Social Studies 8FEUDAL JAPAN

FEUDAL VOCABULARY TO KNOW

• Shogun: A military ruler of Japan during the feudal period

• Shogunate: A period of rule by a shogun

• Daimyo: A great feudal lord

• Domain: Land belonging to one person (fief)

• Rank: Position in society

• Vassal: One who owes loyalty to a lord

• Bakufu: The name for the government of the Shogun

THE FEUDAL PYRAMID

COMPARED TO EUROPEAN FEUDALISM

FEUDAL ORIGINS: THE SHOGUN• After our samurai war, we see the

Minamoto clan become the ruling clan in Japan

• Feudalism has grown enormously and the once imperial powers in Heian have no more power

• Leader Minamoto Yoritomo ruled from the city of Kamakura, therefore Japan’s first feudal period is called the Kamakura period

• He became the Shogun of Japan, because the Emperor could not be replaced, the Shogun held all of the power

FEUDAL ORIGINS: THE BAKUFU

• Yoritomo ruled as a militaristic overlord: govt officials were soldiers

• The government itself was called the Bakufu, “Headquarters”

• 3 parts: military order, day-to-day affairs, justice

• Yoritomo, being the Shogun, would appoint certain military governors to be lords on different parts of land and they would look after the land

• These feudal lords were called daimyos

FEUDAL ORIGINS: THE BAKUFU• Although the emperor was still present in Japanese society, he

really did not have much power and was simply a figurehead

• It was the Shogun who had all power and over time various daimyos would try to rise up the pyramid to become a Shogun

• Different wars broke out and different families ended up gaining the title of Shogun

FEUDAL JAPANESE SOCIETY TEXTBOOK READING

• In your textbooks, read the section titled “Feudal Society” from Pages 187 to 189

• While or after reading, fill in the chart in your notes, and also answer the questions

• When we are done we will go over and share as a class

• If you have any questions let me know

THE SAMURAI• As we know, the samurai were very similar

to the knights on the European feudal pyramid

• Warriors who were hired to protect certain plots of land

• They were not the upper class elite, but they were not the lower class either

• Samurai who had no commanding lord were called Ronin

• Samurai followed the Code of Bushido, “Life In Every Breath”

ZEN BUDDHISM

• Many samurai practiced the form of Buddhism called Zen Buddhism

• Zen = meditation

• Deep thought and discipline to find the true nature of life

• Incorporated their religion into bushido: discipline, peacefulness, harmony, respect and purity were all important values to the samurai

RICE FARMING

• Rice was vital to life in Japan during feudalistic times and it still is today

• It acted as Japan’s currency in the feudal age: taxes of the daimyo and salaries of the samurai were all measured in rice

• Farmers worked hard on the rice paddies (fields) and there was a lot to be done to properly cultivate rice

• Over time, the Japanese worked on perfecting their rice cultivation so it became a more reliable crop to depend on

• What well known dishes do we eat here that involve rice?

RICE FIELDS

HAIKUS

• Haikus are short Japanese poems that originated during the Feudal times

• Haikus are usually three lines that add up to 17 syllables

• They are usually to do with nature and have a very Zen Buddhist feel to them

CREATING OUR OWN HAIKUS

• You each will receive handout with instructions:

• You are to read the Haiku section on Page #194

• Then you are to create your own Haiku on the handout provided. You must also include an image that properly represents your haiku below it

• Your Haiku should be related to our study of Medieval Japan and you should have an element of nature and Zen in your haiku