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Feudal Japanese Society

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Questions:

1. In what ways does this social pyramid reflect Chinese ideals?

2. How is this social pyramid similar/different from the social hierarchy of medieval Europe?

Feudalism in Japan

The SHOGUN and the EMPEROR

The emperor was an important political and religious figure in Japan. However, by the 1100s, the emperor’s power was so weakened that Japan collapsed into civil war. Unable to control the lords of Japan, the emperor lost his political power. A system of feudalism arose in Japan that was similar to feudalism in Western Europe. Lords and their private armies became very powerful.

By 1192, Japan’s most powerful lord or noble had the emperor appoint him as Japan’s “Supreme Military Governor” or Shogun. For the next 600 years, the Shoguns were the real rulers of Japan, while the emperors acted as mere figureheads. The Shogun stood at the top of the Japanese feudal system. He was the most powerful lord in Japan. The Shogun was a military dictator. Below the shogun on the Japanese social hierarchy was the daimyo, local ruler; and beneath them were the samurai, the warrior class. The daimyo used the samurai to protect and expand land holdings. In return for their loyal service, the samurai would be rewarded with land, status, and power. The first shogun was named Minamoto Yoritomo, who came to power after a bloody civil war.

1. Describe the sequence of events in the 1100s that led to the rise of feudalism.

2. Define Feudalism.

3. Who was the Shogun and why did he rule Japan?

DAIMYO

The highest nobles next to the shogun were the daimyos. A daimyo was a noble landowner or lord. Daimyo controlled large estates of land. Daimyo also had private armies of warriors who fought for the daimyo. The daimyo gave land to warriors or samurai, which means “one who serves” in exchange for loyalty and protection.

War played a central part in the history of Japan. Warring clans controlled much of the country. A chief headed each clan, made up of related families. The chiefs were the descendants of Japan's imperial family. The wars were usually about "land." Only 20% of the land was fit for farming. The daimyo each had an obligation to the shogun to provide him with samurai during times of war. During times of peace daimyo had to pay taxes to the shogun.

1. Who were the daimyo?

2. Describe the relationship between a daimyo and the shogun.

3. Explain how the geography of Japan caused wars between feudal lords.

SAMURAI

Samurai were warriors on horseback and fearless soldiers who carried swords, yet also wrote poetry and engaged in floral arranging. They believed that to die in battle was an honor. Samurai practiced the Code of Bushido.

Bushido, literally translated "Way of the Warrior," developed in Japan during and after the Heian period (9th-12th century). It was a code and way of life for Samurai, a class of warriors similar to the medieval knights of Europe. It was influenced by Zen and Confucianism, two different schools of thought of those periods. Bushido is not unlike the chivalry and codes of the European knights. "It puts emphasis on loyalty, self sacrifice, justice, sense of shame, refined manners, modesty, frugality, martial spirit, and honor.”

Samurai followed a specific etiquette in everyday life as well as in war. They showed a calmness of behavior and composure of the mind, neither of which should be bothered by passion of any kind. He was a true and complete warrior. If a samurai lost his honor, he had to commit seppuku or hari-kari.

Seppuku (a ritual suicide committed, as an honorable death) was part of bushido. Hara-kiri means literally "stomach-cutting" and was the practiced form of seppuku. When done outside a battle, it was performed in a formal ceremony. Samurai would commit seppuku if their lord died, as a form of punishment or not be taken captive by an enemy.

“The warrior doesn't care if he's called a beast or a dog; the main thing is winning.”

Asakura Norikage (Japanese Samurai)

1. Describe the relationship between the samurai and the daimyo.

2. List the belief systems that impacted the development of the Code of Bushido. Explain hwo those belief systems impacted Bushido.

3. How does Shintoism impact the life of the samurai?

4. Why would a samurai commit seppuku?

PEASANTS AND MERCHANTS

The peasant class was the backbone of the Tokugawa period. 80% of people in Japan during this period were peasants. Peasants worked under daimyo and samurai to produce rice to support population growth and the economy. Even though peasants were the lowest class, many daimyo, the Tokugawa shogunate, and writers believed that peasants were noble because of their connection to the earth. Peasants were protected by samurai from raiders and thieves.

The merchant class was the lowest social class in feudal Japan. Due to the emphasis on rice production and samurai values, merchants were seen as dishonorable.

Merchants accumulated vast quantities of wealth through the shipping of rice and lending of credit to samurai and daimyo. Merchants often lived lavish lifestyles and were the biggest patrons of art. Because of merchants’ lowly status, samurai and daimyo often ignored their debts to the merchants, building resentment and causing bankruptcies.

1. Describe the relationship between peasants and daimyo.

2. Why would the peasants connection to the earth make them important in Japanese society?

3. How is the merchant class in Japan similar to the merchant class in China (under Confucianism)?

4. Identify and explain one problem with the relationship between merchants and daimyo.

Zen Buddhism

Zen Buddhism arrived in Japan as early as the 7th century, but did not develop significantly there until the 12th century. Zen has since been an important force in Japan. It has had considerable influence on Japanese culture, "reaching far beyond the temple and entering into cultural and social areas of all kinds, including gardening, ink painting, calligraphy, the tea ceremony, and even military strategies. " Buddhism was very important to ruling elite in Japan; they built great temples and adopted Buddhism as a national religion – if they centralized Buddhism then the Emperor has influence over those who practice Buddhism and their beliefs.

1. How would centralizing Buddhism limit the regional power of daimyo?

2. How does the spread of Buddhism to Japan demonstrate cultural borrowing from China?

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