The Influence of Neighboring Cultures on Japan

The Influence of Neighboring Cultures on Japan

Cultural diffusion, the spread of cultural elements from one society to another, had a major influence on many aspects of Japanese life. Cultural elements include objects, ideas, and customs from a society. These ideas from neighboring countries were brought to Japan, and impacted its ideas in government, city design, religion, writing, literature, sculpture, architecture, and music. The influence of neighboring cultures such as China, Korea, and India on Japanese culture is still seen in today.

Japan was introduced to many cultural ideas by the way of the Korean Peninsula. Some of these ideas had originally come from China and India. These ideas had spread to Japan through  many ways. For example, a Chinese scholar visiting Japan from a Korean kingdom introduced Confucianism; and Buddhist priests visiting from Korea introduced Buddhism. Furthermore, Prince Shotoku, who came to power in Japan in 593, encouraged contact with the Asia mainland. The rate of cultural diffusion accelerated as Shotoku and later rulers sought out contact with the mainland, especially in Korean and Chinese culture. Japan sent thousands of people on flimsy ships across the sea to China during the next three centuries. Usually these people stayed in China for years and returned home with the knowledge they had acquired. They also brought many examples of mainland culture including paintings, religious statutes, and musical instruments. Ideas and skills were also introduced by Korean workers who settled in Japan.

The Japanese created a unique culture as they blended new ideas with their own traditions. For example, during the 7th and 8th centuries, Japanese rulers adopted new ideas of government from China, giving the emperor and central government more power. Prince Shotoku established a set of ranks for government officials based on Confucian ideas. In 604, he issued the Seventeen Article Constitution which stated that the emperor was the country’s supreme ruler. In addition, the future emperor Tenchi created the Taika reforms in 645 to empower the central government. These changes were blended with Japan’s own culture when a powerful aristocracy developed during the 9th century. Another example of cultural blending in Japan is religion. Japan’s original religion was Shinto which expresses the love and respect of the Japanese for nature. However, when Japan was later introduced to Buddhism, the emperor and his court admired its wisdom and rituals. Buddhism and Shinto blended together, and continued to thrive in Japan, with their influence still strongly seen in Japanese culture today. Lastly, the Japanese music was influenced by especially by China, as contacts with the Asian mainland increased. For example, Gagaku, a form of Chinese court music, arrived in Japan in the sixth century. New musicals instruments also entered Japan. A Chinese wind instrument that the Japanese adopted was the sheng
. The Japanese called it the sho, a type of mouth organ designed to sound like the call of a phoenix. In conclusion, cultural diffusion and blending has helped Japan develop its own unique culture.