Transcript Feudal Japan

FEUDAL JAPAN
Social Studies 8
FEUDAL VOCABULARY TO KNOW
• Shogun: A military ruler of Japan during the feudal
period
• Shogunate: A period of rule by a shogun
• Daimyo: A great feudal lord
• Domain: Land belonging to one person (fief)
• Rank: Position in society
• Vassal: One who owes loyalty to a lord
• Bakufu: The name for the government of the Shogun
THE FEUDAL
PYRAMID
COMPARED
TO
EUROPEAN
FEUDALISM
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FEUDAL ORIGINS: THE SHOGUN
After our samurai war, we see the
Minamoto clan become the ruling clan in
Japan
Feudalism has grown enormously and the
once imperial powers in Heian have no
more power
Leader Minamoto Yoritomo ruled from the
city of Kamakura, therefore Japan’s first
feudal period is called the Kamakura
period
He became the Shogun of Japan, because
the Emperor could not be replaced, the
Shogun held all of the power
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FEUDAL ORIGINS: THE BAKUFU
Yoritomo ruled as a militaristic
overlord: govt officials were soldiers
The government itself was called
the Bakufu, “Headquarters”
3 parts: military order, day-to-day
affairs, justice
Yoritomo, being the Shogun, would
appoint certain military governors to
be lords on different parts of land
and they would look after the land
These feudal lords were called
daimyos
FEUDAL ORIGINS: THE BAKUFU
• Although the emperor was still present in Japanese society, he
really did not have much power and was simply a figurehead
• It was the Shogun who had all power and over time various
daimyos would try to rise up the pyramid to become a Shogun
• Different wars broke out and different families ended up gaining
the title of Shogun
FEUDAL JAPANESE SOCIETY TEXTBOOK READING
• In your textbooks, read the section titled “Feudal
Society” from Pages 187 to 189
• While or after reading, fill in the chart in your
notes, and also answer the questions
• When we are done we will go over and share as
a class
• If you have any questions let me know
THE SAMURAI
• As we know, the samurai were very similar
to the knights on the European feudal
pyramid
• Warriors who were hired to protect certain
plots of land
• They were not the upper class elite, but
they were not the lower class either
• Samurai who had no commanding lord
were called Ronin
• Samurai followed the Code of Bushido,
“Life In Every Breath”
ZEN BUDDHISM
• Many samurai practiced the form of Buddhism called Zen
Buddhism
• Zen = meditation
• Deep thought and discipline to find the true nature of life
• Incorporated their religion into bushido: discipline,
peacefulness, harmony, respect and purity were all
important values to the samurai
RICE FARMING
• Rice was vital to life in Japan during feudalistic times and it
still is today
• It acted as Japan’s currency in the feudal age: taxes of the
daimyo and salaries of the samurai were all measured in
rice
• Farmers worked hard on the rice paddies (fields) and there
was a lot to be done to properly cultivate rice
• Over time, the Japanese worked on perfecting their rice
cultivation so it became a more reliable crop to depend on
• What well known dishes do we eat here that involve rice?
RICE FIELDS
HAIKUS
• Haikus are short Japanese poems that originated during the
Feudal times
• Haikus are usually three lines that add up to 17 syllables
• They are usually to do with nature and have a very Zen Buddhist
feel to them
CREATING OUR OWN HAIKUS
• You each will receive handout with instructions:
• You are to read the Haiku section on Page #194
• Then you are to create your own Haiku on the handout
provided. You must also include an image that properly
represents your haiku below it
• Your Haiku should be related to our study of Medieval Japan
and you should have an element of nature and Zen in your
haiku