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Like most medieval societies, war played a crucial part in Medieval Japan. Also like most

medieval societies, control over land and resources fell to families who held supreme power. In

Japan these families were referred to as clans and, since only 20% of Japan’s land was suitable

for farming in medieval times, these clans frequently fought over who would control it. The

scarcity in usable land led to the rise of the samurai.

The samurai were expert fighters and were hired by the ruling clan to guard and protect the

valuable land. The most common practice resulted in the clan leader, the chief, dividing his

territory into several regions. He would

place a leader in charge each region; each

regional leader was called a daimyo. These

Daimyos would then seek out the samurai to

protect their individual territory. The samurai

were extremely loyal to their daimyo, and in

exchange received power over their territory,

high status, and a small piece of the land

they vowed to protect.

Many samurai were relatives of the ruling

clan however, others honed their skills and

traveled throughout Japan seeking work. All

samurai were considered to be

experts with their weapons:

the sword and the bow and

arrow. They were also

expected to be experts at

using these weapons while

fighting from horseback. By

the 15th century, some

samurai began carrying

guns into battle as well.

Armed with this skill set and the

loyalty to their Daimyo, the Samurai sought to

create a trained army to help fight a war if an

invasion were to take place. These farmers,

many of whom were prevented from having

weapons of their own due to fear of uprisings,

often formed the basis of this force.

The Samurai followed

a strict set of rules that

governed their conduct

and their behavior. This

was known as the Samurai Code!

Bushido

The Samurai Code was

based on two teachings:

&The Way of

Horse and Bow

Ronin is

a term used to

describe a

samurai who no

longer had a lord,

either through

his lord's

downfall, or

through the loss

of his lord's

favor.

The Rise of the Samurai

©HistorywithMr.E-ASocialStudiesProfessionalSpecializinginAmericanandWorldHistoryforlateElementary,Middle,andearlyHighSchool

2304 red diamonds rule

The Samurai Code... was based on Bushido and the Way of Horse and Bow.

To a samurai, there were two parts to the “code” that you lived your life by: Bushido and the Way of Horse and Bow. Both parts were crucial to living life as an honorable Samurai,

and it was common for a Samurai to spend days, months, and years of devotion, and

meditation to ensure both were practiced at the highest level.

Bushido can be translated to mean “the Way of the Warrior” and it represents a set of values that stress honor and loyalty to one’s country,

family, and ancestors. To successfully become a Samurai,

one had to overcome the fear of death. It was only once a Samurai obtained his “freedom from fear,” that he

could fully commit himself to honoring those around him. The Bushido Code contains seven elements that

govern Samurai conduct, both on and off the battlefield,

and it was expected that Samurai master all seven. If a Samurai broke the code for whatever reason, death

was seen as a preferable option than facing those whom he dishonored. He would commit Seppuku, or

ritualistic suicide, to regain the honor that he had lost.

It was common for Samurai to perform Seppuku after a losing battle since they often held deep remorse for

something which led to the defeat.

Along with the Bushido, the

Samurai were expected to follow Kyujutsu, or what is

translated to mean the “Way of Horse and Bow.” The Samurai were to be experts at

archery as well as sword fighting, on horseback as well as on

foot. This “art of archery” was crucial to a Samurai, since bow skills were viewed as more important than sword skills for

most of Japanese history.

The Seven Virtues of the Bushido Code



THE NINJATheoriginoftheNinja,liketheSamurai,canbetracedbacktoMedievalJapan.

However,whileSamuraiwereexpectedtobemoreformalintheirfighting,theninja

lurkedintheshadowsandfocusedonstealth,infiltration,andassassination.The

maingoaloftheDaimyos,thefeudallords,wastoprotecttheirland.Theyhired

Samuraitoleadtheovertmilitaryeffort,andtheyhiredNinjatoconductdiscreet

missions.TheDaimyoevensetupschoolstotraintheNinjawithproperspyingand

espionagetactics;manyexistedbythe15thcenturybuttheearliestNinjaschoolsgo

backtothe12thcentury.

