Ancient+Japan

=** Clothes and Fashion **= = ** A kimono is a traditional clothing worn by men, women, and children in Japan. ** =
 * Ancient Japan- Kamille, Reizsh, Michelle ** ** (MORLEY) **


 * In a traditional Japanese wedding, women wear the most gorgeous kimono called "Uchikake". It's expensive that's why most people rent it. The Uchikake is long all the way around and touches the ground, unlike the traditional western wedding dresses. **


 * Music, Dance, and Stories **


 * Many of the traditional music forms of Japan are performed during religious and social gatherings. Japanese traditional music is not only popular in Japan but also in the West. **


 * Ancient Japanese forms of music: **
 * Gagaku- known as the court music **
 * Kokufukabu- music that includes both vocal and instruments. It's usually performed in the temples and court ceremonies. **
 * Shomyo- vocal music that was used in Buddhist temples at the time of prayer services. **
 * Noh- a form of drama accompanied with dance. **
 * Shakuhachi- it was played by the Buddhist priests and was performed during the religious festivals and ceremonies **


 * Kabuki - a Japanese dance drama. “Ka” means song, “bu” means dance, and “ki” means art or skill. Kabuki is a popular dramatic art form that has been a favorite among the Japanese people since the seventeenth century. both male and female acting roles are performed by men. Many Japanese and non-Japanese can’t understand what the actors say, kabuki’s wild costumes, revealing makeup, and comical action and dance can interest most of the Westerners for about half an hour but most Kabuki plays are four or five hours long including the long pauses that gives the observers a chance to think. **
 * Famous Kabuki plays: **
 * -Kanadehon Chushingura (The Treasury of Loyal Retainers) **
 * -Shinju ten ji Amijima (The Love Suicides at Amijima) **
 * -Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura (Yoshitsune and the Thousand Cherry Trees) **
 * -Imoseyama Onna Teikin- Japan’s Romeo and Juliet **
 * -Kyokaku Harusame-gosa (The Pen Name of Genichiro Fukuchi) **


 * Education **
 * Japanese children are taught for learning and are trained in traditional arts both within the school system and outside. In music, calligraphy, flower arrangement, and tea ritual. Martial arts such as judo or kendo are generally limited to men. **



= Marriage =

The most common marriage system in Ancient Japan is the Muko - iri. A groom is only allowed to visit her bride at her own home after the child’s birth or when one of the groom’s parents died and that’s when the bride would be accepted into the groom’s family. It is a system where the groom would enter the family of his bride. Marriage was usually arranged by the parents, priests or relatives. Divorce in Ancient Japan was not common. But if the divorce happens, the people who arranged the marriage are shamed. The ex-husband’s family would need to pay.

Usually the couples didn’t always got married because of love. They didn't have a say of who they want to marry. Sometimes it is because it was only arranged by their parents. They were also often used to maintain peace among the feudal lords. If the bride's parents agreed to the marriage the man would be invited to a ceremony called tokoro - arawashi. This ceremony was the most important function in ancient weddings.




 * Family Life **

One of the key things about families in Ancient Japan is respect. Bowing is the most common way of showing respect. Kids usually bow lower than their parents because it shows more respect. The father in Ancient Japan would go to work, usually a fisherman, gatherer or a farmer, and then the mom would stay and do household chores. Children in Ancient Japan were simple and busy. They had to help in farmyard, fields, and households. They did not go to school. Most of them were taught by their parents. The boys were trained to be a samurai when they were young. While girls taught to do household and to be a good wife by their mothers and sisters. Families in Ancient Japan worked together a lot. They believed that it is better to work as a group than in individual. They would think about their families first before they would think of themselves.




 * SOURCES: **
 * [|http://www.buzzle.com/articles/ancient-japanese-music-traditional-music-in-japan.htm] **
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= ART AND ARCHITECTURE = =** Japanese art represented nature from a more spiritual perspective rather than pursuing scientific realism. Nature was seen as a part of a whole to be projected through the life and experience of the individual artist, a view that became more clearly expressed with the arrival of Buddhism in the 6th century. Painting developed a distinct Japanese character, bolder, particularly with the spread of Zen Buddhism in the 12th century. Ink painting and calligraphy, followed by book illustration and decorative screens. Japanese prints developed in the 17th century, with multi-colour prints invented around 1765. **=

** RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATION, WORSHIP AND SPIRITUALITY **
= The Shinto religion teaches that kami(guardian gods and spirits) are present everywhere; in mountains, trees and rice fields, in the home and in human beings, and that all natural objects should be respected. Followers of Shinto worship kami by living in harmony with their environment. Shinto teachings emphasize simple rituals, which cleanse people and their belongings of any impurities. There is no concept of sin in the Shinto religion. Impurities, instead, come from things such as mourning or being ill. Many of the rituals that are a part of the religion came about as a way of asking for help or protection, or to offer thanks. =



= INFRASTRUCTURE =

= A mountainous, island nation, Japan has inadequate natural resources to support its growing economy and large population. Although many kinds of minerals were extracted throughout the country, most mineral resources had to be imported in the postwar era. Local deposits of metal-bearing ores were difficult to process because they were low grade. = = Agriculture and fishing were the best developed resources, but only through years of painstaking investment and toil. The nation therefore built up the manufacturing and processing industries to convert raw materials imported from abroad. This strategy of economic development necessitated the establishment of a strong economic infrastructure to provide the needed energy, transportation, communications. =




 * Sumo Wrestling **

Sumo is an ancient and most treasured sport in Japan. It also the traditional national sport of Japan. This sport is mentioned in the Japanese history books written in eighth century (the Kojiki and Nihonshoki). There is a legend written in the book Kojiki of how the Japanese Islands were determined by a sumo match between the two gods. Japanese did not have a written record until the 8th century so it is hard to tell when it is really originated. In prehistoric times, it was performed as a way to pray and ask God for a good harvest. It is a ritual to show their appreciation to their god. performed in front of the emperor. Sumo became very popular in the Edo period. Matches were held to raise money to build temples and shrines. It was very popular to the rich and powerful people that time.

