Feudalism : Japan and Europe

Feudalism

Political system of local government based on the granting of land in return for loyalty, military assistance, and other services.

Japan--Europe

Emperor

Shogun

Daimyo Daimyo

Samurai Samurai Samurai Samurai

King

Lords

Knights

Daimyo =vassal lords or warrior chieftains

FeudaFeudal l

SocietSocietyy

FeudaFeudal l

SocietSocietyy

The emperor The emperor reigned, but reigned, but

did not always did not always rule!rule!

European knightEuropean knight Samurai WarriorSome were womenSamurai WarriorSome were women

vs.vs.

Medieval WarriorsMedieval Warriors

Japanese Feudalism lasted over 600 years from the 12th to the 19th centuries.

How long did European feudalism last?

From the 6th to the 14th centuries.

Religion- Japan

• Buddhism – no longer reserved for the

scholars and monks

– Popular among ordinary people

• Zen Buddhism – emphasized personal

enlightenment through discipline and meditation

– Tea Ceremony

– Architectural influence

– Gardens used for meditation within temples

Religion- Europe

• Catholicism influences all aspects of life

• Focus on the afterlife not the harsh life in this world

• Great Cathedrals

Oda Nobunaga1534-1582

• Daimyo• Seized capital at Kyoto• “Rule the Empire by

force”• Used firearms to gain

victory• Committed seppuku

‘ritual suicide’ when one of his generals turned on him

Hideyoshi •1590 brings most of

Japan under his control

•Failed to conquer Korea and China

Tokugawa Ieyasu• 1603 - becomes sole

ruler or Shogun• Moved capital to Edo• Strong centralized

government• Tokugawa Shogunate

ruled until 1867

Tokugawa Rule• Order restored

– centralized feudalism• Farm production increased = population

increase• Majority of peasants heavily taxed

– Lives miserable– Many left for the cities

• Merchant class and wealthy prospered– Elevated status by lending money to samurai

and shoguns • Emperor figurehead• Closed off trade

– Except Dutch and Chinese at Nagasaki harbor• Shift from rural to urban society

– Increased employment opportunities for women

• Flowering of Japanese culture– Kabuki Theater

• Controlled daimyo– Lords had to live at capital

every other year

– Daimyo’s family remained in Edo permanently

– Could not repair their castles or marry without permission

• 1549 Christianity introduced by missionaries

• Shogun feared religious uprisings– bans Christianity

– 1637 uprising by peasants

– Christianity eliminated

• Closed country policy adopted-1639

• Nagasaki only port open– Dutch and Chinese

• Japanese forbidden to leave

Similarities• Use of horses and heavy armor• Controlled peasant class• Rituals and institutions• Militaristic• Chivalry/Bushido• Castles• Inhibited development of strong central government• Rigid class distinctions • Alliances of mutual protection between monarchs and nobles• Land in exchange for loyalty and military aid

DifferencesJapan

• Relied more on group or individual loyalty not contractual agreements

• Same throughout Japan

• Sword and bow and arrow

• Centralized under the Tokugawa

• Constant warfare followed by several centuries of peace

Western Europe• Emphasized feudal

loyalty with negotiated contracts, in which the parties each gained advantages

• Took different forms in different areas of Europe

• Sword and lance

• Decentralized

• Constant warfare