Feudal Japan Ca. 1100-1600

Japan's isolation as an island nation has been instrumental in its development as a culture. By 500 BC it was still an undeveloped agrarian culture without cities. Outside influences which led to cultural advancement included (1) contacts with and importing of Chinese culture, especially in the areas of weaving, metals, art and government Background of Japan Japan's isolation as an island nation has been instrumental in its development as a culture. By 500 BCE it was still an undeveloped agrarian (farm based) culture without cities. Outside influences which led to cultural advancement included...

Background of Japan cont. Japan's isolation as an island nation has been instrumental in its development as a culture. By 500 BC it was still an undeveloped agrarian culture without cities. Outside influences which led to cultural advancement included (1) contacts with and importing of Chinese culture, especially in the areas of weaving, metals, art and government Background of Japan cont. (1) contacts with and importing of Chinese culture, especially in the areas of weaving, metals, art and government, (2) the arrival in 200 CE of the Korean horse soldier, and (3) the arrival of Buddhism as a religious and philosophical system merging with native Shinto beliefs.

Japan's isolation as an island nation has been instrumental in its development as a culture. By 500 BC it was still an undeveloped agrarian culture without cities. Outside influences which led to cultural advancement included (1) contacts with and importing of Chinese culture, especially in the areas of weaving, metals, art and government Background of Japan By the ninth century CE, Japan had developed enough of a sense of its own character to isolate itself from outside influence and let its own culture take a natural course of development.

Major Periods in Japanese History **denotes Feudal Period Jomon ca. 10,000 B.C. -- ca. 300 B.C. Yayoi ca. 300 B.C. -- ca. A.D. 300 Yamato ca. A.D. 300 -- A.D. 710 Nara 710 -- 794 Heian 794 -- 1185 Kamakura** 1185 -- 1333 Ashikaga or Muromachi ** 1333 -- 1568 Azuchi-Momoyama ** 1568 -- 1600 Tokugawa or Edo ** 1600 -- 1868 Meiji 1868 -- 1912 Taisho 1912 -- 1926 Showa 1926 --

Agricultural Society in Japan Japan has traditionally been a nation of farmers. Every square inch of plowable land was used, tucked between the ocean below and the mountains above. Early leaders would give land to the peasants in return for a share of the crops and a set period of time for military service.

Agricultural Society in Japan The military service evolved into a standing army, and leadership - the samurai class. These two classes were well respected for the value they gave to the Japanese culture.

Japan's isolation as an island nation has been instrumental in its development as a culture. By 500 BC it was still an undeveloped agrarian culture without cities. Outside influences which led to cultural advancement included (1) contacts with and importing of Chinese culture, especially in the areas of weaving, metals, art and government Feudalism in Japan Bands of warriors engaged in struggles, formed leagues, and established hegemonies (dominance over other groups) and gradually great leaders appeared and fought for military control over even larger territories, up to one or more provinces.

Japanese Warrior Terms: bushi Warrior; name given to all the warriors who made up families with a warrior tradition bushido Way of the warrior; a code of honor and social behavior; the Way of the bow and the horse from China

daimyo a feudal lord; maintained a great number of samurai in their service, who all swore an oath of allegiance to them according to the rules of Bushido

ninja a group of men and women specially trained for espionage and assassination; generally drawn from the lower classes and used by the daimyo to assassinate enemies and penetrate enemy fortresses

samurai A class of bushi (warriors). The original samurai were there for the protection of their lord and were specially trained in martial arts. Later the name was given to all bushi of a certain rank belonging to warrior families.

shogun title given by the emperor to the daimyo who showed himself to be the richest and the most powerful of all the lords so-jutsu techniques of using the lance, and performed wearing the ancient armor of the samurai

The Samurais wore. protective helmets. and armor and The Samurais wore protective helmets and armor and fought with two curved swords. Samurais, who came into power from 1000 to 1200 CE, put a great deal of value on honor and discipline.

Code of Ethics Samurai honored skills such as horsemanship and the ability to fight with a bow and arrow, but their value was placed on a much higher level, dealing with strong self-discipline, bravery, and total obedience and honor towards their lords.

Ideals of the Samurai Without knowledge of Learning, one will ultimately have no military victories. One should not be envious of someone who has prospered by unjust deeds. Nor should he disdain someone who has fallen while adhering to the path of righteousness. Imagawa Sadayo (1325-1420)

Code of Ethics The Samurai’s code of chivalry, known as Bushido, or the "Way of the Warrior", was created in Japan using China’s concept of warriors known as "The Way of Horse and Bow".

Code of Ethics The philosophy behind Bushido is "freedom from fear." This meant the samurai was not to fear any bout and to face death with honor. Bushido "gave [the samurai] the peace and power to serve his master faithfully and loyally and die if necessary"(Brief History of the Samurai).

Role of Religion in Japan Shinto ("the way of the gods") is the indigenous faith of the Japanese people and as old as Japan herself. It remains Japan's major religion besides Buddhism. Shinto does not have a founder nor does it have sacred scriptures like the sutras or the bible.

Role of Religion in Japan In contrast to Christianity, there is no absolute right and wrong, and nobody is perfect. Shinto is an optimistic faith, as humans are thought to be fundamentally good, and evil is believed to be caused by evil spirits. The purpose of Shinto rituals is to keep away evil spirits.