California Content Standards
7.5 Students analyze the geographic, political, economic, religious, and social structures of the civilizations of Medieval Japan.
1. Describe the significance of Japan’s proximity to China and Korea and the intellectual, linguistic, religious, and philosophical influence of those countries on Japan.
2. Discuss the reign of Prince Shotoku of Japan and the characteristics of Japanese society and family life during his reign.
3. Describe the values, social customs, and traditions prescribed by the lord-vassal system consisting of shogun, daimyo, and samurai and the lasting influence of the warrior code in the twentieth century.
4. Trace the development of distinctive forms of Japanese Buddhism.
5. Study the ninth and tenth centuries’ golden age of literature, art, and drama and its lasting effects on culture today, including Murasaki Shikibu’s Tale of Genji.
6. Analyze the rise of a military society in the late twelfth century and the role of the samurai in that society.
1. Describe the significance of Japan’s proximity to China and Korea and the intellectual, linguistic, religious, and philosophical influence of those countries on Japan.
2. Discuss the reign of Prince Shotoku of Japan and the characteristics of Japanese society and family life during his reign.
3. Describe the values, social customs, and traditions prescribed by the lord-vassal system consisting of shogun, daimyo, and samurai and the lasting influence of the warrior code in the twentieth century.
4. Trace the development of distinctive forms of Japanese Buddhism.
5. Study the ninth and tenth centuries’ golden age of literature, art, and drama and its lasting effects on culture today, including Murasaki Shikibu’s Tale of Genji.
6. Analyze the rise of a military society in the late twelfth century and the role of the samurai in that society.
Common Core Reading and Writing Standards
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH6-8
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.WHST6-8
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH6-8.2. Determine the central ideas or information of a primary or secondary source; provide an accurate summary of the source distinct from prior knowledge or opinions.
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH6-83. Identify key steps in a text’s description of a process related to history/social studies (e.g., how a bill becomes law, how interest rates are raised or lowered).
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH6-8.4. Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including vocabulary specific to domains related to history/social studies.
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH6-8.5. Describe how a text presents information (e.g., sequentially, comparatively, causally).
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH6-8.7. Integrate visual information (e.g., in charts, graphs, photographs, videos, or maps) with other information in print and digital texts.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.WHST6-8
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.WHST6-8.2. Write informative/explanatory texts, including the narration of historical events, scientific procedures/experiments, or technical processes.
- a. Introduce a topic clearly, previewing what is to follow; organize ideas, concepts, and information into broader categories as appropriate to achieving purpose; include formatting (e.g., headings), graphics (e.g., charts, tables), and multimedia when useful to aiding comprehension.
- b. Develop the topic with relevant, well-chosen facts, definitions, concrete details, quotations, or other information and examples.
- c. Use appropriate and varied transitions to create cohesion and clarify the relationships among ideas and concepts.
- d. Use precise language and domain- specific vocabulary to inform about or explain the topic.
- e. Establish and maintain a formal style and objective tone.
- f. Provide a concluding statement or section that follows from and supports the information or explanation presented.
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.WHST6-8.4. Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.WHST6-8.5. With some guidance and support from peers and adults, develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach, focusing on how well purpose and audience have been addressed.
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.WHST6-8.6. Use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing and present the relationships between information and ideas clearly and efficiently.
Essential Historical Question
- How did Japan's geography influence its culture and language?
- Japan's emperors lost most of their power. How were the military leaders able to take control of Japan? How did it affect Japan?
- What role did Japan's lord-vassal system play in Japanese culture? How did the code of the samurai influence Japan then? Does it still have an influence in modern times?
- How did religion and art change during this time? How did it influence Japan then? How did it influence it now?
Big Ideas
- Japan's geography has directly shaped its history. Japan developed its own unique culture but was tremendously influenced by China and Korea.
- Japan's emperors lost much of their power to military leaders, which eventually led Japan's warrior families and their followers to fight for control.
- The Lord-Vassal system of Japan, consisting of Shogun, Daimyo, and Samurai, shaped the countries culture for centuries.
- Religion and art during this time was extremely influential, and still is today.
Unit Assessments
- Students will analyze the lasting effects of Medieval Japan in a one to two page paper, taking into account religion, art, literature, the feudal system, and the bushido code.
- Students will create a poster on the role that geography played in shaping Japan's society and culture.
- Students will design a presentation in which they explain the roles of the Shogun, Daimyo, and Samurai and how the effected Japan for centuries.
- Students will recognize the major events, terms, and topics of Medieval Japan by taking an end of the unit exam.