HIST138-East Asian Civilization: Japan

Week I From Stone Age to Buddha (ca. 30,000 BCE to 592 CE)

T Aug 30 Introduction, orientation, Paleolithic & Jōmon Periods (ca. 30,000 BCE to ca. 400 BCE) Yayoi, & Early Tomb Periods (ca. 400 BCE to 592 CE); Beasley, pp. xv-30

Th Sep 1 Chinese and Korean Backgrounds

Week II The Early Japanese State (592 CE to 710 CE)

T Sep 6 The Seventh Century Transition; Beasley, pp. 19-34

Th Sep 8 Section; read the excerpts from:

Record of Ancient Matters (Kojiki) "When the primeval matter had congealed but breath and form had not yet appeared, there were no names and no action..."

Chronicles of Japan (Nihon shoki) "...the imperial princess was made empress. She gave birth to four sons, the first was called Prince Umayado[Stable Door]..."

 

Week III A Capital for Early Japan

T Sep 13 Nara: Center and Symbol (710-794 CE)

 Th Sep 15 Recap—Identifying Japanese Foundations and Beginnings

Map quiz: Memorize locations of—and be prepared to explain significance of—the following places in Beasley, pp. 282-83: Paekche, Silla, Koguryo, Izumo, Kyoto (Heian), Nara, Ise and, from lecture Ezo (note amended location from lecture that differs from Beasley) and Shikoku. Why does the map for Ancient and Medieval Japan include only Kyushu, Honshu, and Shikoku? Why does Beasley include a map of Northeast Asia in his history of Japan?

B. From Heian Court toward Unification (794 CE to 1573 CE)

C. Unification and Early Modernity (1573 CE to 1868 CE)

Course Mechanics

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