how did the japanese importation of chinese culture differ from that of vietnam and korea?
Are these points correct?
+++ Japan had a strong religion, Shintoism, while Viet. and Korea did not
+++ Japan was the only place not physically connected to the Chinese mainland, which made its Sinification difficult.
Yes, those points are correct.
1. Japan had a strong indigenous religion called Shintoism, while Vietnam and Korea did not have a religion that was as dominant or comparable in cultural influence. This played a role in shaping how Japanese society interacted with and absorbed Chinese culture. Shintoism provided a distinct cultural framework that Japan could integrate with Confucianism, Buddhism, and other elements of Chinese culture in a unique way.
2. Japan being physically separated from the Chinese mainland by water made the process of importing and assimilating Chinese culture more challenging compared to Vietnam and Korea, which share borders with China. The geographical distance meant that Japan had less direct contact and communication with China, which influenced the way in which Chinese culture was adapted and adopted. Japan had to rely more on intermediary countries and earlier influences from Korea and Vietnam for their Chinese cultural knowledge.
It is important to note that these points provide a general understanding of the topic, but there may be additional factors and complexities to consider when studying the importation of Chinese culture in each of these countries.