 Jeffrey Penny  Jeanette Wetzel  Sarah Akram  Hailey Sebree  Elizabeth Roslonowski Period #5 Mr. Gronich 2/25/11

 Feudalism: is the social organization created by exchanging grants of land or fiefs in return for a formal oath for allegiance or promises of loyal service  The system of feudalism has been used not only in Japan but Germany, Western Europe and China  Feudalism usually results in weak government with highly powerful aristocratic lords or rulers.  Generally no central government

 Fujiwara: highly powerful Japanese aristocratic family in mid-9 th century  Bushi(Bushido) : feudal Japanese warrior leaders who administered law; also the way of the warrior  Daimyo: loyal vassals  Samurai: mounted troops of Japanese warrior leaders  Zen Buddhism(Chan Buddhism): stressed the importance of meditation and the appreciation of natural and artistic beauty  Shinto: the way of the Gods (Kami-no-michi)  Seppuku: ritual suicide or disembowelment in Japan  Shoguns: military leaders of the bakufu  Gempei wars: occurred for five years from 1180 on Honshu between the Taira and Minamoto families(ended with the destruction of the Taira)

 Japan like Korea and Vietnam borrowed and copied many characteristics and ideas from china and feudal china  Was born after the fall and decline of Imperial decline  Ultimately was about the dominant control of families and no strong government  Lasted from 1185 to 1333 C.E. (approximately)  However, the emperor, courts and formal government was left intact, but as ceremonial figure heads  The bushi controlled many civil, military and judicial matters  The period was interrupted by the Mongol invasions

 Feudal Japan had much warfare  The civilization was highly militaristic  Military/loyalty values such as family alliances and ritualized combat blocked the growth of government(hence why aristocratic families became powerful)  Worst periods of internal conflict(civil wars) was in 17 th century

 Once again, the feudalism system generated a weak central government  The political control rested in the hands of the “Shogun” or military leaders  Had unsophisticated political systems  Regional leaders had armies of their own(loyalty)  Once again, rulers relied on loyalty and respect for power  “developed political values that embraced, most participants in the system”  Aristocratic lords controlled the mass of peasants

 They practiced Zen Buddhism  Shinto and Japanese Buddhism was a single complex religion  Free religious freedom was granted  Participated in rituals and customs derived from religious traditions

 Feudal Japan heavily borrowed ideas from Chinese culture  The society was divided into various classes  Was ruled by the Shogun, who were military leaders with absolute control  Most successful was the “Tokugawa” shogunate( )

 They had steel manufacturing  Mastered bronze and metalworking  Silk paintings  Produced Japanese paper  Discoveries in astronomy  Kept their handicraft making secret  Developed textile technology  Had wooden architecture  Woodworking tools

 The feudalism was highly based on military  Developed textile technology and wood working  Lawyers or Japanese legal system emerged  However, they were successful in industrial development  They also were adept in running Capitalist economies

 Feudal Japan emerged after Imperial Japan fell  Emperor’s and the courts were used as ceremonial figure heads during this era  Aristocratic Lords especially the Fujiwara were very dominant and possessed military control  *Feudal System  Loyalty of the Japanese to their lords contributed to the success of this era.  A period of civil war or eternal conflict also erupted

Questions?