Feudal Japan(c.1185-1603 CE)

Section I: Introduction and Background Information

Geography of Japan● Archipelago

○ 6,852 islands● Over 1200 miles long● Mountains● Volcanoes, earthquakes, tsunamis

A Brief History● Early Japanese were illiterate

○ Little recorded history○ Eventually copied Chinese style of writing

● People of Japan started out as warring clans○ Clan-a group of families

● Eventually, Japan became an empire○ Emperor’s power decline as a result of feudalism

Emergence of Feudal Japan● Landowners est. private armies

○ Countryside became dangerous○ Armies on horseback preyed on farmers and travelers

● Led to feudalism

Section II: Government and Social Structure in Feudal Japan

Feudalism● A social system, which focuses on land ownership,

military service, and labor○ Social classes depend on one another

Changes in Japanese Government● Japan had an emperor● However, power began to shift

Power Shifts● Lords, (landowners) est. large armies

○ They were called daimyo● Farmers and small landowners traded land for protection

○ Made deals with strong daimyo● Daimyo gained power, but fought each other

The Role of Daimyo● Eventually took on the role of military governors

○ Remember: land=money and power

Daimyo

Changes in Japanese Government

Shogun● Chief military general● Actually held all of the power

○ Emperor was just a figurehead

Shogun’s Role● “Supreme general of the emperor’s army”

○ Had the power of a military dictator● Shoguns were powerful enough to turn back two of

Kublai Khan’s naval invasions

Samurai● Warlords surrounded themselves with Samurai

(bodyguards)

Bushido: Code of the Samurai● Courage● Fairness● Deep respect for the gods● Generosity● Honorable death

Seppuku● Suicide

○ Looked at as a way for samurai to regain his honor

Japanese Social Hierarchy

Section III: A Brief History of Feudal Japan

Tokugawa Shogunate (c.1600-1868)● Moved the capital from Kyoto to Tokyo

○ Easier to defend● Limited daimyos’ power

○ Required to have two estates (one in capital)○ Drained all their money○ Had to travel between the two every other year,

leaving family in the capital● Made position of shogun hereditary

Effects of the Tokugawa Shogunate● Brought peace to Japan● Increased industry and trade

○ Tokyo became one of largest cities in the world

Peasant Life● ⅘ of the population● Although above merchants and artisans, lived worst lives

○ Heavy tax burden● Many abandoned farm life and moved to cities

Culture● Peace and prosperity caused culture to flourish● Drama, art, & literature

Japanese Style Culture● Noh drama

○ Attended by Samurai○ Tragic themes

● Haiku poetry● Kabuki theatre

○ Skits focusing on modern life○ Elaborate costumes and masks

The Age of Exploration (c. 1400-800 CE)● 1542-Portuguese arrive in Japan

○ Introduce guns, clocks, eyeglasses, tobacco, and Christianity

○ By 1600, 300,000 Japanese converted

The Age of Discovery/The Age of Exploration● Became suspicious of outsiders

○ Persecuted Christians○ Only allowed few ships into the port of Nagasaki

■ Dutch and Chinese○ Isolationism

Section IV: Religion

Shintoism● “Way of the gods”● Focus on nature and ancestors

○ Similar to animism

Amaterasu The Sun Goddess● Most important deity● Ruler of the Kami

Kami● Divine spirits who dwelled in nature

(living and nonliving things)

Shinto Values● Informal (similar to Hinduism)● Ancestor worship (similar to Confucianism)● Respect nature (similar to Daoism)● Cleanliness● Purity

Chinese and Korean Influence● Buddhism spread from mainland Asia (Korea)

○ Mixed with Shintoism○ Supported by nobles

● Confucianism also traveled from China○ Blended with Shintoism and Buddhism

● Buddhism and Confucianism shaped Japanese government