Watch Understanding Japan: A Cultural History

Name: Understanding Japan: A Cultural History
Genre: Documentary & Biography
Released: 2015-07-24
Cast: Mark J. Ravina

2015
1 Season

Understanding Japan: A Cultural History is a fascinating exploration of Japanese history and culture, presented by Mark J. Ravina, a professor of Japanese history and culture at Emory University. The show is part of The Great Courses Signature Collection, which offers in-depth courses on a variety of topics for lifelong learners.

Over the course of 24 half-hour episodes, Ravina takes viewers on a journey through Japan's rich cultural heritage, from ancient times to the present day. He covers a wide range of topics, including religion, art, literature, politics, and society, providing a detailed and engaging look at the forces that have shaped Japanese culture over the centuries.

The series opens with an overview of Japan's early history, including its legendary origins and its early political and social developments. From there, Ravina delves deeper into specific topics, including the development of Zen Buddhism, the rise of the samurai warrior class, the art of haiku poetry, and the impact of Western influence on Japanese culture.

One of the standout aspects of the show is Ravina's deep knowledge and passion for Japanese culture. He draws on a wide range of sources, from historical texts to modern literature and film, to create a nuanced and multifaceted portrait of this complex and fascinating society. He also weaves in personal anecdotes and insights from his own experiences living and studying in Japan, adding a personal touch to his lectures.

The show also benefits from its high production values, with stunning visuals and high-quality sound that bring Japan's landscapes, art, and architecture to life. Viewers will be treated to breathtaking footage of temples and shrines, stunning paintings and sculptures, and bustling city streets, all of which highlight Japan's rich and diverse cultural heritage.

Throughout the series, Ravina emphasizes the ways in which Japanese culture has been shaped by both internal and external forces, from political upheavals and economic crises to cultural exchanges and conflicts with other nations. He also explores the ways in which Japan has influenced and been influenced by other cultures, particularly those of China and the West.

Ultimately, Understanding Japan: A Cultural History is a must-watch for anyone interested in Japanese culture, history, or society. Ravina's engaging lectures, combined with the show's stunning visuals and high production values, make for a compelling and informative viewing experience that is sure to deepen viewers' understanding and appreciation of this fascinating culture.

Understanding Japan: A Cultural History is a series that ran for 1 seasons (24 episodes) between July 24, 2015 and on The Great Courses Signature Collection

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Seasons

24. The Making of Contemporary Japan

July 24, 2015

What makes 1989 the turning point for contemporary Japan? Explore four pivotal moments from that year whose repercussions are still being felt in the Japan of the 21st century: the death of Hirohito, China's Tiananmen Square Massacre, the bursting of the Japanese real estate bubble, and a dramatic stock market crash.

23. Kurosawa and Ozu: Two Giants of Film

July 24, 2015

Meet Japan's greatest filmmakers: Ozu Yasujiro and Kurosawa Akira. How do their best films reflect lasting connections to world cinema? Revisit Ozu's 1953 masterpiece Tokyo Story (inspired by an American domestic drama) and Kurosawa's rousing 1961 adventure Yojimbo (which fused samurai culture with the American Western).

22. Japan's Economic Miracle

July 24, 2015

From 1955 to 1975, the Japanese economy grew more than 435%: an astonishing rate that economists refer to as "the Japanese Miracle." Take a closer look at the six factors that led to this unprecedented growth, including the country's cheap and motivated workforce, as well as the critical influence of the United States.

21. Japanese Foodways

July 24, 2015

There's so much more to Japanese cuisine than just sushi. Move beyond the basics and plunge into the enormous diversity and complexity of Japan's culture of food. How do foods like soba noodles, tempura, and yakitori (and the rituals of eating them) reflect the waves of globalization and isolation you've explored in previous episodes?

20. Japanese Family Life

July 24, 2015

You can't truly grasp a country's culture without understanding its ideas about the family. Explore the three main models of Japanese family life: the aristocratic model (uji), the samurai model (ie), and the postwar model. Along the way, learn about shifting attitudes toward domestic life, including women's rights and family planning.

19. War without a Master Plan: Japan, 1931 - 1945

July 24, 2015

A political culture dominated by fanatics. The quagmire of the Sino-Japanese War. The takeover of Manchuria and the puppet government of Manchukuo. Japan's surprising failure in attacking Pearl Harbor. Learn about all these and more in this episode on the disorganized chaos (and legacy) of World War II-era Japan.

18. Three Visions of Prewar Japan

July 24, 2015

Take a fresh approach to the story of early 20th-century Japan. Rather than a review of major events, focus instead on the ideologies of three individuals whose competing views shaped Japan's actions on the eve of World War II: Nitobe Inazo and Shidehara Kijuro, both proponents of democracy and international cooperation; and Ishiwara Kanji, a die-hard militarist.

17. The Meiji Restoration

July 24, 2015

Investigate the Meiji Restoration: the start of the third major period of Japanese globalization, defined by a vibrant synthesis of tradition and modernity. From the abolition of the samurai class to the creation of a new educational system to the restructuring of land ownership, how did Japan achieve revolutionary change through a smooth political transition?

16. Hokusai and the Art of Wood-Block Prints

July 24, 2015

Katsushika Hokusai, the renowned Japanese artist, is the perfect entryway into the history of both Japanese wood-block prints and late Tokugawa society. Among the topics covered are ukiyo-e ("floating world") pictures; Hokusai's iconic masterpiece, The Great Wave off Kanagawa; his encyclopedic collection of manga ("sketches"); and more.

