Japan - Feudalism

Japan Japan consist of four main islands off the coast of Asia Because Japan was an island nation it was relatively isolated with limited exchange of ideas and goods Little is known of Japan prior to 400 C.E. Japan was influenced by China and Korea

Japan Shinto “The way of the gods” Worshipped kami Nature and all the forces of nature seen and unseen Encourages obedience and proper behavior The belief that the emperor was a descendent of the sun god-thus divine

Japan Chinese Influence The Chinese had a tremendous influence on Japanese Art Architecture Literature Religion Both Confucianism and Buddhism arrived in Japan by the 700’s Japan soon became the center for Eastern Asia study of Buddhism Most Japanese adopted Buddhism while still practicing Shinto

Japan Japan borrowed the legal codes of the Tang Dynasty Japan also built their capital city modeled after the Tang Capital However, the Japanese rejected Confucianism and the civil service exams

Japan Japan placed extreme importance on education. In Japan your rank at birth was more important to your status as a person Class systems in Japan were based on heredity

Japan However by the 12th century with the large influx of noble families everyone was fighting for land in Japan Japan would develop a feudal system like Europe Feudalism = A system of obligations that bound lords and their subjects to a king or leader. In theory, the king owned all or most of the land and gave it to his leading nobles in return for their loyalty and military service. Under feudalism, people were born with a permanent position in society.

Japan Feudal System The feudal system in Japan developed at the same time as the feudal system in Europe-however neither had knowledge of the other Emperor – The emperor was a figurehead for the powerful shogun. Shogun – A powerful military leader, the shogun ruled in the emperor’s name. Daimyo and Samurai – Daimyo were powerful lords who often led armies of samurai. Samurai warriors served the shogun and daimyo. Peasants – Most Japanese were poor peasants who had no power.

Feudal Japan v. Feudal Europe Emperor –figurehead Shogun Chief General Daimyo Landowner Samurai with noble blood Samurai Warriors who held small pieces of land Peasants poor Europe King –usually NOT a figurehead Lords Large landowner Noble blood Knights Warriors who held small pieces of land Peasants poor

Feudal Japan v. Feudal Europe Similarities Peasants Worked to support the upper classes Each hierarchy was based on land for loyalty exchange Differences Women in Japan were treated with higher respect-some were nobles The land ownership contract in Europe was based on law The land ownership contract in Japan was based on group identity and loyalty I am what I am a samurai and I know my place in society Both systems were based on culture

Samurai’s Samurai means "those who serve” Bushido: samurai were soldiers who serve the daimyo in return for land Bushido: -- code of conduct for samurai -- Loyalty, Honor, Courage, Refinement, and Excellence. The Samurai is ready to die at any time. There is no such thing as failure, only death or success. Seppuku, is a form of ritual suicide used by samurai. It can be given by a lord as punishment or chosen by an individual for a number of reasons. Samurai convicted of significant crimes are usually ordered to commit seppuku. This is a privilege of their caste, or social class, allowing them to commit suicide rather than face shameful execution.