TheNinjawerenotmembersofthenobility;infact,theearliestNinjawerevillagers,

farmers,andpeasantswhosoughtwaystoprotecttheirhomesandland.Weapons

wereonlypermittedforSamuraiandmembersoftheelite.Itwasillegalforthe

lowerclasstocarryaweapon,sothesefarmersandvillagershadtolearntoprotect

themselvesusinganythingtheycould.Asaresult,theNinjahad

severalweaponsthatwereoriginallydesignedasfarmingtools

sincetheywouldnotlooklikeweaponstothenakedeye.

Thekamawasoriginallyusedtocutdowngrain,mainlyrice,but

easilywasadoptedintotheNinja’sarsenal.Anotherimportant

NinjaweaponwastheShuriken,which

wasasmalldagger.Oneversionwas

shapedlikeastarandthrownwithaspin.Another

wasshapedlikeaneedleandthrownlikean

ordinarydagger.Shurikenscouldnotpenetrate

armor,however,itstipswereoftenlacedwith

poisontokillthetarget.Sometimes,shurikens

wouldbeplantedinthegroundforan

unsuspectingtargettostepon,whichwould

accomplishthesameresult.

(Kama)

(Shuriken)



SUMO WRESTLING

Sumo wrestling dates back for thousands of years, and there are many legends that explain its origins. One legends tells of how sumo wrestling was practiced by the gods, then handed down to the people over 2,000 years ago. According to another legend, the god Takemikazuchi won a sumo match with an arch rival which led to the Japanese being given the right to rule over the islands of Japan. Regardless these legends, historians believe sumo wrestling originated as a Shinto ritual to pray for a good harvest.

Early sumo matches were performed alongside sacred dancing, music, and inside the walls of Shinto shrines. Even today many religious elements still accompany sumo matches. For example, wrestlers sip sacred water before and throughout the match, wrestlers throw salt to “purify” the ring, the referee is dressed to depict a Shinto priest, and sumo wrestlers“clap” their hands during a matchto draw the attention of the gods.

Early sumo wrestling had few laws and was a mixture of boxing and wrestling. Over time, the Imperial Court formulated techniques and, during the Kamakura Period (1185-1333), sumo wresting began to be used to train samurai.

Today, Japan is the only country to

have the official sport of sumo wresting.

Since it is isolated to the island country,

sumo wrestling can be a shocking

experience when foreigners watch the

event for the first time. When

American Commodore Matthew Perry

viewed a match in 1853, he described

the wrestlers as “overfed monsters.”



The Martial ArtsJu-jitsu

Nobody quite knows where and when ju-jitsu originated. It is believed to be one of the most ancient martial arts in the world, having developed over 2,500 years ago. While many believe its origins are in Japan, some believe it has actually been passed down from Chinese tradition. A legend exists that states the gods Kajima and Kadori used ju-jitsu discipline the lawless people who lived in their Eastern provinces.

Ju-jitsu can be translated to mean “gentle art” because it does not use any weapons. As a result, ju-jitsu uses only “empty-hand fighting” to subdue enemies by focusing on joint locks, throws, pins, and strangulation holds. Do not let its name fool you, however, as many of these “gentle” moves were designed to destroy the limbs by disjointing them and tearing apart muscle and tendons.

It is believed two factors contributed to the development of ju-jitsu. First, it was nearly impossible for weapons to pierce the heavy armor worn by the samurai; people realized that to neutralize the samurai, they had to ignore weapons and focus on using the attacker’s energy against himself. Second, in 1603, the Tokugawa military government was created which ushered in a long era of peace in Japanese history; as a result, martial aarts developed that did not require the use of weapons.

Once the Tokugawa government came to an end and the power of the emperor was restored, ju-jitsu was outlawed. Emperor Melse made it a punishable crime if anyone practiced ju-jitsu due to its popularity with the previous regime. Many teachers of the art continued to do so underground until the ban was lifted in the mid-1800s.

