How did japan avoid being dominated by chinese armies and influence?

Agreed to a tribute system - - Japan agreed to pay a tribute to China to remain sovereign.

During the Chinese peak of power, many countries paid a tribute or tax to China to maintain their sovereignty. In paying the tribute, Japan was agreeing to Chinese supremacy. Japan also had a healthy trade with China and military alliances to protect one another.

Japan avoid being dominated by chinese armies and influence refusing to integrating Chinese imports into their daily life, ideas, religion, language, products, tensions between desire to borrow from China and determination to preserve distinct languages, social customs and culture were seen everyday. What remained central to Japanese cultural develoment was keeping Indigenous cultural influences, (particularly shinto).