world history ch. 17 section 4 notes

Section 4New Asian Empire

Preview

• Main Idea / Reading Focus

• Japan’s Warrior Society

• The Tokugawa Shogunate

• Medieval Korea

• Map: Japan and Korea

• Visual Study Guide / Quick Facts

• Video: The Impact of the Samurai Tradition on Japan Today

Medieval Japan and Korea


Reading Focus

• What were the key characteristics of the feudal warrior society in Japan?

• How did the Tokugawa Shogunate rule Japan, and in what ways did the culture flourish during the period?

• How did the Choson dynasty shape events in medieval Korea?

Main Idea

During the medieval period, a feudal warrior society developed in Japan, while Korea’s rulers endured invasion and turned to isolation.

Medieval Japan and Korea


The samurai’s lands were worked by peasants, who gave the samurai money or food for payment each year.

1. By the 1100s, central government losing control of the empire Local clans fighting for power and land, no law and order Bandits roamed countryside, landowners hired armies of samurai, trained professional warriors

• Use of samurai, trained professional warriors, developed into feudal warrior society in Japan

• Similar to feudal system in Europe

• In exchange for allegiance, military service, noble landowners gave property, payment to samurai

Feudalism and Samurai

Japan’s Warrior Society

• Unlike in Europe, where knights were usually paid with land grants, only most powerful samurai received land

• Most paid with food, usually rice

• Those given land did not work, live on land

Payment for Samurai


Societal Privileges

• As time passed, samurai rose in status in society, enjoyed many privileges

• Crowds parted to let them pass when samurai walked down street

• People dropped eyes out of respect—and fear—because samurai had right to kill anyone who showed disrespect

Warrior Role

• Main role of samurai, that of highly skilled warrior

• Wore armor, were skilled with many weapons, often fought on horseback

• Expected to be in fighting form all the time, ready to do battle should need arise


Code of Ethics• Samurai followed strict code of ethics, known as Bushido, “the way of the

warrior”

• Bushido required samurai to be courageous, honorable, obedient, loyal

• Word samurai means “those who serve;” each had to serve, obey his lord without hesitation, even if samurai, family suffered as result

• Samurai who failed to obey, protect lord expected to commit seppuku—suicide by ritual disembowelment

• Strove to live disciplined lives

• Pursued activities requiring great focus, like writing poetry, arranging flowers, performing tea ceremonies

Discipline • Many samurai accepted Zen

Buddhism

• Spread from China to Japan in 1100s

• Zen stressed discipline, meditation as ways to focus mind, gain wisdom

Zen Buddhism

Samurai


Role of Women

Both men, women of samurai families learned to fight

• Usually only men went to war

• Female samurai had to follow Bushido

• Were prepared to die to protect home, family honor

• Samurai women honored in Japanese society

– Could inherit property

– Allowed to participate in business


For most of the 1100s, Japan had no strong central government. Local nobles, the heads of powerful clans, fought for power.

• Minamoto family defeated rival clan to become Japan’s most powerful clan

• 1192, clan leader Minamoto Yoritomo forced emperor to name him shogun, “general,” Japan’s supreme military leader

• Shogun ruled in emperor’s name

Yorimoto• Emperor remained at top of

society, but became mere figurehead

• For nearly 700 years shoguns ruled Japan

• Yoritomo allowed emperor to hold court at Heian, later known as Kyoto

• Shogun formed military government at Kamakura

Shogun Rule

Rise of the Shoguns


• Japanese referred to storms as kamikaze, “divine wind”; believed they showed that the gods favored Japan

• Mongol invasions weakened Kamakura Shogunate

• Many lords thought shogun had not rewarded them enough; loyalties broke down

• 1338, Shogunate overthrown

Weakened Shogunate

• Kamakura Shogunate, military dynasty, ruled Japan until 1333

• 1200s, Kamakura Shogunate faced major threat—Mongols

• 1274, again in 1281, large Mongol fleets attacked Japan

• Each time Japanese defeated them, with help of powerful storm that wiped out enemy fleet

Kamakura Shogunate

New Threats


A new shogunate took power but was too weak to gain control of Japan. With the loss of centralized rule, Japan splintered into many competing factions.

• Numerous local daimyo, powerful warlords with large estates, gained control of territories, battled for power

• Daimyo built large fortified castles to defend lands

Daimyo • Castles often on hills,

protected by walls, surrounded by water

• Towns often grew up around them

• Daimyo began to use peasants as foot soldiers, samurai on horseback

Fortifications • 1543, Portuguese

introduced firearms

• Daimyo began to arm soldiers with guns

• Some samurai refused to use them

• Died wielding swords against superior firepower

Firepower

Rebellion and Order


• 1600, Tokugawa leyasu won decisive battle

• Gained complete control of all Japan

• 1603, emperor made Tokugawa shogun

• Event began the Tokugawa Shogunate

Tokugawa Ieyasu

• 1500s, three strong daimyo worked to take control of Japan

• Oda Nobunaga, first to arm soldiers with guns, defeated opponents easily

• By death in 1582, controlled half of Japan

• Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Oda’s greatest general, continued efforts; by 1590, controlled most of Japan

Generals Take Control

Ambitious Men


Find the Main Idea

What features defined Japan’s feudal warrior society?

