Brief History of Japan: Samurai, Shogun and Zen: The Extraordinary Story of the Land of the Rising Sun (Brief History of Asia Series)

This history traces Japan from ancient priest-queens to modern salarymen, covering a nation that attempted to conquer China and later isolated itself for two centuries. First introduced to Westerners through Marco Polo's accounts, Japan was perceived as a legendary distant land protected by the Kamikaze storm and ruled by a divine sovereign. It served as the terminus of the Silk Road and inspired European artists as a symbol of the mysterious East. In recent centuries, Japan has become a global industrial power, center of popular culture, and example of post-industrial change. Jonathan Clements blends documentary and storytelling to connect Japan's past, present, and future, revealing a nation of contrasts: a modern democracy with ancient traditions and an emperor as head of state; a famously safe society built on 108 volcanoes in the world's most active earthquake zone; and a technologically advanced urban nation whose landscape consists predominantly of mountains and forests. Chapters include: The Way of the Gods: Prehistoric and Mythical Japan; A Game of Thrones: Minamoto vs. Taira; Time Warp: 200 Years of Isolation; The Stench of Butter: Restoration and Modernization; and The New Breed: The Japanese Miracle.