Judo Karate Judo is often refe

rred to as

the father of ju-jitsu since

these two martial arts are

very similar, however Judo is

much more peaceful than its

ancestor. While those

practicing judo still learn

and perform the same

techniques of ju-jitsu, the

main emphasis is to unbalance

the opponent to subdue him

(or her). Once unbalanced,

the opponent is thrown in an

effort to end the conflict.

Karate is the Japanese word for “empty hands” and was born during a time when weapons were outlawed in Japanese history. However, this martial art has considerable Chinese influence as well. Karate differs from either Judo or Ju-jitsu since it seeks to strike blows on the opponent; the others would seek to throw their enemy. One practicing karate would batter a man into submission, but a judo man would tire his enemy using holds and grapples.



Shintoism & BuddhismShintoism and Buddhism are both extremely popular religions of Japan. However, whereas Shintoism is the native religion of the country, Buddhism was actually born in India; through trade and travel, the beliefs and practices of Buddhism were diffused throughout Asia over several hundred years. While the belief systems are different, Shintoism and Buddhism are still very compatible, and it is common today for one to follow both religions. For example, it is perfectly normal for one to celebrate a local festival at a Shinto shrine, then a funeral at a Buddhist temple.

ShintoismShintoism is the indigenous faith of the Japanese people. It is so engrained into Japanese culture that Shintoism was actually the official state religion for much of the late-19th and early-20th century. But, what does Shintoism teach?

There is no holy book in Shintoism, nor is there a deity to worship, a defined set of prayers, or great concern with an afterlife. Instead, Shintoism focuses on deep respect for nature and the belief in what are called kami. Kami are the sacred spirits which take the form of all things: waterfalls, trees, rivers, and the wind, just to name a few. The belief is that human beings become kami after they die, so it important for the Japanese to show respect and care for nature since it represents their fallen ancestors. In a world where tsunamis, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions devastated communities, it makes sense that the Japanese created a belief system that respected the power nature.

In Shintoism, it was believed that natural disasters were caused because evil kami had infiltrated the good-natured kami. To keep the bad kami away, followers of Shintoism perform many rituals and ceremonies to purify their atmosphere. For example, followers wash their hands and feet before entering a Shinto shrine, and sumo wrestlers use salt to purify the ring before a match. These actions are believed to keep the bad kami away.

BuddhismBorn in India, and then migrating into China, Buddhism arrived in China in the 7th century. Most early followers adopted the standard form of Buddhism, Mahayana, until the 12th century when the Zen branch arrived from China. Zen buddhism does not use a sacred tex or devotional practices, but rather focuses on meditation to seek the true meaning of reality. This was very popular among the Samurai, since the Samurai were already seen as the masters of self-discipline.

Zen Buddhism has had a strong impact on Japanese culture over the years. The martial arts have incorporated Zen Buddhism’s self-reflective techniques, and Japanese flower gardens and tea ceremonies reflect the calming and simplistic nature of Zen’s teachings. Japanese art has also taken on Zen’s emphasis on simplicity with many artists choosing the simple black ink on white background design.

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Music & Theatre The oldest style of Japanese music is known as Gagaku, and it was developed by Japanese musicians in the 9th century. Translated to mean “elegant music,” Gagaku performances can include as many as 16 to 30 musicians and includes a variety of wind, string, and percussion instruments. This unique combination gives Gagaku a very distinctive sound. Gagaku was so graceful that it was reserved solely for the royal court and aristocrats; ordinary Japanese would never have heard Gagaku played.

Since Gagaku was strictly for the elite in medieval times, only royal members could play in the ensemble. By the mid-1800s, auditions were permitted and, still today, Gagaku bands contain both royal and commoner blood lines.

(Pictured here are modern Gagaku performances!)

Noh masks!

A modern Bunraku performance!

