Feudal Powers in Japan

I will be able to describe the Japanese Feudal System. Learning Goal I will be able to describe the Japanese Feudal System.

Japan Civilization Shaped by borrowing cultural ideas from China. Rise of Feudalism – Warrior society Military Leaders

Location Location Location Japan benefited from its location. Close enough to China to be influenced by its culture. But far enough away to be able to still be independent. Japan is a series of several thousand Islands of varying sizes. Majority of the population is on the 4 largest islands. Hahkkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, Kyushu

Japan’s Geography The Islands have few natural resources Have little coal, oil and iron. Japan also has many mountains. Very little land can be used for farming.

Cultural adaptations from China During the late 400s Japan began to be heavily influenced by the Chinese culture. Buddhism reached the Islands from China Japanese Emperors sent people to learn in China. Adopted the Chinese system of writing Painting Modeled its government after China’s. By the 800s the Japanese stopped sending people to China to learn culture.

Nobles assert their power For the early part of Japan’s history the power was held by Emperors. From 794-1185 Japan’s noble family ruled the country. This era was the peak of Japanese culture Overtime, however, the power of the emperor declined and the nobles with large land holdings began to assert their power.

These powerful land owners (Lords) began to play on this power. Lords hired private armies, and these soldiers began to terrorize farmers. As a response farmers were forced to give up some of their land to the lords.

Samurai Lords also used a group of trained soldiers called Samurai to protect them from attacks by other lords. These Samurai followed a strict code of honor called Bushido. Bushido values bravery and loyalty to their lord above all else. Dying in an honorable death was judged more important than living a long life. Samurai swords were made by skilled artisans. The curvature of the blade makes the weapon more effective when slashing.

Feudal society After a period of some conflict and war, one of these lords proved to be the most powerful in Japanese Society. The Emperor named him the shogun, or superior general of the emperor’s army. Although the emperor remained the real power was held by the shogun that ran the country. This feudal society remained in Japan from around 1200 to 1800.

Japanese Feudal Pyramid Emperor Shogun Daimyo Samurai Peasants/ Merchants/ Artisans

Rights and Obligations Emperor Emperor is seen as a divine ruler Emperor is ruler in name only Shogun True power in feudal Japan Supreme general of military Hands out land grants to Daimyos in exchange for loyalty

Daimyo Noble class of feudal Japan Wealthy land owners Gave land grants to Samurais in exchange for loyalty and protection of land and interests Only answered to the Shogun Controlled a broad area of land Had an army of Samurai

Samurai Warrior class of feudal Japan Owed loyalty and protection to Daimyos in exchange for land grants Had enormous power Only answered to Daimyo Gave protection to skilled craftsmen who made their swords

Peasants Peasants seen as superior to merchants/artisans because they produced the food everyone depended on Peasants worked fields of Daimyo in exchange for housing, land to farm, and protection. Owed taxes and crops to Daimyo Required to bow and respect Samurai when present under penalty of death.

Artisans Skilled craftsmen made Samurai swords in exchange for protection Merchants Bottom level of feudal Japan Seen as parasites who profited from labor of the more productive peasant and artisan class.

Ticket out the Door Who was the true power in the Japanese Feudal system? Who was the noble class of the Japanese Feudal system? Why were peasants seen as superior to Artisans/Merchants? Why were Merchants on the bottom level of the Japanese Feudal system?