How Did China Change Throughout The Nara Period

Evans Chen From the Nara Period to the Meiji Restoration, the differing eras of Japan show that many aspects of Japan were altered. Although some aspects stayed constant, the role of the Samurai, Japanese feudalism, and the influence of China on Japan went through drastic changes over these periods. Although Japan has been influenced by several countries, China’s influence is one of the strongest. During the Nara Period, the powerful Chinese Tang dynasty greatly impacted Japanese politics and culture. One clan modeled their imperial court on the Tang dynasty’s example, implementing powerful, centralized rule. Parts of Japan also used the Equal Field System, a Tang dynasty policy designed to resolve issues caused by exceedingly unequal land

While creating the Japanese written language, Japanese scholars borrowed Chinese characters. Japanese literature also emulated that of China. Chinese influence dramatically declined during the Kamakura and Muromachi Periods, however. These periods, commonly known as Japan’s “Middle Ages”, saw a rejection of Chinese influence. As power became decentralized and feudalism appeared, lords had little use for Chinese bureaucracy, and Chinese influence was greatly weakened. However, when centralized power emerged again, in the form of the Tokugawa Shogunate, Chinese influence did not immediately gain much strength. The Tokugawa Shogunate heavily restricted foreign influence, to prevent it from destabilizing Japan, using a policy of isolationism. Only small numbers of Chinese and Dutch merchants were allowed to trade at the port of Nagasaki, only continuing a weak Chinese influence. Although this current influence was weak, the lasting impacts of Chinese influence on previous periods greatly influenced Japan during the Tokugawa Shogunate. Confucian principles supported the Tokugawa Shogunate’s bakufu government and its social order, so the shogun promoted the

The importance of the Samurai peaked during the Kamakura and Muromachi periods, when, during the decentralized system of feudalism, wars between daimyos were common. During these periods, lords used Samurai to enforce authority and expand territory, and, in return, lords supported Samurai so that they could devote their lives to the martial arts. During the Tokugawa Shogunate, however, this support began to decline. Due to the unification of Japan, there were no battles between lords, and due to Japan’s isolationism, there were no battles between Japan and foreigners. Samurai had little purpose, and gradually fell into disuse. Samurais’ stipends were not adjusted for inflation, and Samurai became unable to support themselves, and had to find other occupations. This greatly weakened the importance of the Samurai. Later, after the Meiji Restoration, the Meiji government abolished the Samurai class entirely, replacing the Samurai class with the Meiji government’s own national army. The importance of the Samurai was strong during periods of decentralized rule, but quickly deteriorated in importance during times of centralized