The Rise of The Rise of Feudalism in JapanFeudalism in Japan

Yamato PeriodYamato Period

• 300-710.300-710.• Chinese cultural influence.Chinese cultural influence.• Aspects of China that were Aspects of China that were

adopted included:adopted included:– Confucianism.Confucianism.– Buddhism.Buddhism.– Art & architecture.Art & architecture.– Government structure.Government structure.– Language, especially kanji characters. Language, especially kanji characters.

• Prince Shotoku, 573-621 ADPrince Shotoku, 573-621 AD– Spread Chinese culture and Confucianism.Spread Chinese culture and Confucianism.– Allowed Buddhist sects to grow and develop.Allowed Buddhist sects to grow and develop.– Created a new governmental structure.Created a new governmental structure.

• Including a 17 Article Constitution in 604 AD. Including a 17 Article Constitution in 604 AD.

A Divine EmperorA Divine Emperor

• Prior to 400 AD clans ruled separate Prior to 400 AD clans ruled separate areas of Japan.areas of Japan.

• Yamato Clan produced the first emperorYamato Clan produced the first emperor

• Emperor considered descendant of Sun Emperor considered descendant of Sun Goddess and most important person in Goddess and most important person in ShintoShinto– Japan’s native religion.Japan’s native religion.

• Emperor respected for religious power, Emperor respected for religious power, not political power.not political power.

• Clans fought to be emperor’s advisors.Clans fought to be emperor’s advisors.

Nobles Gain PowerNobles Gain Power• Earned trust of Emperor, which gained them Earned trust of Emperor, which gained them

control. control. • Married daughters of princes.Married daughters of princes.

– Making sure grandsons were related to both families.Making sure grandsons were related to both families.• Nobles received most of government’s high-Nobles received most of government’s high-

ranking posts.ranking posts.• Nobles dominated emperor.Nobles dominated emperor.

– Emperor’s role became almost completely Emperor’s role became almost completely ceremonialceremonial

• Nobles advised Emperor to give shoen to nobles Nobles advised Emperor to give shoen to nobles and clans.and clans.– ShoenShoen is a grant of land. is a grant of land.– Similar to manor or fief in European Feudalism.Similar to manor or fief in European Feudalism.

• By the end of the Yamato period, Japan was By the end of the Yamato period, Japan was divided into 5000 shoen and the government divided into 5000 shoen and the government had almost no landhad almost no land

Heian PeriodHeian Period

• 764-1156.764-1156.• Characteristics of the period:Characteristics of the period:

– Growth of large land estates.Growth of large land estates.– Chinese art and literature spread.Chinese art and literature spread.

• Writing and artistic style. Writing and artistic style. • Personal diaries and novelsPersonal diaries and novels

– The Tale of Genji. The Tale of Genji.

– Etiquette and highly refined court life.Etiquette and highly refined court life.• Began to move away from Chinese models of Began to move away from Chinese models of

religion and government. religion and government. • Buddhism evolved into Zen Buddhism. Buddhism evolved into Zen Buddhism.

– Japanese form of Buddhism that focuses on mental Japanese form of Buddhism that focuses on mental and self discipline. and self discipline.

• Not influenced by Chinese civil service Not influenced by Chinese civil service system. system.

Refined Court Life of the Refined Court Life of the NoblesNobles

• Maintained elegant appearance.Maintained elegant appearance.– Elaborate clothing & makeup.Elaborate clothing & makeup.

• Practiced restrained behavior.Practiced restrained behavior.– Rude to laugh with one’s mouth open.Rude to laugh with one’s mouth open.

• Always maintained decorum.Always maintained decorum.– Letters had to be folded properlyLetters had to be folded properly

• Devoted leisure time to pursuing Devoted leisure time to pursuing pastimes.pastimes.– Modeled after influences from Chinese Modeled after influences from Chinese

cultureculture

Kamakura PeriodKamakura Period

• 1185-1333.1185-1333.

• Minamoto Yoritomo.Minamoto Yoritomo.– Founded the Kamakura Shogunate.Founded the Kamakura Shogunate.

• Considered the beginning of the Considered the beginning of the Medieval Japan.Medieval Japan.– Chinese influence declined.Chinese influence declined.– Increased influence of court system.Increased influence of court system.

• Development of Feudalism in Japan. Development of Feudalism in Japan.

Japanese FeudalismJapanese Feudalism

• What is Feudalism?What is Feudalism?

