1. Japan - Feudalism

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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.