Feudal Japan

• Japan is an archipelago (island group)

Japan- “Land of the Rising Sun”

Geographic Advantages Geographic Disadvantages

Mild climate with lots of rainfall

Mountainous terrain means very little farm land

Surrounded with ocean on all sides which acts as a natural barrier

Very few natural resources

Typhoons, Earthquakes, and tsunamis

Yamato Period: 300-Yamato Period: 300-710710

“Great Kings” era

Began promoting the Began promoting the adoption of Chinese adoption of Chinese culture:culture:

Confucianism.Confucianism. Language (Language (kanjikanji characters).characters). Buddhist sects.Buddhist sects. Chinese art & architecture.Chinese art & architecture. Government structure.Government structure.

Prince Shotoku: Prince Shotoku: 573-621573-621 Adopted Chinese culture and Confucianism. Buddhist sects allowed to develop. Created a new government structure:

17 Article Constitution in 604.

Heian Period: 794-Heian Period: 794-11561156CharacteristicsCharacteristics::

Growth of large landed estates.Growth of large landed estates. Arts & literature of China Arts & literature of China flourished. flourished. Elaborate court life [highly refined] Elaborate court life [highly refined]

ETIQUETTE. ETIQUETTE. Great novelGreat novel

The Tale of GenjiThe Tale of Genji by by Lady Lady MurasakiMurasaki Shikibu Shikibu [1000 pgs.+] [1000 pgs.+]

Moving away from Chinese models inMoving away from Chinese models in religion, the arts, and government. religion, the arts, and government.

Heian Period:Heian Period:Cultural BorrowingCultural Borrowing

1.1.Chinese writing.Chinese writing.

2.2.Chinese artistic styles.Chinese artistic styles.

3.3.Buddhism [in the form Buddhism [in the form of of ZEN].ZEN].

4.4.BUT, not the Chinese BUT, not the Chinese civil civil service system! service system!

Heian Court DressHeian Court Dress

Tale of GenjiTale of Genji ( (first novel)first novel)

Lady Murasaki ShikibuLady Murasaki Shikibu

She contributed much to the Japanese script known as kana, while men wrote with Chinese characters, kanji.

Minamoto YoritomoMinamoto Yoritomo

Founded the Kamakura Shogunate: 1185-1333

FeudaFeudal l

SocietSocietyy

The emperor The emperor reigned, but reigned, but

did not always did not always rule!rule!

FeudalismFeudalismA political, economic, and social system based on loyalty, the holding of land, and military service. Japan:Japan: Shogun

Daimyo Daimyo

Samurai Samurai Samurai

Peasant PeasantPeasantPeasant

Land - Shoen

Land - Shoen

Protection

Loyalty

Loyalty

Food

Code of Code of BushidoBushido* Fidelity* Politeness* Virility* Simplicity

Seppuku: Seppuku: Ritual SuicideRitual Suicide

Kaishaku – his “seconds”

Samurai must commit suicide if he was

disgraced or defeated in battle. It is honorable to

die in this way.

Full Samurai AttireFull Samurai Attire

Samurai SwordSamurai Sword

Early Mounted Early Mounted Samurai WarriorsSamurai Warriors

Samurai ChargingSamurai Charging

FeudalismFeudalismA political, economic, and social system based on loyalty, the holding of land, and military service. Europe: King

Lord Lord

Knight Knight Knight

Peasant PeasantPeasantPeasant

Land - Fief

Land - Fief

Protection

Loyalty

Loyalty

Food

Code of Code of ChivalryChivalry* Justice * Loyalty* Defense* Courage* Faith* Humility* Nobility

European knight Samurai Warrior

vs.

Medieval WarriorsMedieval Warriors

Knight’s Armor Samurai Armor

vs.

Medieval WarriorsMedieval Warriors

Zen Buddhism A Japanese variation of the Mahayana form of Buddhism, which came from India through China. It reinforced the Bushido values of mental and self-discipline.

Mongol“Invasio

ns”of Japan

4,400 ships and 140,000 men, but kamikaze winds stopped them (Typhoon).

Osaka Castle

Main Gate of Hiroshima Castle

Caernorfon Castle, Wales

Warwick Castle, England