15. Japanese Poetry: The Road to Haiku

July 24, 2015

Journey through some of the best-known styles and voices of Japanese poetry. You'll start with the oldest surviving Japanese poems and follow the development of tanka, the classical five-line form, and renga, a single poem written by multiple poets. We conclude with the master poet Basho and the emergence of haiku, now Japan's most famous and popular form of poetry.

14. The Meaning of Bushido in a Time of Peace

July 24, 2015

Professor Ravina adds more depth to your understanding of Japan's warrior ethos, bushido ("the way of the warrior"). As you look at historical snapshots, such as a samurai's petulant memoir and the vendetta of the 47 ronin, you'll discover the deep nostalgia that lies at the heart of this misunderstood aspect of Japanese culture. Bushido is full of a longing for a lost age.

13. The Importance of Japanese Gardens

July 24, 2015

Japanese gardens are popular tourist destinations, cultural treasures, and even UNESCO heritage sites. Here, consider the splendor and harmony of some of Japan's most important gardens (including tea gardens, rock gardens, and strolling gardens) as part of a history of aesthetics and also as expressions of religious and cultural ideals.

12. Japanese Theater: Noh and Kabuki

July 24, 2015

Explore two major forms of Japanese theater: Noh (the high classical form) and Kabuki (the more popular form). In looking at two important theatrical works (Atsumori, rich in lofty ideals and elegant aesthetics, and The Scarlet Princess of Edo, full of crude decadence and mayhem), you'll uncover what these traditions share, and what they make their own.

11. Japan's Isolation in the Tokugawa Period

July 24, 2015

Lasting for over 250 years, the Tokugawa shogunate curtailed both globalization and Christianity. How did this feudal government come to power? How did its policies isolate Japan? Along the way, you'll get an insightful look at what we really mean by "isolation," and how Japan was shaped by foreign cultures even when most Japanese were banned from traveling overseas.

10. Japan at Home and Abroad, 1300 - 1600

July 24, 2015

Japan's second great wave of globalization, the subject of this episode, stretched from the 1300s to the early 1600s. It's a fascinating period that includes competition with China's Ming dynasty; the new influence of the West (which brought with it guns and Christianity); and the rule of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Japan's most powerful warlord.

9. Samurai Culture in the Ashikaga Period

July 24, 2015

Samurai culture was not fixed but constantly adapting to larger social and cultural changes. Central to these changes was the Ashikaga dynasty. As you'll learn, political turmoil under the Ashikaga led to the samurai defining themselves with a culture of extreme loyalty and a new sense of valor, independent of imperial court culture.

8. Pure Land Buddhism and Zen Buddhism

July 24, 2015

How did the decline of the court and the rise of the warrior class shape the evolution of Buddhist aesthetic, spiritual, and philosophical concepts? Find out in this illuminating episode, which covers the massive growth of Pure Land Buddhism (the dominant form in Japan today) and the two main schools of Zen Buddhism.

7. The Rise of the Samurai

July 24, 2015

Turn away from the court in Kyoto to the countryside, where political infighting led to the rise of Japan's first shogunate ("warrior dynasty") and the emergence of the samurai. You'll also explore the rise of warrior culture through the lines of The Tale of the Heike, an epic ballad spread by wandering minstrels.

6. Heian Court Culture

July 24, 2015

Journey through Japan's first period of isolation (from the 800s to the 1300s) and the rise of the Heian court, ancient Japan's cultured and exclusive aristocracy. Along the way, you'll meet the powerful Fujiwara family and unpack how the novel The Tale of Genji reveals the court's penchant for scandal and intrigue.

5. Early Japanese Buddhism

July 24, 2015

Professor Ravina explains why Buddhism was so appealing in ancient Japan. He reveals three key observations about the religion's earliest form (including its spread with direct support from Japanese rulers) and discusses the two main strands of Japanese Buddhism: the more esoteric tradition of Shingon and the more accessible Pure Land.

4. Aspects of the Japanese Language

July 24, 2015

Make sense of one of the world's most complex writing systems, and discover how spoken Japanese reflects a long-standing concern with order, hierarchy, and consensus. Why is social context so important when speaking Japanese? And what are the linguistic consequences of adopting Chinese characters in Japanese writing?

3. The Emergence of the Ritsuryo State

July 24, 2015

In the late 500s, Japan began an unprecedented project of state building that evolved into the highly centralized, emperor-led Ritsuryo state. As you examine the state's laws and accomplishments, you'll uncover how this political centralization was actually inspired by, and responded to, the emergence of powerful states in China and Korea.

2. Understanding Japan through Ancient Myths

July 24, 2015

Get an engaging introduction to ancient Japanese myths, collectively known as Shinto ("Way of the Gods"). Focusing on the oldest written compilation of Japanese oral tradition, the Kojiki, you'll examine fascinating stories about gods and heroes, the origins of the universe, the Rock Cave of Heaven, rival clans, and more.

1. Japan: A Globally Engaged Island Nation

July 24, 2015

How has Japanese culture been shaped by powerful cycles of globalization and isolation? When was the earliest human habitation of Japan, and what are the origins of its rich culture? These and other probing questions are the perfect starting points for dispelling common Western misconceptions about this great island nation. #History

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Where to Watch Understanding Japan: A Cultural History

Understanding Japan: A Cultural History is available for streaming on the The Great Courses Signature Collection website, both individual episodes and full seasons. You can also watch Understanding Japan: A Cultural History on demand at Apple TV Channels and Amazon Prime and Amazon.