Japn 305: Introduction to Japanese Culture and Civilization
Course description:
This course explores the history of the peoples living in the Japanese archipelago from prehistoric times into the Tokugawa Era. The history of ancient Japan is usually presented as the story of the origins of the Japanese people and their culture. The standard conclusion of this kind of history is that the Japanese always have been and always will be a certain kind of people. Our emphasis, on the other hand, will be on history as a process of struggle and change. As a result, we will not assume the unity of the "Japanese nation" or the homogeneity of the "Japanese people." Instead, we will look at the many ways that people identified themselves over time, "Japanese" being only one possible identity (and one of the least used). The present-day Japanese will be seen to be less the result of a natural progress from the past and more the result of struggles in which some people won and some people lost. In order to help us envision this kind of history, we will do our best to examine both the familiar histories of the ruling classes of Japan and the experiences of the people usually left out of the history books. We will investigate these groups through visual culture: images, literature, religion, and performing arts. Since religion, particularly Buddhism, was an important element of the worldview of people in ancient Japan, this course will take up the history of religion in Japan as one of its major components.
MLO's:
This course meets MLO 2 as well as MLO 4.
Course Narrative:
This course allowed for me to develop a deeper understanding of Japanese history as well as the cultural components that arose because of these cultural elements. The course started off with Jomon and Yayoi and the historical significance that these societies had on the Japanese archipelago. I was able to also learn that the Japanese archipelago had been populated through waves of peoples, instead of a single wave of migration that is often discussed. One of the most interesting aspects to me was the changes in cultural norms that occurred throughout Japanese history. We had to write a final essay for this course and I chose to discuss the changes in values that occurred between eras, especially in regards to those who were in leadership positions. Being able to examine the trends, especially the ways that religion and gender played a role in shaping society.
This course explores the history of the peoples living in the Japanese archipelago from prehistoric times into the Tokugawa Era. The history of ancient Japan is usually presented as the story of the origins of the Japanese people and their culture. The standard conclusion of this kind of history is that the Japanese always have been and always will be a certain kind of people. Our emphasis, on the other hand, will be on history as a process of struggle and change. As a result, we will not assume the unity of the "Japanese nation" or the homogeneity of the "Japanese people." Instead, we will look at the many ways that people identified themselves over time, "Japanese" being only one possible identity (and one of the least used). The present-day Japanese will be seen to be less the result of a natural progress from the past and more the result of struggles in which some people won and some people lost. In order to help us envision this kind of history, we will do our best to examine both the familiar histories of the ruling classes of Japan and the experiences of the people usually left out of the history books. We will investigate these groups through visual culture: images, literature, religion, and performing arts. Since religion, particularly Buddhism, was an important element of the worldview of people in ancient Japan, this course will take up the history of religion in Japan as one of its major components.
MLO's:
This course meets MLO 2 as well as MLO 4.
Course Narrative:
This course allowed for me to develop a deeper understanding of Japanese history as well as the cultural components that arose because of these cultural elements. The course started off with Jomon and Yayoi and the historical significance that these societies had on the Japanese archipelago. I was able to also learn that the Japanese archipelago had been populated through waves of peoples, instead of a single wave of migration that is often discussed. One of the most interesting aspects to me was the changes in cultural norms that occurred throughout Japanese history. We had to write a final essay for this course and I chose to discuss the changes in values that occurred between eras, especially in regards to those who were in leadership positions. Being able to examine the trends, especially the ways that religion and gender played a role in shaping society.