Japan’s Warrior Society

1. 1100s: central government breaking down Warfare between clans Landowners hired samurai (trained professional warriors) Feudal society emerged Japan’s Warrior Society

2. Japanese Feudalism • Ruling Warrior Class: • The Shogun was the leader. • The daimyo were landowners who support the Shogun. • The samurai protected the land of the daimyos. • Peasants • Artisans • Merchants

3. Shogun Minamoto family became most powerful clan 1192: Minamoto Yorimoto forced emperor to name him shogun (“general”) Supreme military leader Threatened by Mongols Ruled in emperor’s name

4. Mongolians After conquering China the Mongols tried to conquer Japan. Were stopped twice by huge storms (1274 & 1281). The Japanese called these kamikaze, “divine wind” Never returned

5. Kamakura Shogunate Mongol invasions weakened Kamakura Shogunate Lords began to resent shogun’s power over them 1338: Kamakura Shogunate overthrown Loss of centralized rule daimyo

6. Daimyo • Powerful warlords who held large estates • Built large fortified castles and battled for power • Used samurai and peasants as soldiers • 1543: Portuguese traders introduced firearms to Japan • 3 daimyo competing for powerTokugawa Ieyasu wins

7. Tokugawa Shogunate • Centered in Edo (now Tokyo) • Period of stability • Closely controlled daimyo • Held local power • Required to leave families in Edo & live there part-time

8. Tokugawa Period • Women’s rights declined • Peace put many samurai out of work (ronin=masterless samurai) • Increasing contact w/Europeans • Initially welcomed traders/missionaries • Many Japanese became Christian • Tokugawa shoguns began to kill converts and missionaries • Began to restrict foreign trade • 1650s: no Europeans other than Dutch

9. Samurai

10. Samurai • “Those who serve” • Warriors hired to protect the land. • Most paid with rice, not land. • Wore armor, skilled with weapons, rode on horseback • Always ready to fight • Well-respected in society

11. Bushido • Ethics code:“way of the warrior” • Required to be courageous, honorable, obedient, and loyal • Seppuku: suicide by ritual disembowelment • Discipline: Zen Buddhism, poetry, flower arrangement, tea ceremonies

12. Female Samurai • Also learned to fight • Usually only men went to war • Followed Bushido • Could inherit property and participate in business

13. Peasants, Artisans, Merchants Could not rise in social status, serve in the military or government, or hold government positions

14. Peasants 80% of Japan’s population Restricted to farming Relatively high status Paid most of the taxes Led hard lives

15. Artisans and Merchants • Artisans: • Lived in castle towns • Made armor, swords, etc. • Merchants: • Not honored because did not produce anything • Often grew wealthy & could improve social position

16. What are Ninjas? • A very secret group of warriors from feudal Japan. • They were unhappy with the way the peasants were treated. • Built up a reputation of being invisible and impossible to defeat. • Preferred stealth to fighting.

17. Ninja Combat • Ninjas tried to avoid open conflict as much as possible. • They were mostly trained as assassins. • But when they did run into an enemy they fought very well.