This class spans the course of human history on the Japanese archipelago from long before the adaption of the Chinese writing and legal system to the climactic Battle of Sekigahara in 1600, which ushered in the Tokugawa Shogunate. Throughout the course, we will explore many narratives of Japanese history, delving into topics such as politics, religion, war, economics, literature, and the day-to-day lives of the Japanese people across time. By the end of this course, you will have a firm grasp on topics such as the extravagant court culture of Kyoto during the Heian period, the unique relationship between Shinto and Buddhism, the rise of warriors in the provinces, and the eventual breakdown of a centralized state that led to more than one hundred years of civil strife. Further, you will be able to qualify the national and international "image" of traditional Japanese culture that has been crafted through an emphasis on the many connections, however tenuous, that exist between premodern and modern Japan, such as samurai, Bushido, Shinto, sumo wrestlers, ninja, etc. No former knowledge of Japan or Asia is required for this course. All lectures, weekly readings, and books included on the list for the comparative book review will be in English. All readings will be provided save for the required textbook, Japan Emerging: Premodern History to 1850, and the books for the comparative book review. The ebook of Japan Emerging is available for free through the library. |