1. The Development of Feudalism in Japan

2. 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?

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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?

8. 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)

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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?

12. 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

13. Inside Japan Battle for Government Control: Rise of Feudalism:
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

14. 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

15. 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?

16. 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
Fighting started when powerful families couldn’t share position of Shogun’s deputy

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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?

20. 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

21. Artisans Armorers served the needs of the castle samurai
Carpenters erected and repaired building

22. Merchants Were wealthiest members of the castle towns
Barred from becoming samurai
Created separate forms of recreation: wrestling, gambling and Kabuki

23. Feudal Castles Daimyo ruled provinces from their castles
Architecture funneled attacking troops into a bottleneck trap
Beautiful gardens and pools were inside the castle

24. Osaka Castle –
Plain style
(moats)

25. 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

26. Exterior walls – built high – many 24-32 meters (approximately 60 - 85 feet)
Do you notice anything about the picture on the upper right?

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

28. 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

29. Samurai Enforced laws rather than storming other castles
Helped daiymo collect taxes

30. 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