Theater in the Samurai Era

Quite possibly the most important person

in Japanese theater history was Zeami,

an actor and director who lived in the 14th

and 15th centuries. Zeami was responsible

for the creation of a new kind of drama

called Noh that is still performed today.

Noh is a performing art where actors

wear masks and use a variety of props

to tell stories of supernatural beings.

The second form of Japanese theater is

called Bunraku, founded in 1684 by theater

owner Uemura Bunrakuken. Bunraku is

unique in that it uses puppets to tell a

story; the puppets are usually one-half life

size and the plays deal with common

human emotions and social obligations.

Today, the National Bunraku Theatre is

located in Osaka, Japan, the same place

where Uemura founded the first theater!



Art

Brush paintings!

Japanese calligraphy!Examples of

woodblock prints!



FooDClose to 80% of the Japanese landscape is dotted with mountains, which means that very little land is available for agriculture. As a result, it makes sense that most Japanese have relied on the sea to provide the food necessary for survival. The Japanese have relied on the sea for religious reasons too; due to the influence of Buddhist teachings that take life (any life) was wrong, Emperor Temmu outlawed the eating of specific animals, such cattle, chickens, monkeys, and horses in 675 CE. To break this law was a death sentence. Those who made their business slaughtering animals for food or leather were vilified, both in Buddhism and Shintoism.

The Japanese did use what little good farmland they had to grow staple crops like rice, soybeans, and wheat. Rice requires ample water to grow, so Japan’s environment was well-suited for this staple crop. As a result, rice, vegetables, and seafood became the staples of the Japanese diet.

Sushi is perhaps the most popular Japanese dish today. Sushi began around the 8th century, and it was originally designed to keep fish from spoiling by packing it with fermented rice. It was not until the early 17th century, however, that rice was seasoned with rice vinegar, which allowed it to be consumed immediately after preparation.

Sashimi is another popular Japanese dish, however the terms Sashimi and Sushi are often used interchangeably in Japan. The difference is that Sashimi is truly raw fish, whereas Sushi contains the rice and often a vegetable mixture. Both Sushi andSashimi were inspired by Buddhism in theirpresentation; it is believed all things are works of art, so food must also be colorful and presentable.

A map of Japan created

in the middle ages.

Today, Japan

consumes 12%

of the world’s

fish yet account

for only 2% of

the global

population!

Sushi is a dish consisting of raw fish

and vegetables wrapped in seaweed

(kelp) and rice.

Sashimi is a dish of bite-sized pieces of raw fish, typically

eaten with soy sauce and wasabi paste.



The first people of Japan are believed to have come both from the north and from the west. Most historians think that scavengers from the Korean peninsula or from the Chinese mainland settled on the island of Honshu (the largest island of Japan) during the Ice Age before Japan became an isolated set of islands. Others came by boat from the nearby islands in the Pacific Ocean.

These early people were hunter-gatherers, but once they adopted more agrarian and sedentary lives, they built simple homes made from wooden frames. These early homes embodied what has become known as the Gassho-style. These homes had steep, thatched roofs where the gable (the top where the roof points) was designed to look like praying hands.

ArchitectureShrines and temples came along with the import of Buddhism from China around the 6th century. At first, temples closely resembled those in China. They had wide courtyards and symmetrical layouts. As time passed, temples were increasingly designed to suit local tastes. This means that temples were built to specifications that worked well in that region. Temples began to exhibit less symmetrical features, and many started to incorporate gardens in their compounds. Temples were also built in more remote places and in the mountains, which had more varied layouts due to the complex geography.

Early castles were built on high mountains or

had a moat to provide a safe refuge for the Daimyo.

Japanese castles are an extremely important part of the country's history in architecture. These castleswere constructed all over Japan for feudal lords called Daimyo. Castles served as a place for Daimyo to retreat after a battle or as a storage place for food and weapons. During these times, Daimyo also used the castles as a symbol of their wealth and power.



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