leading to the emergence of Japanese based sects such as Zen Buddhism. With the power
of a written language, Japan
began to record its history as well as develop more sophisticated record
keeping systems. In short, not only did the Japanese acquire the power of writing,
but by using the Chinese written system, the Japanese could easily access what
was written in this Chinese script - Confucian texts, Buddhist texts,
technical and investigative knowledge, scholarship and historical focus, and
the arts of poetry and literature produced by centuries of Chinese development.
During the height of this
period of borrowing, the Japanese also attempted to follow Chinese patterns in art
and architecture. In fact the Yamato emperors founded a new city to symbolize this period of
Japanese/Chinese relations and Japanese progress. Breaking from the tradition
of shifting capitals, a "permanent" capital was established, the city
of Nara. Nara was laid
out to mirror the structure of the great Tang city of Chang-an
(Sian) - with the same grid pattern and many
of the buildings constructed to emulate this famous Chinese center. Nara in fact is the name given for this period of close
relations between China and Japan. The peak
of the "Nara Period", the period of borrowing from China, lasted
from approximately 710 - 794 CE.
THE NARA PERIOD
It should
be noted that not everyone in Japan
welcomed the influx of new ideas. Japan had developed for years in
isolation, developing its own protected traditions in politics and religion. As
in later periods of Japanese history, although many or most of the political
elite did support the absorption of outside ideas, there were some who resisted
the new influences. The area of greatest controversy was in politics. The
Yamato emperors and court supporters encouraged the borrowing taking place
during the Nara
period. The imperial leaders certainly welcomed the written system and advanced
technology, however they were most impressed with the power of the
Chinese emperor, a truly powerful central leader, and desired to emulate the
control made possible by the Confucian bureaucracy. The Yamato leaders were
interested in expanding their power and building a real state structure
in Japan;
they attempted to import the policies and structures of the Confucian
bureaucracy. Many clan leaders resisted, however; they clearly recognized
the obvious threat to their local power. This led to a war that was
finally won by the Yamato and their supporters. What followed were a series of
political changes called the Taika
Reform Edicts. For a period of time, the Yamato attempted to use a
census system like the Chinese state. Many of the laws and taxation policies of
China were also brought over
to Japan.
There was an attempt to create a conscripted, drafted army to replace the local
clan warriors.
It is important to note
that Japanese imperial supporters did not bring over all aspects of Chinese
politics. As part of the selective nature of this borrowing, key
ideas and politics that conflicted with important Japanese traditions were
rejected. For example, the Chinese civil service exam was not
adopted. Some historians feel because this was because of the Confucianist belief in merit-based power; officials selected based on ability and performance on the
exam was in direct conflict with the deeply-rooted hierarchy and status system
of the clan, an important Japanese tradition. The concept of the Mandate
of Heaven and the dynastic cycle of changing rulers stayed in China and was not adopted by Japan.
In Japan,
the traditional belief endured - the Yamato clan could never lose its
mandate from Amaterasu. Whereas dynasties continued to rise and fall in China, only one (weak) dynasty reigned in Japan's
imperial tradition.
During the
period of the Taika reforms, then, the Yamato clan
adopted many of the instruments of power used by Chinese emperors. This
period is considered by some a period when the Japanese emperors had the most
power they would ever experience in Japanese history. Ultimately, however, the
Japanese political tradition of local power proved to be too strong. Clan
leaders struggled to gain back their regional control; most of the elements of
the Taika Reforms were in fact wiped out by the end
of the 11th century CE.. Nevertheless, while the political
ideas from China
did not take root, the cultural contributions of writing, literature,
technical and scientific knowledge, and the influential ideologies of
Confucianism and Buddhism did remain to become a part of Japanese civilization
and history.
The height of the Nara period was the
middle of the 8th century. By the late 700's and the early 800's,
relations between Japan and China were
breaking down. Many of the Japanese elite felt they had learned enough from China, and were
no longer willing to accept all of the trappings and rituals of a vassal,
subordinate state. Also, the potential instability caused by new ideas and
outside influence became very clear when a Buddhist Japanese leader attempted
to overthrow the Japanese emperor in 765.
Those protective of
Japanese traditional values and hostile to these new ideas gained greater power
in Japanese society and turned away from Chinese relations. In 838, Japan broke diplomatically with China.
For the next several centuries (9th - 15th centuries), Japan turned inward,
reasserting a more isolated position, assimilating and modifying the many
aspects of Chinese culture brought over during the Nara period but also
restoring or revitalizing some Japanese traditions. The Japanese culture which
emerged by the 1100's, then, was a blending of Japanese traditional patterns
fused with borrowed elements of Chinese civilization. This critical period of
assimilation and evolution, the merging of cultural traditions, is
termed the Heian Period.
Interesting Related Web
Sites
Ancient Japanese
Timeline - with links
Internet Resources on Japan
Readings in Japanese Culture
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