China's influences on Japan

Japan has never been conquered by China but it has frequently borrowed Chinese social, political, and religious characteristics due to Chinese cultural hegemony. Even though archaeological findings have discovered Japanese societies as early as 10,000 B.C.E, their recorded history begins only in the eight century C.E. written in Chinese. Japanese leader Fujiwara extensively adopted Chinese culture, religion, and government in the seventh century C.E in an attempt to unify Japan and in order to reinforce his own control.   

Japanese rice agriculture was introduced from South China about 300 B.C.E. Chinese also brought bronze tools and weapons to Japan about the first century B.C.E and the technology for making iron tools around first century C.E. By 500 C.E about one-third of Japanese populations were of Chinese or Korean decent. It was about that time that Japanese started to learn Chinese script which led to their written history a few centuries later.

China influenced Japan politically. Japanese tried to replicate Chinese successful political model of Sui and Tang dynasties along with Chinese calendar and many methods of government which led to Japanese 17-point constitution. This document was modeled on Chinese practice and revered Confucianism and Buddhism.   

In order to enrich their national religion (Shinto Faith), Japanese employed Chinese written characters and accepted elements of both Confucianism and Buddhism. Shinto Faith could be practiced anywhere but Buddhism provided a more centralized form of organization, through monasteries and temples. Shinto Faith and Buddhism have coexisted in Japan for many centuries now.   

Japan’s social, political, and religious foundations have been laid by observing the hegemonic examples of China, but as centuries passed by, it became more politically and culturally independent. Today Japan is one of the most important poles of global economy and industry and their GDP Per Capita is almost eight times greater than China!   

     Resource:

Spodek Howard; The World’s History, Volume One: Prehistory to 1500.Prentice Hall .4^th Edition.