1. Japanese Feudalism How does it compare to European Feudalism?

2. Feudal Japan Japan's feudal period lasted from the 12th century until the 19th century. Japanese feudalism was based on the ideas of the Chinese philosopher Confucius (551-479 BCE). Confucius stressed morality and respect for elders and other superiors. In Japan, this functioned as the moral duty of daimyo and samurai to protect the peasants and villagers in their region, and the duty of the peasants and villagers to honor the warriors and pay taxes to them in return. Japanese feudalism appears much later in Japan that Europe, although the ideas began much earlier. What does this mean? Japanese feudalism lasts until 1868.

3. A New Feudalism Under Strong Leaders Japan developed a feudal system which had similarities to the European system. Society was divided into two classes in Feudal Japan, the nobility and the peasants. The noble class made up roughly twelve percent of the population with peasants making up the rest. Emperor at the very top, holds very little power. The shogun (like the king) ruled the country through the daimyo (like the nobles), who were the heads of the samurai (like the knights). Peasants farmed the land in exchange for protection by the samurai, who operated under a code of conduct known as bushido (like chivalry). Society was organized under a rigid class system with no social mobility. What does this mean?

5. What did the emperor do? Iconic figure. emperor of Japan was a mere figurehead, while the shogun wielded actual power over the country,

6. What were the Shogun’s responsibilities? Much like in Europe, the shogun distributed lands to his loyal vassals, who were called daimyo (nobles). Military commander emperor of Japan was a mere figurehead, while the shogun wielded actual power over the country. The word "shogun" comes from the Japanese words sho, meaning "commander," and gun, or "troops."

7. Daimyo Nobles Led by military rule (the shogun) large land-owners, and vassals of the Shogun. Samurai warriors served to protect the lives and property of the daimyo.Samurai The equivalent in English would be "lord." The would have vassals that “worked” for them, the samurai Within their province the Daimyo had complete military and economic power. Daimyo had vast hereditary land holdings and armies to protect the land and its workers. The most powerful warlords sometimes achieved the status of Shogun.

8. The Samurai Japanese warriors lived according to a code of conduct known as bushido, which was even stricter than that in Europe. A disgraced samurai was expected to perform seppuku (commit suicide) in order to maintain his family's honor. Japanese samurai did not own any land. Instead, the daimyo used a portion of their income from taxing the peasants to pay the samurai a salary, usually paid in rice. Samurai women, for example, were expected to be strong like the men, and to face death without flinching. samurai were supposed to be cultured and artistic, able to compose poetry or write in beautiful calligraphy had no religious reason to avoid death, and would commit suicide in the face of defeat in order to maintain their honor. This ritual suicide is known as seppuku.

9. had additional privileges and held a higher social status than common people. These privileges included being able to have a surname, a family crest, and carry two swords. People with Samurai family names are still treated with great respect in Japan today. Women were allowed to serve as samurai but always served under a male leader.

10. Japanese Peasant Life Peasants were divided into several sub-classes. The highest ranking of the peasants were farmers. Farmers who owned their own land ranked higher than farmers who did not. Craftsmen, or artisans, were the second highest ranking after the farmers. They worked with wood and metal and some became well-known as expert Samura sword makers. Merchants were the lowest ranking because it was felt they made their living off of other people's work. However, in later times when Japan began to use money more as currency merchants became more wealthy.

11. The Tokugawa Shoguns maintained an ethnocentric policy toward the outside world. However, cultural influences from China did migrate to Japan down the Korean Peninsula.