Japan

Where is Japan on the world map?

Japan is the name of an arc-shaped island country, with a total area of ​​​​379,954 km² lying on the eastern flank of the Asian continent. The country is located east of Korea, Russia, and China, spanning the Sea of Okhotsk to the East China Sea in the north and the East China Sea in the south. Japan is a world leader in science and technology. Considered an economic powerhouse, Japan is the third-largest economy globally by gross domestic product as well as the third by purchasing power parity after the United States and the People's Republic of China. Hoa and is the 5th country in the world in the field of investment in defense; ranked 4th in the world in terms of exports and 6th in terms of imports. The country is a member of the United Nations, G8, G4, and APEC.

Japan is a temperate zone with four distinct seasons. Japan has 4 large islands in order from North to South: Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu with thousands of surrounding small islands. Most of the islands in Japan have a lot of mountains and volcanoes, such as Mount Fuji, the highest in this place. It is the tenth-largest country in the world by population with an estimated 128 million people. The Tokyo Metropolitan Area, which includes the capital Tokyo and a few surrounding prefectures, is the largest metropolitan area in the world with about 30 million people.

Japan is also known as "The Land of Cherry Blossoms" because cherry blossom trees grow all over Japan from north to south. Japan is also known as Fu Tang. Funeral tree, ie a type of mulberry tree. According to an ancient legend in the East, there is a hollow mulberry tree called Phu Tang or Khong Tang, where the Sun-god rests before riding a train to travel across the sky from East to West, so Phu Tang has literary meanings. only where the sun rises.

Until now, it is still uncertain about the origin and time of appearance of the first inhabitants of the Japanese archipelago. However, most scholars believe that the Japanese have been present in the archipelago since ancient times and have settled continuously since then to the present day. Findings in the study of antiquities and bones have reinforced doubts about the previous theory that the Japanese were descendants of invaders who came after the "aboriginal" Ainu and pushed this tribe out of the population. Island. Today, it is believed that the ancestors of the Japanese were the ones who made the pottery named Jomon. These people are known to have been present on the islands since at least 5000 BC, then over time, mixing with other human races, developing through history into the nation of Japan today.

History of Japan (until 710 AD)

The first monarch of Japan was said to be descended from the sun goddess. Emperor Jimmu rose to power around 660 BC. The Jomon era lasted from 13000 to 300 BC. During this period, ceramics had twisted rope designs. Small tribes grew up around fishing, hunting, and collecting.

The Yayoi lasted 300 years (BC-AD). Japan was steadily forming a social hierarchy. Queen Himiko was Japan's monarch at the time. During this time, rice-growing developed, but the land was still owned by landowners. Japan was split among tribes from 300 until 710.

From the 4th to the 6th century, the Yamato clan unified the clans. Chinese characters, Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism began to be brought to Japan. Crown Prince Shotoku became Taika in 593. Emperor Kotoku reclaimed power in 645 when the Soga clan was wiped out. A Big Change Has Happened.

Nara period history of Japan (from 710 to 794)

In 710, the Emperor founded the capital and began building Nara. Japanese Kojiki was composed in 712. In 718, the Japanese Chronicle (Nihonshoki) appeared. The kanji is in. An anthology of 4,500 poems in Japanese has been published. Nagaoka became the capital in 784.

Japan's Heian era history (from 794 to 1192)

The Heian era was aristocratic and matriarchal. The Fujiwara’s grew in power. Japan assimilated the best of Chinese art and ideas. During this period, Japanese literature advanced greatly due to the Kana script's development. In 794, Japan's capital moved to Heian.

Emperor Go-Sanjo inherited authority from the Fujiwara family in 1068. Taira Kiyomori became Emperor of Japan in 1156, ending the Insei Emperors' rule from 1086. In 1159, the Minamoto and Taira military families clashed. Taira Kiyomori ruled from 1168 until 1178. Following Kiyomori's death, the Minamoto clan gained control in 1185.

Japan's Kamakura era history (from 1192 to 1333)

Yorimoto became Shogun (general) in 1192, establishing the shogunate. After Yorimoto's death, his father-in-law Hojo Tokimawa took authority. The Minamoto line collapsed in 1219. Emperor Gotoba invaded the Hojo clan in 1221 but failed. The Hojo earned respect by earning the trust of the powerful and, in 1333, assumed control of Japan.

