Comparing Japan and China

China and japan are separated by only some hundred miles of water, yet China has never invaded Japan successfully. Japan consisted of many small clans that were aristocratic chiefdoms, but eventually were unified under one strong, central bureaucracy. Japan had voluntarily adopted China's model of the central bureaucracy because the Chinese state was very effective during the 6th century. After Shotoku Taishi had sent Japanese intellectuals like scholars, monks, and artists on large scale missions to China, the Japanese instituted the Seventeen Article Constitution. The Seventeen Article Constitution declared that Japan would be ruled by a Chinese-style emperor and would incorporate Buddhism and Confucianism in the society. Other aspects of Chinese influences in japan included a court system, calendar, and tax system.

Chinese culture also had found its influence in Japan. When Buddhism had been carried to Japan, some Buddhist schools had a profound impact on the first educated peoples in Japan. One of the most influential pieces of Chinese culture that was instituted in Japan was the use of Chinese writing. Today Chinese and Japanese writing are very similar, yet also differentiate one another. The Japanese were adopted of Chinese culture and other influences because China posed no great threat to the Japanese mainland or interests. Even with all of the Chinese influences, Japan had established their own forms of tradition from the adopted ideas of China.

The role of the emperor and political system in Japan had differentiated itself substantially from China during the tenth century. The role of the emperor was more of a ceremonial figurehead rather than the political leader of the state. Also, wealthy and prominent aristocratic families had become the main political leaders in Japan. The state of Japan had become more decentralized and the emergence of the samurai were developed as a result. Religion also had been influenced by Buddhism, but it did not transform the Japanese populace away from their own traditional practices. Kami or sacred spirits associated with human ancestors had been incorporated into the Japanese Buddhist religion because it did not conflict with the existing Buddhist teachings. Lastly, women in Japanese society enjoyed many freedoms compared to China's history. Women in Japan were allowed to inherit property, marriages could be broken easily, and foot binding did not become influential in the society. However, it should be noted that elite Chinese women held significant freedoms and it was during this period that Japan had adopted the Chinese models of politics, culture, and teachings.