Transcript 5-2 Notes: Shoguns and Samurai

5-2 Notes: Shoguns and Samurai
Nara Japan
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In the early 700’s A.C.E.,
Japan’s emperor built a new
capital – Nara – which was
used for the next 100 years
Nara was designed to look like
Chang’an, China’s capital
Government officials were
organized into ranks
Civil Service Exam was not
used – Emperor chose people
from powerful families
Japan also carried out a
census – this was used to
catalogue lists of tax payers,
ownership of land, and soldiers
for the army
Buddhism in Japan
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Buddhism arrived from Korea
in the 500’s A.C.E.
Japanese government officials
and nobles were the first
converts, begins to spread in
the 600’s – 700’s A.C.E.
As the religion spread, nonBuddhist nobles began to
oppose the religion; Buddhists
and non-Buddhists began to
fight over control of the
government
770 A.C.E. – A Buddhist monk
tried to take control of the
government, but he was
stopped by the Emperor and
his family
In response, the Emperor
moved the capital from Nara to
stay away from the Buddhist
population in the city
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Japan’s Central Government Loses
Emperor Kammu sets up a Power
new government located in
Heian (modern-day Kyoto)
Government weakened –
many emperors were too
young, regents ruled in
their place, and this often
resulted in power struggles
Government also began to
allow nobles to control
lands that they settled
Eventually, government
even stopped forcing these
nobles to pay taxes
Nobles eventually begin to
govern these lands almost
as independent kingdoms
Samurai and Shogun
Samurai
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Nobles began to form private armies
of highly skilled warriors
They also granted land to these
warriors, who began to be called
“samurai”
“Samurai” means “to serve”
Samurai lived by a strict code of
conduct, called “Bushido,” or “the
way of the warrior”
Fought on horseback with swords,
daggers, and bows & arrow – Their
armor was made of leather and
steel, wore masks to frighten their
enemies
Important principle: Samurai would
prefer to die in battle rather than
betray their lord or be captured
Shogun
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By the early 1100’s, powerful
Japanese families began to fight each
other using samurai armies
1180-5 A.C.E. – Gempei War was
fought between the Taira and
Minamoto families (Minamoto were
victorious and began to threaten the
Yamato clan)
1192 – In order to keep the Minamoto
loyal, the Emperor gave Yoritomo
(leader of the Minamoto) the title of
“shogun,” or commander of all
emperor’s military forces
Shoguns ruled Japan for the next 700
years
Yoritomo set up a new government at
Kamakura; he was a ruthless leader
who killed relatives (who wanted his
power) and appointed samurai to
serve as advisors and governors of
provinces
Daimyo
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1274 and 1281 A.C.E. – Kublai Khan sent
voyages to defeat Japan, but both
voyages were decimated by violent
windstorms (“kamikaze” or “divine wind”)
Kamakura Shogunate began to lose power
as land was overdivided and many
Samurai became poor, refused to support
the Kamakura
1331 A.C.E. – Emperor rebelled and many
Samurai supported him, yet he refused to
give out more land
Instead, Ashikaga Takauji, a general,
turned and made himself shogun in 1333
A.C.E.
Ashikaga shoguns were weak rulers –
Japan became divided into small territories
ruled by powerful military lords, called the
daimyo
Daimyo pledged loyalty to the Emperor
and shogun, but operated their lands as
independent kingdoms – Used samurai
armies to defend their lands
Japanese Feudalism
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Many Samurai became vassals
of a daimyo, meaning they
pledged their loyalty and
promised to serve him in times of
war
In return for loyalty and military
service, the samurai were
granted land by the daimyo
This relationship is called
feudalism, a bond of loyalty,
service, and land between a
vassal and lord
As Japan’s central government
broke down, violence was
widespread
For 100 years, shoguns tried to
unite Japan but daimyo resisted
Ashikaga shogunate finally
dissolved in 1567 A.C.E.