Japan's Muromachi history (from 1333 to 1603)

Emperor Go-Daigo of the Southern Dynasty came to power in 1338 in Kyoto's southern area. And Emperor Misuaki became Northern Dynasty Emperor. In 1392, the Southern Dynasty Emperor abdicated and the Northern Dynasty Emperor assumed control. From 1467 until 1573, Japan was in the Sengoku era. Hideyoshi united Japan in 1590.

Japan's Edo history (from 1603 to 1868)

The Edo era in Japan included renowned townsfolk and merchants, akin to the European Renaissance. Tokugawa Ieyasu declared himself Shogun in 1600. Ieyasu seized Osaka Castle in 1615. The Toyotomi clan was also annihilated. During the Edo era, Japan was peaceful and prosperous.

Modern Japanese History

In 1867, Emperor Meiji transferred the capital to Edo, now Tokyo. In the Sino-Japanese War of 1895, Japan won. Japan beat Russia in 1905. With the rise of militarism from 1912 to 1945, it became a major power. The US army bombed Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945, forcing Japan to surrender. From 1945 until 1952, the US occupied all of Japan. Creating the Self-Defense Forces. Japan's remarkable recovery in 1954 From 1868 till now, the emperor dynasties continue.

Strange features in Japanese culture

Japan is not only known as an economic power in the region but also special because of its cultural features that no other country has.

Take off your shoes and turn your sandals outside before entering the house, when entering the house, wear light slippers. The meaning of this action is to show everyone's equality with each other, without distinction of class or status. , rich and poor.

Immediately say thank you, apologize when asking or bothering. This is the core of culture, showing civilized behavior, showing Japanese human values, always showing respect to the community around them.

Eat raw foods like fish…

The custom of giving Tet gifts and Mid-Autumn gifts

Eating blind ramen or sloppy Soba, according to the Japanese concept of eating like that, shows the chef that the dish is very delicious. A way of gratitude for the chef.

The Japanese-style toilet, when going to the toilet, doesn’t know whether to turn in or out go back in.

Culture imbued with its own cultural identity

Culture is the soul of each nation, formed and developed in association with the formation and development of the nation. Japan is famous for having a long-standing culture, imbued with the breath of the nation, which is the intersection between traditional culture and modern culture. As a culture with bold Asian characteristics, creating the development of society but imbued with the spirit of the Japanese people.

As a country formed from large and small islands, located separately from other countries in the region, so that it does not suffer from wars of foreign aggression, it is the advantage of natural conditions. Nature and terrain make up a culturally unified society, unaffected by the cultures of other countries.

Although Japan did not have to fight against wars of aggression, it had to struggle with harsh nature such as earthquakes, tsunamis, etc., from which the will was formed, creating resilience. , the solidarity of the people to fight and win this "war" with nature. It is the harsh conditions of nature that are the "favorable" environment that forged Japanese people’s industriousness, hard work, and perseverance.

In addition, it is the spirit of the samurai that creates the ideal, the way of life that has sharpened the will, energy, and determination. The guideline of true martial artists is expressed by 8 virtues: integrity, courage, benevolence, politeness, self-control, loyalty, and honor. The martial spirit, they live and serve the noble ideal that pursues their whole life, no matter how long it takes, this spirit is still there, rooted in the flesh and blood of every citizen, like a cherry blossom petal in full bloom between each spring degree.

The Japanese art of tea ceremony

Traditional Japanese culture has adorned the world culture with an outstanding art form - the art of tea ceremony. The Japanese tea ceremony originated in the 7th century when the monk Eisai went to China to study, and when he returned home he brought tea seeds and planted them in the backyard of the temple. It is also from here that drinking tea became popular and attached to the Japanese people.

Moreover, the tea ceremony is not only a simple way to enjoy tea, but also an effective means of purifying the soul. The art of Japanese peach tea is the quintessential sky of a cultural region. Drinking tea is not simply enjoying the cool taste, with a bit of bitterness of the tea leaves, but enjoying the aftertaste of life, finding the purity and peace in the soul of each of us.

Japan goods are available on Printerval.com

Printerval.com is available in many colors, styles, and sizes to meet everyone's preferences and will always include goods such as T-Shirts, Tanktops, Hoodies, and other products like Caps and Mugs.

The visual designs of the items, in particular the designs of artists from across the world, reflect the distinctive nature of each product as well as the various sizes and colors. They are also diversified. On Printerval. Theme designs for Japan are for people who adore this lovely nation, or just love items from Printerval.