1.

DiscussJapanshistoryofassimilatingforeignideasandpracticesfromChina
duringtheYamato,Asuka,andNaraperiod.HowdoesthisaffectJapanscreation
ofauniqueidentityduringtheHeianperiod?
Alotofpeopleoftentakealongtimetorecognizethedifferencebetween
Chinese and Japanese exterior. The two cultures are very similar in terms of
beliefs, traditions, religion, etc. The reason being Japanese built their culture
around theChinese culture. There werealot ofpractices andtraditions from
ChinathatweretransmittedtoJapan.
ThesimilaritiesareveryevidentduringtheearlyperiodsofJapan.During
theAsukaperiod,therewasarampantspreadofideasthroughreligion.Buddhism
wasoriginallyfromIndia,butithadslowlyspreadtoChinaandwonaplaceof
importance in Chinese culture during the troubled era between the two great
periodsofempire(Reischauer,1990).Buddhismbecametheimportantvehicle
oftransmissionofChineseculturetoJapan(Reischauer,1990).TheJapanese
studentpriestswenttoChinatolearnmoreaboutthenewlyintroducedreligion,
which led to the spread of the faith, as well as the spread of the Chinese
civilizationinJapan.AnotherreasonforthespreadofBuddhismisthelengthy
stayofBuddhistmonksinChinatostudy.Theybecameleadersintheirrespective
fields (Reischauer, 1990) upon their return to Japan, which caused the
transmissionofscience,arts,andphilosophy.Buddhismhadaveryimportantrole
inJapansassimilationofforeignideasfromChinabecauseitwasthroughthis
religioninwhichtheJapaneselearnedandadoptedgeneralBuddhistandChinese
Confucianconcepts.PrinceShotokuwasgenuinelyinterestedinBuddhism,thus
hewasassociatedwithfindingofthevarioustemplesandmonasteriesnearthe
Nara.
Duringthe7thcentury,theJapanesealsoattemptedtoadoptthecomplex
Chinesesystemoflandownershipandtaxation,whicheventheChinesedidnot
completelymaster.ChinasTangdynastyfollowedthissystemwhereinlandwas
distributedequallyamongthepeasantssothatthepeoplecouldcarryanequal
shareofthetaxload(Reischauer,1990).Thewholesystemdependedondetailed
censusrecordsandlandsurveys(Reischauer,1990).FortheJapanesetoadopt
thiskindofsystemwasfascinating,sinceeventheChinesethemselves,despite
thelongtraditionofcentralizedbureaucraticrule,didnotmakethesystemwork
foralongtime.
DuringtheNaraperiodwasthetimewhenJapanassimilatedoneChinese
politicalpatterntheestablishmentofapermanentcityinJapan.Thecapitalat
NarawaspatternedafterthatofChina,theChangan,capitaloftheTangdynasty.
Japans first city was an imitation of Changans rectangle of checkerboard
streets,withthepalaceandgovernmentbuildingsatthenorthendofthegreat
centralnorthSouthAvenue(Reischauer,1990).

Butduringthemiddleofthe9th century,achangeofattitudeofJapan
towardsimitatingChinaoccurred.TheprestigeofallthingsChineseremained
great,buttheJapanesewerenolongersoanxioustolearnfromChinaorsoready
to acknowledge Chinese superiority (Reischauer, 1990). After centuries of
emulating Chinese practices traditions, Japan reached a state of cultural
maturity(Reischauer,1990)whereinitwas readytodevelopits ownunique
culture.ThiswasshownthroughJapanesewriting,architecture,andevenpoetry.
Alongtimehasgonebuteventually,theJapaneseproducedawritingsystem
uniquely their own. During the 10 th 11th century was the golden age of
Japaneseprose.ThephenomenalworkproducedduringtheperiodwastheTale
ofGenji (GenjiMonogatori),writtenbyLadyMurasaki.Itconstitutesoneof
humanitysmajorliteraryachievements(Reischauer,1990).Theimprovementof
literature occurred simultaneously with developments in other fields such as
architecture.TheJapanesepreferredbuildingssetinnaturalsurroundings,rather
than the stately, balanced and calculated architecture of China. But despite
Japans building of a unique culture, there will always be a deeply rooted
influenceoftheChineseamongitsculture.
2. Japans three unifiers (Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Ieyasu
Tokugawa)eachhavetheirparticularqualities,individuallycontributingtothere
unificationofJapanafterthe16thcentury.Selectoneofthethreeleaderswhom
you think was the most exemplary in leadership style, character, and in
contributingtothereunificationofJapan.Supportyouranswerwithfactsabout
thisparticularleader.
Japans reestablishmentofnational unityis credited tothree important
people. First would be Oda Nobunaga. With the saying to bring the whole
countryunderoneswordaswordstoliveby,hehadasingleminded,ruthless
determinationtoattainhisgoals.Hewasamanofselfreliance,alertness,and
adaptability(DeBary,2002),whichwereinlinewithZenBuddhism,andthese
are the same qualities and characteristics he looked for in his men. He was
describedtobeamasteroftreachery(DeBary,2002),andhewasnotafraidto
usedeceitfulstrategieswhenthereisfailureofjustmeasures.
SecondwasToyotomiHideyoshi,apesantboywhorosetosuccessasthe
masterofallJapan.Hestartedalifewithoutevenafamilyname.Hewasunder
Nobunagaashisgreatestgeneral.HecontributedtoJapansunificationthrough
cooperationwithallhisgoverned.TheSwordCollectionEdictwasremembered
tobeconnectedtohim.Hecollectedallweaponsfromthepeople,anduseditto
createthehugestatueofBuddha.Thiswasoneofthemeansheusedastoputan
endtothedisorderedstateofaffairs.

The third and last Japanese unifier was, for me, the most exemplary
amongthethree.TokugawaIeyasu,fromlowerranks,rosetoprominenceafter
HideyoshisdeathandwonmasteryoverallofJapan.Hewasdescribedtobe
short,stout,andsomewhatuglytolookat(DeBary,2002).
Duringhisrulewastheachievementofalastingpeace.Itwastobethe
longestperiodofpeaceandforthemostpart,prosperitywhichJapanhasever
known(DeBary,2002).Duetothisachievement,wewasheroworshipped
almosttothepointofidolatryasanationalherobygenerationsandgenerations
ofJapanese.TokugawaIeyasuisconsideredtobeanexcellentleader.Restoration
of order across all of Japan was attributed to him. As a leader, he strongly
believedintheimportanceofgoverningaccordingtofixedlawsandinstitutions
(DeBary,2002).
Governingthecountryandleadingthepeopledoesnotjustneedagreat
leader,personalcharacterisalsoanimportantaspecttoconsider.Amongthethree
whobroughtunitytoJapan,Ieyasuwasthemostexemplaryincharactersincehe
possessed qualities like humility, forbearance, a sense of equality, a love for
peace,etc.HewasadevoutBuddhist,hencethecharacteristics.Requitemalice
withkindnesswasoneofthefamousquotescomingfromhim.Ieyasuhadlittle
timetopursueeducationbeforeso,hevaluededucationdeeply.Hesurrounded
himselfwithlearnedmen,andgreatlyencouragedprintingofbooks(DeBary,
2002).Healsogainedtheimageofadevoteeoflettersandamanwithatastefor
elegantproseandpoetry.
Amongthethreeunifiers,TokugawaIeyasuhasthebalancebetweengood
leadership and moral character, which was and is still needed in having a
successfulruleoveronecountry.