The main objective is to toss the opponent out of the ring. Sumo is a very violent sport that the government of that time disapproved of the fighting and even tried to banned Sumo. The organizers decided to make rules because of this issue. Each wrestler asked the gods to help them win. Before and after the match the priests blessed the ring. The winner does not show happy expression on his face after the match not like any other sport.



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Hi! We are from the Ancient Japan. We are happy to share some of our information with you.
http://japan-civilazation.wikispaces.com/
 * In Japan, they wear the traditional clothing called Kimono.
 * Rice is their main food, they eat it everyday. Rice also grows from there.
 * They have an active mountain called Fuji

=J A P A N' S A R T A N D A R C H I T E C T U R E. =

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[[image:http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/i/painttool.png width="59" height="33" align="left"]]
-B ecause the Japanese islands are of volcanic origin, structures of wooden timber have traditionally been the basis for architecture; there is little stone for building or carving in Japan. -Most modern and domestic architecture remain in accordance with the style of these shrines and ceremonial tea houses. -Often houses are known for their garden and bamboo fence, which intimately relates the architecture to the land. The Style was to be highly important to Japan. -In the 20th centurary the painters and sculptors have been influenced by Western styles. -Japan's artist base there art on their culture, Landscape, and way of life, or well known people. -Biggest most popular art or comic book drawings are Anime.

Anime; The most popular art known in Japan. Its outrageous because it is powerful enough to shake the art industry. Anime is the best known by children and teens. Mainly because of TV shows and Anime movies. Anime has basically went viral.

Izaya Orihara is from the TV show Durarara. Secondary character to the show. mainly important. Durarara is about about this guy coming to Ikebukuro, Japan. And finds out that there is alot more to the city than you think. There are folklore creatures and skilled people (Izaya is a skilled informantion broker who know how to have fun with his flick blade)

=**ANCIENT JAPANESE LANGUAGE AND COMMUNICATION**=

=‍**Words:**=
 * Ancient Japanese language has syllables ( き ki, ひ hi, み mi, け ke, へ he, め me, こ ko, そ so, と to, の no, も mo, よ yo and ろ ro) that are used in words in beginning, middle or end, they are the used to connect or create word.

=‍**Writing:**=
 * Yamato Kotoba is written mixture of Kanji and Hiragana.
 * Words that are written on paper are written in Hiragana, it can be in others but this is rare to see.

=‍Non- Verbal:=
 * Japanese have ways of communication with body without speaking
 * expressions help communicate ideas (inhaling through clenched teeth, tilting head, scratching back of head, scratching eyebrow)
 * when crowded they avoid eye contact
 * frowning at the person speaking means you disagree
 * trust non- verbal more than verbal
 * if you stare directly into the person of conversations eyes its considered disrespectful

=‍Other Things:=
 * speaking slowly and clearly is more respectful
 * avoid questions of offense
 * avoid using jokes unless it is at an appropriate time
 * avoid slang
 * ask questions slowly not all together
 * clarify and check anything in the conversation that seems wrong
 * be an active listener

Ancient Japan - __ Location and Environment. __

Environment:

 * =====Japan's population is estimated at around 127.3 million. =====
 * Japan is under treaty obligation to reduce it’s carbon dioxide emissions and to take other steps to curb climate change. In 1993 the goverment started a Law (a restriction), the restriction was called "Basic Environment Law". This law meant that you had to start recyclying things.
 * Earthquakes was the most biggest environmental problem happening in Japan, some earthquakes still occur now. Air pullotions in Japan happen because of the power plant as to a result of acid rain.
 * Volcanoes and Earthquakes eruptions are common in Japan.
 * In the summer the region is cooler than the Pacific Area, in the winter the islands develop deep snow banks. Japan has 4 main islands, 1) Honshu, 2) Hokkaido, 3) Shikoku, 4) Kyushu. Japan has 200 volcanoes, about 60 of them are active. The climate from June to September is really hot, like most places. 5 or 6 typhoons pass or get near Japan around the beginning of August to early September, sometimes resulting significant damage.

Location:

 * Japan is an island that is located in East Asia. It is in the Pacific Ocean and is east of China, the Koreas, and Russia. It is also south of Taiwan.
 * The population in Japan is 125, 000, 000, including approximately 2 million foregin residents.
 * Ancient Japan is located where it is exactly located right now. It hasn't shifted much.

Earthquakes in Japan

 * Ancient Japanese had this legend that the great catfish Namazu who lived in the centre of the Earth would shake itself furiously leading to great disasters all around. A great god named Kashima who was the only one who could control and contain Namazu pinned the catfish against a rock. They said that whenever Kashimas mind lingered elsewhere, Namazu would get loose and cause more earthquakes. This is what ancient people believed but now due to widespread advancement and technology, the real reasons of why earthquakes occur have now surfaced.

__several earthquakes__
Great Yaeyama- April 24th 1771. (13,486) deaths
 * ==== HakuhouNankai- November 29th 1686. (101-1000) deaths ====
 * JoganSanrku- July 13th 1869. (1,000+) deaths
 * Kamakura- May 27th 1293. ( 23,024) deaths
 * MeioNankaido-September 27th 1498. (31,000) deaths
 * KeichoNankaido- February 3rd 1605. ( 5,000+) deaths
 * KeichoSanriku- Decemeber 2nd 1611. (2,000+) deaths

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