the development of feudalism in japan
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The Development of Feudalism in Japan. Japan’s Early Historic Period: The Imperial Court (AD 400-783). What do you see? How are the rooms furnished? How are people dressed? What are they doing? What inference can you make about their lifestyle?. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
The Development of Feudalism in Japan
Japan’s Early Historic Period: The Imperial Court (AD 400-783)
What do you see? How are the rooms furnished? How are people dressed? What are they doing? What inference can you make
about their lifestyle?
A Divine Emperor: The Spiritual Leader of Japan
Prior to AD 400 clans ruled separate areas of Japan
One clan – Yamato – produced 1st 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
Chinese Influences on the Japanese Court
Modeled capital city after a Chinese city
Emperors sought both religious AND political power
Aspects of Chinese government adopted, Confucian calendar, and legal ideas
Chinese character script used by Japanese courts
Admiration for Chinese poetry, art and architecture
Taika Reforms (AD 646)
Designed to make Japan’s government like that of China’s Tang dynasty
Vast land reforms placed all rice-producing land in hands of emperor
Taika Reforms (AD 646)
Designed to make Japan’s government like that of China’s Tang dynasty
Vast land reforms placed all rice-producing land in hands of emperor
Refined Court Life During the Heian Period (AD 794-1185)
What do you see here? How are the rooms furnished? How are the people dressed? What are they doing?
Nobles Gain Power over the Imperial Family
Earned trust of Emperor – gained control
Married daughters of princes (making sure grandsons were related to both families)
Received most of government’s high-ranking posts
Dominated emperor – to the point his role was almost completely ceremonial
Nobles advised Emperor to give shoen (gifts of land) to nobles and clans
By the end of the period, Japan was divided into 5000 shoen and the government had almost no land Sho = village en = farmland (similar to
manor or fife)
The Refined Life of Court 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 – such as playing games, memorizing poetry – influenced by Chinese culture
Isolated Kyoto Court Life Led to…The Rise of the Provincial 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
The Rise of Feudalism and the Mongol Invasion (AD 1185-1333)
What do you see here? Which army is Japanese? Who seems to be winning? What advantages does the
Japanese army have?
A Threat from Outside Mongol invasions:
Kublai Khan – wanted Korea and Japan Sent 450 ships & 15,000 troops –
destroyed by typhoon 7 years later, sent 150,000 troops – also
destroyed
Aftermath of Mongol Invasions:sense of national unity developed, Japan felt their culture was better, Japan left with war debt, unpaid samurai terrorized peasants for $, Kamakura shogunate driven from power by dissatisfied samurai
Inside Japan Battle for Government Control:
Taira & Minamoto clans fought for control Minamoto drove Taira from power
Rise of Feudalism: Under Minamot rule, samurai warriors
dominate Japanese society Samurai took control of government Created Bakufu – military government Emperor ONLY a religious leader of Japan
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
Civil War and Reunification (AD 1333-1603)
What do you see here? What kinds of weapons? What might the buildings in the
upper-left corner be used for? Who are the two armies that are
fighting?
Stability under the Ashikaga Shogunate Emperor Godaigo proclaimed himself
supreme ruler of Japan Ashikaga family took advantage of
Japan’s instability to attach royal forces at Kyoto
Godaigo ran south – proclaimed himself rival emperor
Ashigag experienced height of power between 1367-1467
Fighting started when powerful families couldn’t share position of Shogun’s deputy
The Onin War: A Turning Civil war between leading families
over who should be in power Most of Kyoto was destroyed during
fighting Power of emperor & shogun greatly
reduced Political power belonged to
whatever family could win it in battle
Ended rule of Ashikaga Shogunate
Two Attempts to Unify Japan Oba Nobunaga
Used brilliant military techniques & firearms to defeat enemies
Brutal tyrant – especially toward Buddhist monks
Controlled 32 of 66 provinces at time of death
Toyotomi Hideyoshi Used negotiations to pacify rebellious
daimyo Brought all 66 provinces into feudal
government
Life in a Castletown During the Tokugawa period (AD 1603-1868)
What do you see here? What is happening in this town? Where is the castle?
Togukawa leyasu Closed Japan’s Doors
Fought and used shrewd negotiations to bring all provinces under his control
Japan entered a period of unity & growth
Established his shogunate at Edo (modern Tokyo)
Divided population into 4 classes: samurai, peasants, artisans, merchant
Isolated Japan from the rest of the world for over 200 years
Artisans
Armorers served the needs of the castle samurai
Carpenters erected and repaired building
Merchants
Were wealthiest members of the castle towns
Barred from becoming samurai Created separate forms of
recreation: wrestling, gambling and Kabuki
Feudal Castles
Daimyo ruled provinces from their castles
Architecture funneled attacking troops into a bottleneck trap
Beautiful gardens and pools were inside the castle
Osaka Castle –
Plain style
(moats)
Notice the layers of defensive walls?
There were at least three, sometimes more sets of wall between the outside and the central circle – the Honmanu
Exterior walls – built high – many 24-32 meters (approximately 60 - 85 feet)
Do you notice anything about the picture on the upper right?
Interior walls were built with angles and turns – like a maze to confuse any enemy who breached the outer wall
Castles built in three styles:
Mountain
Mountain-Plain
Plain
Can you guess how many stories this castle has?
5?
It is built to look like 5, it is actually 8
This castle is built to look like 5 – it has 6
Samurai
Enforced laws rather than storming other castles
Helped daiymo collect taxes
Castletowns Become Commercial Hubs
Castles became centers of government administration
Towns grew up around castles and were populated by artisans and merchants
Inns, stables, and stores grew along routes between Edo and castletowns