To what extent did the religion, ethnicities, and languages of the Japanese region change because of its exposure to other cultures?

By Jacob Moore09
  • 2000 BCE

    What were the ethnicities, languages and religions of the Japanese region during antiquity?

    What were the ethnicities, languages and religions of the Japanese region during antiquity?
    During antiquity, the region that now holds Japan and the surrounding area was home to a few ethnicities, languages, and *provincial(Something that relates to the surrounding area)religions. These groups had a few ethnicities which include Bodao and Changsha. Many of these groups spoke Japonic, which was the dominant language throughout the area. The indigenous groups practiced local religions of *Shamanism(A religious belief in which chosen people have special abilities) and Ancestor Worship.
  • Period: 2000 BCE to

    Timeline

  • Jan 1, 600

    The Japanese adopt characters from the Chinese language into their language.

    The Japanese adopt characters from the Chinese language into their language.
    In about the 7th century the Japanese adopted some of the Chinese letters for their own language. Japan didn’t have much of a society during those times, and China had a greatly *Flourishing society. The Japanese thought they could get a headstart on their civilization by using some of the Chinese characters to jumpstart their language.
    The symbols the Japanese took from the Chinese are called *Kanji the characters that Japan added to their language are called *Kana.
  • Jan 1, 650

    Confucianism was introduced into Japan

    Confucianism was introduced into Japan
    In about the 7th century A.D. the Koreans and the Chinese introduced Confucianism into the Japanese culture. Confusionism was based on 5 relationships. Each relationship requires absolute obedience within it. For example, one of the relationship is father and son. The son must obey the father and have complete obedience to him. This philosophy was mainly benefited people in power. Confusionism was discontinued after World War 2, but it still greatly influence the population.
  • Jan 1, 700

    Buddhism is introduced into Japan

    Buddhism is introduced into Japan
    During the same time period that Confucianism was introduced in Japan (8th century), Buddhism was introduced by the Chinese and the Koreans. Several branches of Buddhism arose and many people followed them. In the 13th century monks named Shinran and Nichiren founded the most popular branches of Buddhism. All branches of Buddhism believe in life after death, and try to reach nirvana, which is a state of enlightenment.

  • Today

    Today
    Today's Japan has one dominant ethnicity, one main language and a few religions throughout its islands. Japan’s ethnicities are *Yamato Japanese and Ryukyuan Japanese(ethnicities of the Japanese people). Although it has many small languages it only has one main language of Japanese. Japan’s religions are mainly *Buddhist(A common religion in Asia) and *Shinto(a common religion mostly found in Japan) taking up 95% of the population.