Answer(s): Samurai gave military service in exchange for property or payment; shoguns ruled in the name of the emperor; daimyo were powerful warlords.


Strong Central Government• Tokugawa leyasu established capital at quiet fishing village, Edo, now Tokyo• Established strong central government• Tokugawa shoguns brought about period of relative unity, peace, stability

Prosperity • Stability, peace of Tokugawa rule brought prosperity to Japan• Agricultural production rose, population and cities grew• Economic activity increased• New roads linked main cities, castle towns, improving trade

Tokugawa Rule• Tokugawa shoguns closely controlled daimyo, who still held local level power• To keep loyal, shoguns required daimyo to live in Edo periodically, leave

families there year-round as “hostages”• Forced daimyo to maintain two residences; attempt to preclude from rebelling

The Tokugawa Shogunate


Top of Society

• Under Tokugawa rule, Japan’s strict feudal system more rigid

• At top of society, emperor

• Only a figurehead

Ruling Warrior Class

• Under daimyo, samurai who served them

• Emperor, shogun, daimyo, samurai made up ruling warrior class

Shogun, Daimyo

• Next was shogun, held real power as military ruler

• Below shogun, daimyo—owed shogun loyalty

Three Lower Classes

• Below ruling warrior class were three classes

• Peasants, artisans, merchants

Rigid Feudal System


Rules

• Members of lower classes could not rise in social status

• Could not serve in military or government, or hold government positions that might challenge power of warrior class

Honor and Some Status

• In Japan, farming considered honorable trade

• Peasants enjoyed relatively high status, just below samurai

• However, peasants paid most of taxes, led hard lives

Peasants

• Peasants made up vast majority—about 80 percent—of Japan’s population

• Forbidden to do anything but farming

• Supported selves by growing rice, other crops on daimyo, samurai estates

Lower Classes


• Below peasants were artisans• Artisans often lived in castle towns; made goods like armor, swords• Merchants at bottom of society• Not honored because did not produce anything• Merchants often grew wealthy• Could use wealth to improve social position

• During Tokugawa period, women’s status gradually declined

• Many led restricted lives• Had to obey male head of

household absolutely• Even samurai class women lost

many rights, freedoms

Women • Role of male samurai changed• Peace put many out of work• Not allowed to engage in trade• Many ronin—masterless samurai—

fell on hard times• Some became farmers, others

warriors for hire, still others bandits

Male Samurai

Artisans and Merchants


By 1650, Japan had shut its doors to all Europeans except the Dutch. Japan continued this policy for more than 200 years.

2. The prosperity of the Tokugawa Period went hand in hand with Japan’s increasing contact with Europeans. Initially the Japanese welcomed European traders and missionaries and the new ideas, products and technologies that they brought.

• Trade with Europe boosted Japan’s economy

• Christian missionaries changed Japanese society

• Many Japanese became Christian; soon samurai could be heard chanting Christian prayers in battle

Changes

Relations with the West

• Over time Tokugawa shoguns grew concerned with spread of Christianity; began to persecute Christians, kill missionaries

• Also began to restrict foreign trade, travel

• Banned building large ships

Period of Isolation


Japan’s growing cities became centers of culture during the feudal period.

• In art, colorful woodblock prints called Ukiyo-e, “pictures of the floating world,” became popular

• In literature, realistic stories became popular, as well as form of poetry called haiku

• Three lines with 17 syllables; many haiku deal with themes of nature, harmony

Art and Literature• In theater, Noh drama

developed, 1300s• Slow-moving Noh plays told

stories through use of masks, stylized dance, music

• 1600s, new type of theatre with more action, plot, humor—kabuki

• Women initially performed kabuki, but later banned and replaced by men

Theater

Feudal Culture


Summarize

What changes did Tokugawa rulers impose on Japanese society?

Answer(s): They required daimyos to live in Edo periodically and make expensive processions, some family members were kept hostage in Edo, a strict social structure was maintained, and they isolated Japan from outsiders.


Medieval Korea

• 3. In 1392, powerful general, Yi Song-gye gained control of Korea

• Established Choson kingdom

– Choson, or Yi, dynasty became one of Korea’s longest ruling dynasties

– Lasted until 1910

– Formed government based on Confucianism


• Fighting with Japan left Korea in ruins

• Early 1600s, Chinese invaded

• By 1640s, Korea had become vassal state to Qing dynasty in China

• As result, Choson kings increasingly isolated Korea, except for trade with China

• In West, Korea became known as “Hermit Kingdom” because of isolation

Hermit Kingdom

• During this period, Korea prospered

• Produced many cultural achievements, including creation of Korean alphabet

• Late 1500s, Japan invaded twice

• Koreans held off Japanese using ironclad warships with cannons; also received help from Ming China

Prosperity and War

Japan and China as Foes


Analyze

How did foreign influences both help and hurt Korea?

Answer(s): helped—Korea's government was formed on Confucianism, which was a foreign influence; harmed—Chinese and Japanese invaded Korea


Video

The Impact of the Samurai Tradition on Japan Today

Click above to play the video.

world history ch. 17 section 4 notes

Education

powerful samurai

armies of samurai

samurai feudalism

samurai money

samurai tradition

result samurai

new shogunate

medieval japan