• Why did Japan need it?Why did Japan need it?

Reason #1: Nobles vs. NoblesReason #1: Nobles vs. Nobles

• Isolated court life for court nobles.Isolated court life for court nobles.

• Provincial nobles were rugged, Provincial nobles were rugged, independent, and led private armiesindependent, and led private armies

• Became more powerful as court Became more powerful as court nobles isolated themselvesnobles isolated themselves

• Constantly battled with one another Constantly battled with one another over control of the provincesover control of the provinces

Reason #2: Aftermath of Reason #2: Aftermath of MongolsMongols

• Mongols attempt to invade Japan. Mongols attempt to invade Japan.

• Mongols are not successful.Mongols are not successful.

• Sense of national unity develops. Sense of national unity develops. – Belief in superior culture. Belief in superior culture.

• War debt.War debt.– Unpaid samurai terrorized peasants for money. Unpaid samurai terrorized peasants for money.

• Kamakura Shogunate driven from power Kamakura Shogunate driven from power by dissatisfied samuraiby dissatisfied samurai

Reason #3: Battle over Reason #3: Battle over Governmental ControlGovernmental Control

• Taira & Minamoto clans fought for Taira & Minamoto clans fought for control.control.– Minamoto drove Taira from power.Minamoto drove Taira from power.

• Beginnings of Feudalism:Beginnings of Feudalism:– Under Minamoto rule, samurai warriors Under Minamoto rule, samurai warriors

dominate Japanese society.dominate Japanese society.– Samurai took control of government.Samurai took control of government.– Created Created BakufuBakufu..

•military governmentmilitary government

– Emperor was only a religious leader of JapanEmperor was only a religious leader of Japan

Japanese FeudalismJapanese Feudalism• What is Feudalism?What is Feudalism?• Why did Japan need it?Why did Japan need it?

• Feudalism is a political, economic, and social Feudalism is a political, economic, and social system.system.

• The system is based on loyalty, land holdings, The system is based on loyalty, land holdings, and military serve/protection.and military serve/protection.

• The code of The code of BushidoBushido..– Fidelity, politeness, virility, and simplicity.Fidelity, politeness, virility, and simplicity.

• SeppukuSeppuku..– Ritual suicideRitual suicide– Honored way for Samurai to die.Honored way for Samurai to die.– Commonly called Commonly called Hara-kiriHara-kiri..

Japanese Feudalism Japanese Feudalism

Structure of Contact in Japanese Feudalism

Structure of Contact in Japanese Feudalism

Shogun

Daimyo Daimyo

Samurai Samurai Samurai

Peasant PeasantPeasantPeasant

Land - Shoen

Land - Shoen

Protection

Loyalty

Loyalty

Food

BakufuBakufu• ShogunShogun

– military & political leader military & political leader

• DaimyoDaimyo– high-ranking samurai lord who provided high-ranking samurai lord who provided

shogun with warriors in exchange for shogun with warriors in exchange for landland

• SamuraiSamurai– lower-ranking warriors who served their lower-ranking warriors who served their

daimyo in exchange for small manorsdaimyo in exchange for small manors

• PeasantsPeasants– lowest class: worked land for their lordlowest class: worked land for their lord

European FeudalismEuropean Feudalism

• Developed after the fall the Roman Developed after the fall the Roman Empire.Empire.

• Based on the same principles as Japan.Based on the same principles as Japan.• The code of ChivalryThe code of Chivalry

– Justice, loyalty, defense, courage, faith, Justice, loyalty, defense, courage, faith, humility, and nobility.humility, and nobility.

• Manorialism was only present in European Manorialism was only present in European Feudalism, not Japanese Feudalism.Feudalism, not Japanese Feudalism.– What’s the difference between Manorialism What’s the difference between Manorialism

and Feudalism?and Feudalism?•Manorialism is the economy system of the fief.Manorialism is the economy system of the fief.•Feudalism is the economic, political, and social Feudalism is the economic, political, and social

structure of the country or region as a whole. structure of the country or region as a whole.

Structure of Contact in European Feudalism

Structure of Contact in European Feudalism

King

Lord Lord

Knight Knight Knight

Peasant PeasantPeasantPeasant

Land - Fief

Land - Fief

Protection

Loyalty

Loyalty

Food

Himeji CastleHimeji Castle

The walls inside and outside of Himeji Castle.