Unit X: Korea and Japan

Unit Main Themes
1. Korea in the Choson Dynasty
2. Japan in the Meiji Period
3. The Samurai Code and the Japanese Identity
4. Causes of Success: Japan's Post War Economy

Test Map (availible online)

Lesson #1: Read, "Korean History" in syllabus book pp 30-31 (availible online)

Note Headings:
1. Silla dynasty - a) influences from China b) Korea's own accomplishments
2. Koryo dynasty and the peasants
3. Koryo dynasty: an important invention
4. Choson dynasty: King Sejong
5. Choson dynasty: invaders in the seccond half

Lesson #2: Read, "Art and Folk Theatre in Choson Dynasty Korea" and video script in syllabus book pp. 32-34 (availible online)

Note Headings:
1. Importance of hte 18th century (during Choson dynasty)
2. Examples of folk theatre making fun of upper class (yangban)
3. Women's roles, as they appear in the plays: a)courtesan b) old wife c) shaman
4. Satire directed against Buddhist monk: a) how is he made to appear ridiculous? b) why the audience liked to see a monk made fun of.

Lesson #3: Read, Spielvogel p. 301 down to "The Rise" AND pp. 302-303 down to "The Kamakura" AND "Shinto" in the syllabus book p. 35 (availible online)

Note Headings:
1. Mountains and islands as influences on Japan's development
2. Evidence of central governments weakness, starting in 7th century CE
3. Samurai: a) roles in Japanese society b) parallels to Europe's medieval knights b) rules of Bushido
4. Shinto: a) 4-5 ways its not like other religions b) kani c) Shinto's cycle of life d) a Shinto shrine

Lesson #4: Read, Spielvogel pp. 565-568 down to "Economic" AND p. 570, "Tokogawa Culture."

Background: During Japan's feudal period, one noble lord was sometimes able to dominate all the others. This military overlord was called a shogun. The shogun exercised governing power, but the emperor remained as an important link to the gods. The emperor stayed in his palace; the shogun ruled.

Note Headings:
1. The Tokugawa shoguns, 1603-1868: a) name of founder b) his policy regarding Christians c) isolation?
2. The "Great Peace" brings changes to the samurai
3. City life in Tokogawa Japan: a) the books b) the theatre c) the "floating world" d) woodblock prints

Lesson #5: Read, Speilvogel pp. 784-786 down to "The Transformation" AND p. 788 "Economics" to p. 789 down to "Building a Modern" AND pp. 791-792, down to "Experiement"

Note Headings:
1. Commodore Perry and the Treaty of Kanagawa
2. Meiji Restoration: the new emperor and his capital
3. Meiji economic changes (view picture of Meiji Silk Mill)
4. The 2 wars of conquest in the Meiji period: describe and give results.

Lesson #6: Read Nitobe, Bushido (background and excerpts) AND The Cherry Blossom Reader (excerpts) AND two anti-war statements (all availible online).

Background: Japan in the late 19th and early 20th century went down the road of nationalism, militarism and imperialism. And by doing so, were they not simply followin the path already established by other powerful nations? And not all Japanese agreed with their leaders. But for the majority, winning wars against first china, and then Russia brought great joy and pride.

Note Headings:
1. How Nitobe thinks samurai ideals were spread to all Japanese.
2. Childhood training for toughness
3. The samurai view of honor/shame
4. Emotion and self-control
5. Responsibilities of a samurai wife or daughter
6. Nitobe's statements about the samurai code: a) on suicide b) on war c) on the emperor
7. Give evidence of nationalism and militarism in The Cherry Blossom Reader

Lesson #7: Read Spielvogel, pp. 905-908, down to Section Review AND p. 911 AND p. 914 last two paragraphs, AND p. 917 last two paragraphs.

Note Headings: (useful maps)
1. Japanese aggression in China: a) what they already held (1905) b) in 1931 c) starting in 1937 and on
2. Japan's demands in summer of 1940; the US response
3. japan's misjudgement of U.S. reaction to Pearl Harbor
4. Creation of the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere: the official intent vs. the real reason (map)
5. Significance of the Battle of Midway
6. Why the U.S. used atom bombs against Japan

Lesson #8: Read Speilvogel pp. 1100 - 1102

Note Headings:
1. Important points in Japan's postwar constitution.
2. TQ: Wht does the photograph on p. 1100 tell us about Gen. MacAuthur and Emperor Hirohito
3. What explains the success of japan's postwar economy? (put at least 8 in your notes)