LibGuides: Humanities: Japanese history

About this guide

This guide supports the study of Japanese society until it was reopened to the west in the 1850s.

It shows you how to take notes, use a variety of reliable resources to locate relevant information as well as how to create a Reference List of all the resources you've used.

If you need help with research, there is a step by step guide here.

Notetaking

One effective strategy for improving retention is note taking – not just because you’ll have a written record to refer to in the future, but also because the actual act of taking notes can help cement concepts in your mind. There is no single way of taking notes. Browse these resources to find what suits you.

Tips on how to organise the information you've read into a useful set of notes State Library of Victoria - Ergo

Once you've read this, watch the Cornell Method video. This is an excellent strategy.

Note-taking (University of Melbourne)

Creating references

Referencing or citing your sources is an important part of academic writing and research. It lets you acknowledge the ideas or words of others and helps avoid plagiarism.

Click on the Online reference generator image above to create reference citations for your bibliography.

Heian Period

The Heian period in Japan lasted from 794CE to 1185CE, and it was an interesting time in Japan. Rather than being known for a thriving economy, or particularly interesting politics, the most important things to come out of the Heian period were largely cultural. There was a flourishing of art and literature in the period, and a lot of that culture was created by women.

Edo period

Shoguns rule Japan with iron fists
Who were the shoguns and how did they rule Japan?
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In Japanese history, the time from about 1600 to 1868 is called the Edo period. In 1600, after centuries of wars, Japan came under the control of shoguns from the Tokugawa clan. They continued to rule until 1868, when they were overthrown. View this clip to discover how these shoguns maintained their power. This clip is first in a series of six.
Japan's shoguns keep everyone in their places
What was the status of each social class in shogunate Japan?
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During the period from around 1600 to 1868, Japan was a feudal society. As in medieval Europe, each group had its place in a strict social order. Watch this clip to discover the roles of each group during the age when the Tokugawa shoguns ruled the country. This clip is second in a series of six.
Tokugawa shogunate is overthrown
How did Japan's Tokugawa shogunate come to an end?
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The entry of the US fleet into Tokyo Bay in 1853 and the events that followed exposed the shogunate's policy of isolation as a potential threat to the country. Western influence, and Japan's response to it, would have an enormous impact on the country's future. This clip is fourth in a series of six.
The end of Japan's isolation
What happened when the West came beating on the doors of a closed society?
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Under the shoguns, Japan was deliberately isolated from the outside world from around 1600 CE. However, by the mid-19th century, Western imperialism was entering a new phase of expansion that no Asian state was able to resist. Discover what happened when the West came beating on the doors of a closed society.

Infobase Ancient Japan

Infobase Ancient Japan
This article on early to modern Japan includes extensive information on this period in history. Click on the tags on the right to open up more articles, videos and images relating to Ancient Japan.

In this image a ronin—a masterless samurai—fends off an arrow attack with a sword. During the 18th century, the tale of the 47 Ronin who sought revenge for their former master's death became popular in Japan. This image is an example of ukiyo-e ("pictures of the floating world"): woodblock prints that were in style in Japan during the Edo period.

The Mongols

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Humanities: Japanese history