The Development of Feudalism in Japan

Japan’s Early Historic Period: The Imperial Court (AD 400-783)

What do you see? How are the rooms furnished? How are people dressed? What are they doing? What inference can you make

about their lifestyle?

A Divine Emperor: The Spiritual Leader of Japan

Prior to AD 400 clans ruled separate areas of Japan

One clan – Yamato – produced 1st Emperor

Emperor considered descendant of Sun Goddess and most important person in Shinto (Japan’s native religion)

Emperor respected for religious power – not political power

Clans fought to be emperor’s advisors

Chinese Influences on the Japanese Court

Modeled capital city after a Chinese city

Emperors sought both religious AND political power

Aspects of Chinese government adopted, Confucian calendar, and legal ideas

Chinese character script used by Japanese courts

Admiration for Chinese poetry, art and architecture

Taika Reforms (AD 646)

Designed to make Japan’s government like that of China’s Tang dynasty

Vast land reforms placed all rice-producing land in hands of emperor

Taika Reforms (AD 646)

Designed to make Japan’s government like that of China’s Tang dynasty

Vast land reforms placed all rice-producing land in hands of emperor

Refined Court Life During the Heian Period (AD 794-1185)

What do you see here? How are the rooms furnished? How are the people dressed? What are they doing?

Nobles Gain Power over the Imperial Family

Earned trust of Emperor – gained control

Married daughters of princes (making sure grandsons were related to both families)

Received most of government’s high-ranking posts

Dominated emperor – to the point his role was almost completely ceremonial

Nobles advised Emperor to give shoen (gifts of land) to nobles and clans

By the end of the period, Japan was divided into 5000 shoen and the government had almost no land Sho = village en = farmland (similar to

manor or fife)

The Refined Life of Court Nobles

Maintained elegant appearance – elaborate clothing & makeup

Practiced restrained behavior – rude to laugh with one’s mouth open

Always maintained decorum-letters had to be folded properly

Devoted leisure time to pursuing pastimes – such as playing games, memorizing poetry – influenced by Chinese culture

Isolated Kyoto Court Life Led to…The Rise of the Provincial Nobles

Provincial nobles were rugged, independent, and led private armies

Became more powerful as court nobles isolated themselves

Constantly battled with one another over control of the provinces

The Rise of Feudalism and the Mongol Invasion (AD 1185-1333)

What do you see here? Which army is Japanese? Who seems to be winning? What advantages does the

Japanese army have?

A Threat from Outside Mongol invasions:

Kublai Khan – wanted Korea and Japan Sent 450 ships & 15,000 troops –

destroyed by typhoon 7 years later, sent 150,000 troops – also

destroyed

Aftermath of Mongol Invasions:sense of national unity developed, Japan felt their culture was better, Japan left with war debt, unpaid samurai terrorized peasants for $, Kamakura shogunate driven from power by dissatisfied samurai

Inside Japan Battle for Government Control:

Taira & Minamoto clans fought for control Minamoto drove Taira from power

Rise of Feudalism: Under Minamot rule, samurai warriors

dominate Japanese society Samurai took control of government Created Bakufu – military government Emperor ONLY a religious leader of Japan

Bakufu Shogun: military & political

leader Daimyo: high-ranking samurai

lord who provided shogun with warriors in exchange for land

Samurai: lower-ranking warriors who served their daimyo in exchange for small manors

Peasants: lowest class: worked land for their lord

Civil War and Reunification (AD 1333-1603)

What do you see here? What kinds of weapons? What might the buildings in the

upper-left corner be used for? Who are the two armies that are

fighting?

Stability under the Ashikaga Shogunate Emperor Godaigo proclaimed himself

supreme ruler of Japan Ashikaga family took advantage of

Japan’s instability to attach royal forces at Kyoto

Godaigo ran south – proclaimed himself rival emperor

Ashigag experienced height of power between 1367-1467

Fighting started when powerful families couldn’t share position of Shogun’s deputy

The Onin War: A Turning Civil war between leading families

over who should be in power Most of Kyoto was destroyed during

fighting Power of emperor & shogun greatly

reduced Political power belonged to

whatever family could win it in battle

Ended rule of Ashikaga Shogunate

Two Attempts to Unify Japan Oba Nobunaga

Used brilliant military techniques & firearms to defeat enemies

Brutal tyrant – especially toward Buddhist monks

Controlled 32 of 66 provinces at time of death

Toyotomi Hideyoshi Used negotiations to pacify rebellious

daimyo Brought all 66 provinces into feudal

government

Life in a Castletown During the Tokugawa period (AD 1603-1868)

What do you see here? What is happening in this town? Where is the castle?

Togukawa leyasu Closed Japan’s Doors

Fought and used shrewd negotiations to bring all provinces under his control

Japan entered a period of unity & growth

Established his shogunate at Edo (modern Tokyo)

Divided population into 4 classes: samurai, peasants, artisans, merchant

Isolated Japan from the rest of the world for over 200 years

Artisans

Armorers served the needs of the castle samurai

Carpenters erected and repaired building

Merchants

Were wealthiest members of the castle towns

Barred from becoming samurai Created separate forms of

recreation: wrestling, gambling and Kabuki

Feudal Castles

Daimyo ruled provinces from their castles

Architecture funneled attacking troops into a bottleneck trap

Beautiful gardens and pools were inside the castle

Osaka Castle –

Plain style

(moats)

Notice the layers of defensive walls?

There were at least three, sometimes more sets of wall between the outside and the central circle – the Honmanu

Exterior walls – built high – many 24-32 meters (approximately 60 - 85 feet)

Do you notice anything about the picture on the upper right?

Interior walls were built with angles and turns – like a maze to confuse any enemy who breached the outer wall

Castles built in three styles:

Mountain

Mountain-Plain

Plain

Can you guess how many stories this castle has?

5?

It is built to look like 5, it is actually 8

This castle is built to look like 5 – it has 6

Samurai

Enforced laws rather than storming other castles

Helped daiymo collect taxes

Castletowns Become Commercial Hubs

Castles became centers of government administration

Towns grew up around castles and were populated by artisans and merchants

Inns, stables, and stores grew along routes between Edo and castletowns