Greek Influence On Japanese Culture

The influence of Latin culture is prominent in the American world today. Everything from the Latin language to the Roman law is visible in the culture that shapes the way we live our lives in the United States. You can see it by watching the Super Bowl game or even fulfilling your citizen duty of serving on a jury.

The world we live in today, especially as Americans, has been influenced greatly by many cultures. Though no civilization have been as influential as the Greeks. Their culture, war tactics, and history changed the world more than any civilization has. From the construction of the first city states to the consumption from Persia the Greeks and their influence can still bee seen today. What makes the Greeks so influential? Did they even have a great empire? These are questions that many thinks about but can never get an answer to. But the Greeks innovated war, before them there were only rag-tag armies of people. The Spartans are known to be some of the greatest warriors in history. The Athenians, or people from Athens which was another Greek

Ancient Chinese influences in modern day Japan China. Throughout the ages, China has proven to be a country that has a society that is unique in the known world. Culturally, politically, China has its own way for everything, and this way has spread across the globe. In modern day, China has distinctive influences in the Western world, but the spread of Chinese civilization started in the surrounding Asian countries. Almost all countries were reached by land and were handed the Chinese ideas through war; all but one.

American sport culture has had many influences that impact how they are today. I believe the ancient greek culture, and society accurately reflects on our sports. There are many variables to american sports that were taken from the greek society. Americans have open gyms and mass training sessions like the greeks had. American sports also have big festivals with sports competitions like the greeks has. Americans also use sports to train, and some to train for war just like the greeks did as well. There are many more ways american sports reflect the greeks, but those are just a few examples.

The Greek civilization contributed greatly to the development of modern Western culture. Three of the most important contribution that are the foundations of our society are Language, Philosophy, and Government.

The Ancient Greeks brought us achievements that shape our world that were made not by figures lost in time, but by men and women whose voices we can still hear. Science, art, literature, political science and historiography were formulated as we now know and work with them by the ancient Greeks. As Americans, we have learned and took on many ideas from the Greeks. Greeks were one of the most advanced cultures in ancient history. Ancient Greece influenced theaters, The Olympics, myths and many other things. Our civilization today is still completely interested in folklore and folktales, which have . Today we don’t believe in more than one God, unlike the Greek culture who are polytheistic. Our lessons, cultures and many other customs

The Mississippian Culture civilization was quite unique, because the people of this culture built mounds. These mounds served different purposes, some being used for burial chambers, and others were built to resemble figures. In these societies, there were many mounds, not just a single one. Furthermore, these cultures were also invested in trade endeavors, with the Hopewell even engaging with the Caribbean in trade. Additionally, these societies were involved in fishing, hunting and agriculture, especially maize agriculture. Also, these societies were skilled in workmanship, producing artifacts. Some of the skilled workmanship that these groups did were pottery, stonework and copper-work. Also, in these societies, there were social structures, and some mounds were used in religious activities, with some serving as the site for temples. Their religion was based upon things that were seen, such as the sun and the eagle, like many other Native American societies.

Yasumasa Morimura was born in Osaka, Japan 1951; before the end of the American Occupation and during the Korean War. It was at this time in Japan that society had become increasingly modernized and influenced by western culture. Subsequently, the foreign influence of Japan’s culture affected their culture, politics and education. With a westernized curriculum, much of the education focused on occident values, ideas, and art. Despite Japan’s rich history, much of the art history that was taught had originated from western culture.

The primary beneficiaries of the emerging money economy were the merchants. Daimyo and samurai traded their rice for money with the merchants who soon became very rich. Merchants, cashing in on daimyo debt attained positions of authority within the daimyo households. Many were living lavish lifestyles only dreamt of by samurai. This caused resentment in Japanese society because, although they were socially inferior, merchants enjoyed an elevated status economically (Kunihiko 1997). Perhaps the social class that suffered the most indignities was the samurai who, lacking the means to earn a living on their regular income, indulged in the lifestyle of Edo. Many had to resort to engaging in handicraft for income vice training at the martial arts thus leading to inherent corruption (Nobumitsu 1997).

With the rise of Alexander “The Great” begins the Hellenistic Age which is used to describe a time which Greek culture spread to places like Egypt and Asia. Due to this Greek culture had changed from what it was during Classical Greece as they were able to achieve much more with this new diverse culture. The Classical Age of Greece is known for its work in philosophy and the arts. The work of Greek philosophers of this time such Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle cannot go unnoticed in these contexts as their accomplishments still have lasting effects on our world today. Along with the great work of these philosophers, came other great works in architecture and drama. Beginning in 448 B.C. Pericles began the construction of the Acropolis,

“Greek civilization is alive; it moves in every breath of mind that we breathe; so much of it remains that none of us in one lifetime could absorb it all.” Ancient Greeks are known to be one of the greatest and most advanced people and have left behind a legacy that helped define the Western civilization. Cultural diffusion helped spread Greek culture all over the world, and its effects can still be felt today in almost every aspect. Greek culture has greatly affected different parts of my daily life including architecture, food, government, inventions, music, religion, and education.

Prelude: Music has been around since the beginning of civilization. Some of the earliest forms of instruments were a flute-type device formed from the wing of a vulture to a recorder-type device formed from the femur of a bear. Other ancient civilizations, such as Egypt and Sumeria, left behind pictures of people singing and playing instruments. Some of these were believed to be pictures of religious rituals.

The Edo Period in Japan (1600-1868) was ruled by Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu who was appointed by the Emperor. During this time, many changes happened to promote stability among the people and Japan. Early The Shogun adoptive a system which was later called Neo-Confucianism based on Confucianism (From China). This system stressed the importance of morals, education and hierarchical order in the government and society (Japan Guide.com).The Shogun needed to create peace and by using segregation, there were four types of divisions during the Edo period. First at the top was the Shogun and Samurai, they created structure and peace among the domains. Second in line was the peasants because without them the most important need would not be filled which was food. Artisans were third in line being they added some value for the reason that they produced goods like swords for the Samurai, artwork, music, and painting/printing. Last on the list of importance was the merchants. Merchants made money off people and therefor held no value to the Shogun.

Without the urbanization of Edo and the raise of the financial power of the chōnin (merchant class) ukiyo-e may not have gained as much popularity as it did during the Edo period. The chōnin class could not physically express their wealth because of law created by the samurai class to keep up the illusions of the social system. The Japanese social structure was of a Confucian design (Samurai-Farmers-Artisans- Merchants), but many samurai family were going bankrupt while the chōnin class, who

After the Meiji restoration, the West was taken as a supreme ideal for nearly every aspect of Japanese life. In fact it has become alarmingly difficult to differentiate the original cultural Japanese life and the Westernised Japanese way of life (‘A History of Modern Japan’, p13). The assimilation of Western ideas has largely been a negative transition, through the establishment of unreasonable treaties. However, according to historical events and accounts, it is evident that continued Western influence and interference between 1853-1941, led Japan to become a more aggressive nation.