Transcript Shoen
The Rise of Feudalism in Japan Yamato Period • 300-710. • Chinese cultural influence. • Aspects of China that were adopted included: – – – – – Confucianism. Buddhism. Art & architecture. Government structure. Language, especially kanji characters. • Prince Shotoku, 573-621 AD – Spread Chinese culture and Confucianism. – Allowed Buddhist sects to grow and develop. – Created a new governmental structure. • Including a 17 Article Constitution in 604 AD. A Divine Emperor • Prior to 400 AD clans ruled separate areas of Japan. • Yamato Clan produced the first emperor • Emperor considered descendant of Sun Goddess and most important person in Shinto – Japan’s native religion. • Emperor respected for religious power, not political power. • Clans fought to be emperor’s advisors. Nobles Gain Power • Earned trust of Emperor, which gained them • control. Married daughters of princes. – Making sure grandsons were related to both families. • Nobles received most of government’s high-ranking • posts. Nobles dominated emperor. – Emperor’s role became almost completely ceremonial • Nobles advised Emperor to give shoen to nobles and clans. – Shoen is a grant of land. – Similar to manor or fief in European Feudalism. • By the end of the Yamato period, Japan was divided into 5000 shoen and the government had almost no land Heian Period • 764-1156. • Characteristics of the period: – Growth of large land estates. – Chinese art and literature spread. • Writing and artistic style. • Personal diaries and novels – The Tale of Genji. – Etiquette and highly refined court life. • Began to move away from Chinese models of • religion and government. Buddhism evolved into Zen Buddhism. – Japanese form of Buddhism that focuses on mental and self discipline. • Not influenced by Chinese civil service system. Refined Court Life of the Nobles • Maintained elegant appearance. – Elaborate clothing & makeup. • Practiced restrained behavior. – Rude to laugh with one’s mouth open. • Always maintained decorum. – Letters had to be folded properly • Devoted leisure time to pursuing pastimes. – Modeled after influences from Chinese culture Kamakura Period • 1185-1333. • Minamoto Yoritomo. – Founded the Kamakura Shogunate. • Considered the beginning of the Medieval Japan. – Chinese influence declined. – Increased influence of court system. • Development of Feudalism in Japan. Japanese Feudalism • What is Feudalism? • Why did Japan need it? Reason #1: Nobles vs. Nobles • Isolated court life for court nobles. • Provincial nobles were rugged, independent, and led private armies • Became more powerful as court nobles isolated themselves • Constantly battled with one another over control of the provinces Reason #2: Aftermath of Mongols • Mongols attempt to invade Japan. • Mongols are not successful. • Sense of national unity develops. – Belief in superior culture. • War debt. – Unpaid samurai terrorized peasants for money. • Kamakura Shogunate driven from power by dissatisfied samurai Reason #3: Battle over Governmental Control • Taira & Minamoto clans fought for control. – Minamoto drove Taira from power. • Beginnings of Feudalism: – Under Minamoto rule, samurai warriors dominate Japanese society. – Samurai took control of government. – Created Bakufu. • military government – Emperor was only a religious leader of Japan Japanese Feudalism • What is Feudalism? • Why did Japan need it? • Feudalism is a political, economic, and social • • system. The system is based on loyalty, land holdings, and military serve/protection. The code of Bushido. – Fidelity, politeness, virility, and simplicity. • Seppuku. – Ritual suicide – Honored way for Samurai to die. – Commonly called Hara-kiri. Japanese Feudalism Structure of Contact in Japanese Feudalism Shogun Land - Shoen Land - Shoen Protection Samurai Peasant Daimyo Loyalty Daimyo Samurai Peasant Loyalty Samurai Peasant Food Peasant Bakufu • Shogun – military & political leader • Daimyo – high-ranking samurai lord who provided shogun with warriors in exchange for land • Samurai – lower-ranking warriors who served their daimyo in exchange for small manors • Peasants – lowest class: worked land for their lord European Feudalism • Developed after the fall the Roman Empire. • Based on the same principles as Japan. • The code of Chivalry – Justice, loyalty, defense, courage, faith, humility, and nobility. • Manorialism was only present in European Feudalism, not Japanese Feudalism. – What’s the difference between Manorialism and Feudalism? • Manorialism is the economy system of the fief. • Feudalism is the economic, political, and social structure of the country or region as a whole. Structure of Contact in European Feudalism King Land - Fief Land - Fief Protection Knight Peasant Lord Loyalty Lord Knight Peasant Loyalty Knight Peasant Food Peasant Himeji Castle The walls inside and outside of Himeji Castle.