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Feudal Japan

Feudal Japan.

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Feudal Japan

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  1. Feudal Japan

  2. Japan's isolation as an island nation has been instrumental in its development as a culture. By 500 BC it was still an undeveloped agrarian culture without cities. Outside influences which led to cultural advancement included (1) contacts with and importing of Chinese culture, especially in the areas of weaving, metals, art and government Background of Japan • Japan's isolation as an island nation • Instrumental in its development as a culture • By 500 BCE it was still an undeveloped agrarian(farm based) culture without cities • Outside influences which led to cultural advancement included...

  3. Background • Japan comes from “ri-ben” – land of the rising sun • Borrowed ideas, institutions, & culture from China • 4,000 islands make up the archipelago • 4 large islands • 1 B.C. = hundred of clans • Worshiped local gods • Shinto “way of the gods” • Respect nature (kami) & worship ancestors

  4. Draw a Castle… Compare it to the ones in Feudal Japan

  5. Warwick Castle, England

  6. Feudal Japan

  7. Japanese Traditional Castle

  8. Japanese Culture • Buddhism: • Brought by Korean travelers • Mixed with Shinto • Some Buddhist rituals became Shinto rituals • Chinese culture: • 607, Prince Shotoku sent 1/3 missions to China • Adopted Chinese system of writing • Painting styles • Simple arts: cooking, gardening, tea, hairdressing • Strong central government • Civil Service System failed

  9. Prince Shotoku: 573-621 • Adopted Chinese culture and Confucianism • Buddhist sects allowed to develop • Created a new government structure: • 17 Article Constitution in 604 

  10. Heian Period: 794-1156 Characteristics: • Growth of large landed estates • Arts & literature of China flourished • Elaborate court life • Etiquette • Personal diaries • The Pillow Book by SeiShonagon • Great novel • The Tale of Genjiby Lady MurasakiShikibu • Moving away from Chinese models in religion, the arts, and government

  11. Heian Court Dress

  12. The Pillow Bookby Sei Shonagon (diary)

  13. The Pillow Bookby Sei Shonagon (diary)

  14. Tale of Genji (first novel) • Account of the life of a prince in the imperial court – considered the world’s first novel

  15. Feudalism Erodes Imperial Authority • Rich Fujiwara family in power • Strong central gov’t challenged by great landowners & clan chiefs • Private armies; countryside became lawless • Farmers & small landowners traded land for protection – warlords

  16. Samurai Warriors!!! • Wars between rival lords  bodyguard warriors of each lord • Samurai = one who serves • Code of behavior: Bushido • The way of the warrior • Reckless courage • Reverence for the gods • Fairness • Generosity towards the weaker • Honorable death > long life

  17. Samurai Warrior Attire

  18. Samurai Sword

  19. Early Mounted Samurai Warriors

  20. Samurai Charging

  21. Seppuku ("stomach-cutting") is a form of Japanese ritual suicide by disembowelment. • Seppuku was originally reserved only for samurai • Part of the samurai honor code • Used: • Voluntarily to die with honor rather than fall into the hands of their enemies • Form of capital punishment after serious offenses • For reasons that shamed them • Seppuku is performed by plunging a sword into the abdomen and moving the sword left to right in a slicing motion

  22. Minamoto Yoritomo • 2 most powerful clans fight for power • 30 years of war • Minamoto family wins • Leader: Yoritomo • Deemed “Shogun” • Supreme general of the emperor’s army • Powers of a military dictator Founded the Kamakura Shogunate: 1185-1333

  23. Kamakura Shogunate • Emperor still ruled in Kyoto • Real power = Shogun’s military headquarters at Kamakura • Shoguns ruled through puppet emperors until 1868! • Kamakura Shoguns defeated 2 invasions by the great Mongol ruler Kublai Khan • Drained shogun’s funds • Samurais did not get paid • Aligned more closely with lords • Shoguns lost power

  24. Japanese Feudal System

  25. Feudal Hierarchy • Emperor – Japanese political ruler • Shogun – Had the powers of a military dictator; Ruled Japan through puppet emperors • Samurai – loyal warriors of local lords • Merchant - Facilitated trade, earliest beginnings of the Japanese economic system • Peasant – Worked the land which belonged to the local lords

  26. Seppuku: Ritual Suicide It is honorable to die in this way. Kaishaku – his “seconds”

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