the development of f eudalism in japan
DESCRIPTION
The Development of F eudalism in Japan. Heian to Tokugawa. The Imperial Court (AD 400-783). A Divine Emperor: The Spiritual Leader of Japan. Prior to AD 400, uji (clans) ruled separate areas of Japan One clan, Yamato, first emperor Emperor descendent of Sun Goddess - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
The Development of Feudalism in Japan
Heian to Tokugawa
The Imperial Court (AD 400-783)
A Divine Emperor: The Spiritual Leader of Japan
• Prior to AD 400, uji (clans) ruled separate areas of Japan
• One clan, Yamato, first emperor
• Emperor descendent of Sun Goddess
• Emperor more about religion than politics
• Uji fought to be advisors
Chinese Influences on the Japanese Court
• Capital city of Nara based on Changan
• Emperors want political and spiritual power
• Prince Shotoku- government, calendar and legal ideas
• Chinese characters• Chinese poetry• Architecture
Taika Reforms (AD 646)
• Introduced by Emperor Tenchi
• Make government like the Tang Dynasty
• Land reforms: all rice growing land became the emperor’s
Refined Court Life During the Heian Period (AD 794-1185)
Nobles Gain Power over the Imperial Family
• Earned trust of emperor; became advisors
• Married daughters to crown princes
• In high-ranking posts• Shoen (tax-free estates)
as gifts to nobles• Made role of emperor
ceremonial
The Refined Life of Court Nobles
• Elegant appearance– Clothing and makeup
• Restrained behavior– Rude to laugh with
mouth open
• Decorum– Letters folded properly
• Leisure– Pastimes like Go
The Rise of the Provincial Nobles
• Rugged, independent, led private armies
• More powerful as court nobles isolated themselves
• Battled with each other for control of provinces
The Rise of Feudalism and the Mongol Invasion (AD 1185-1333)
Inside Japan
• Battle for Government Control– Taira and Minamoto
Clans– Yoritomo Minamoto won
• Rise of Feudalism– Samurai dominate
society– Bakufu (military
government)– Emperor only religious
Threat from Outside
• Mongol Invasions– Kublai Khan wanted control– 450 ships and 15,000 troops
• Destroyed by typhoon
– 7 yrs. Later 150,000 troops
• Aftermath of Invasions– National unity– Debts– Unpaid samurai roam the
land– Kamakura shogunate driven
from power
Feudal Pyramid
Peasants
Civil War and Reunification (AD 1333- 1603)
Stability Under the Ashikaga Shogunate
• Godaigo supreme ruler of Japan
• Ashikaga attacked royal forces at Kyoto
• Godaigo fled south• Ashikaga most powerful
between 1367-1467• Fighting started over
the position of Shogun’s deputy
The Onin War: A Turning Point• Civil war between
families over power• Most of Kyoto
destroyed in the fighting
• Power of emperor and shogun reduced
• Political power to whoever won in battle
• End of Ashikaga Shogunate
Two Attempts to Unify Japan (1)
• Oda Nobunaga– Brilliant military
techniques and firearms– Acted as a brutal tyrant,
especially towards monks
– Controlled 32 of 66 provinces by his death
Two Attempts to Unify Japan (2)
• Toyotomi Hideyoshi– Rose through ranks of
Oda family– Negotiations to pacify
rebel daimyo– Brought all 66 provinces
into feudal agreement
Life in a Castletown During the Tokugawa Period (AD 1603-1868)
Tokugawa Ieyasu Closed Japan’s Doors
• Fought and used negotiation to bring all provinces under his control
• Period of unity and growth• Established shogunate at
Edo• Four classes: samurai,
peasants, artisans, merchants
• Isolated Japan from rest of world for 200 years
Castle Life• Artisans
– Armorers served the castle
– Carpenters built
• Merchants– Wealthy– Banned from becoming
samurai– Recreation: wrestling,
gambling, kabuki
• Samurai– Enforced laws– Helped to collect taxes
• Feudal Castles– Daimyo rules from castles– Architecture funneled
attacks into bottleneck trap– Gardens and pools in the
castle
• Castletowns become Commercial Hubs– Centers of government– Towns grew around castles– Inns, stables and stores
grew along the routes to castles
Nijo CastleThese are the plans of the original castle.
CastleThis is a medieval castle that has been restored. The architecture is similar in all Japanese castles, and mimics Chinese style.