Japan

1. Japan Feudalism, Mongol Conquest and the Tokugawa period

2. Feudal Japan

3. Rise of Feudalism • Before Yoritomo comes to power, court nobles dominated Japanese society • Under Yoritomo’s rule, samurai warriors took control of Japan’s government • Samurai = “one who serves” • Lived according to a code based on honor, respect, obedience and total loyalty to superiors • Revered fighting, symbol = long double edged sword

4. Bakufu • Military Government • Emperor acted only as religious leader of Japan • Theoretically the Shogun was the emperor’s military adviser or chief of staff, but in fact he was the effective head of state • The illusion was preserved that the emperor and the civil government in Kyoto were supreme and their ceremonial role continued to be observed.

5. Bakufu/feudal structure

6. Seppuku/harakiri • Suicide was the course of honor when faced with defeat or when caught up in conflicting loyalites • Seppuku – disembowelment • Harakiri – stomach-cut • The warrior sits cross-legged on the floor in the ritual position and slits open his stomach so that his insides spill out (slow and painful death) • A loyal vassal would even sacrifice his own family if called on to do so

7. The Mongol Invasion • Mongol invasions • Leader, Kublai Khan, wanted to subjugate Korea and Japan • Sent 450 ships and 15,000 troops to Japan, but they were destroyed by a typhoon • 7 years later, sent another 150,000 troops, but they were destroyed too

8. Aftermath of Mongol invasion • Sense of national unity developed (Japanese felt their culture was superior) • Japan reaped no spoils from war, only debts • Unpaid samurai terrorized peasants to get money • Kamakura shogunate driven from power by dissatisfied samurai

9. Nijo Castle

10. Tokugawa Period • Closed Japan’s doors • Fought and used shrewd negotiations to bring all provinces under his control • Japan entered a period of unity and growth under Ieyasu • Established his shogunate at Edo • Divided population into 4 hereditary classes • Samurai, peasants, artisans and merchants • Tokugawa’s measures isolated Japan from the rest of the world for over 200 years

11. Tokugawa Classes • Artisans • Armorers served the needs of the castle samurai • Carpenters erected and repaired buildings • Merchants • Wealthiest members of castletowns • Barred from becoming samurai • Created separate forms of recreation: wrestling, gambling and Kabuki

12. Togugawa classes • Samurai • Enforced laws rather than storming other castles • Helped daiymo collect taxes • Peasants • Forced to support the entire structure agriculturally • Heavy taxes put higher demands on them • Many moved to cities to become artisans and merchants

13. Feudal Castles • Daimyo ruled provinces from their castles • Architecture funneled attacking troops into a bottleneck trap • Beautiful gardens and pools were inside the castle • Daimyo’s family required to live in Edo to be “available” as hostages if the daimyo tried to revolt

14. 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