Feudal Japan
Japan’s Early Historic Period: The Imperial Court (A.D. 400-783) Uji clans united by Shinto “The way of the Gods” Kami Amaterasu “Sun Goddess”
Japan’s Early Historic Period: The Imperial Court (A.D. 400-783) Ninigi Jimmu Tenno Yamato Plain Divine Power Jewel Bronze mirror Iron sword
Japan’s Early Historic Period: The Imperial Court (A.D. 400-783) Characteristics: emperor respected for religious power not political power Various uji fought to be the emperor’s chancellors Soga 552-645
Chinese Influences on the Japanese Court 405 Korean Scholar, Wani teaches emperor to read and write Chinese Nippon “Land of the Rising Sun” translates to “jihpen” or Japan Kana
Chinese Influences on the Japanese Court Chinese Poetry, Chinese art Curved tile roofs Shotoku (587-622) adopted Chinese rank, Confucian calendar and Confucian ideals – not bureacracy!
Chinese Influences on the Japanese Court Buddhism 522 Popular among the upper classes Late 600s – 545 Buddhist monastaries and 1000s of monks
Taika Reforms (A.D. 646) introduced by Japanese emperor Tenchi Designed to make Japan’s government like Chinese Tang Land reforms placed all rice-producing lands in hands of emperor
Taika Reforms (A.D. 646) Emperor supposed to be political and religious supreme Reality – regional leaders retained land (tax collectors) and power in hands of chancellor
Capital of Nara est. 710 Pop 200,000 Chinese culture flourished Buddhism prominent 794 capital est. in Heian-kyo
Refined Court Life during Heian Period (794-1185) Tale of Genji Scroll (first novel)
Tale of Genji (first novel)
Lady Murasaki Shikibu She contributed much to the Japanese script known as kana, while men wrote with Chinese characters, kanji.
Refined Court Life during Heian Period (794-1185) Fujiwara Family – Kamatari 858 Fujiwara elevated to sessho 884 Fujiwara elevated to chancellor Married daughters to crown princes
Refined Court Life during Heian Period (794-1185) 1027 Fujiwaras contained many powerful positions Michinaga 997-1027 Shoen Government has almost no land
Refined Court Life during Heian Period (794-1185) Emperor ceremonial Ichijo 1022 – “ostentatious court life”
Refined Court Life during Heian Period (794-1185) Miyabi elegant appearance restrained behavior decorum Leisure time devoted to pursuing pastimes – Go – influenced by Chinese
Refined Court Life during Heian Period (794-1185) Idea of beauty and personal appearance
Refined Court Life during Heian Period (794-1185) Pastimes Go Football Landscape painting Shinto ceremonies
Refined Court Life during Heian Period (794-1185) Sei Shonogan “Pillow Book” 1014 Murasaki Shikibu “Tale of Genji”
Refined Court Life during Heian Period (794-1185) The Rise of the Provincial Nobles Rugged, independent, led private armies More powerful as court nobles isolated themselves Constantly fighting over control of the provinces
The Rise of Feudalism 1185 Battle for government control 1159 Kiyomori Taira executed Yoshitomo Minamoto Kiyomori -dictator
Founded the Kamakura Shogunate: 1185-1333 The Rise of Feudalism 1185 Yoritomo Minamoto drove Taira from power 1180 Sea Battle Dannoura Yoritomo embraced – headquarters in Kamakura Founded the Kamakura Shogunate: 1185-1333
Warrior Class: Samurai “one who serves” Bushido Code Fidelity Politeness Virility Simplicity Full Samurai Attire
Samurai Sword
Early Mounted Samurai Warriors
Samurai Charging
Modern-Day “Samurai Warriors”
Underpinnings: Basic Steps in Self Defense A COTTON BREECH CLOUT that extended up over the chest was the basic undergarment of a samurai’s costume A SHORT SLEEVED KIMONO, or “armor robe,” was tied snugly at the waist with a special knot (lower right)
BILLOWING PANTALOONS,worn over the armor robe, fitted loosely in the legs to allow freedom of movement AN EXQUISITE BROCADE, richly worked with a design of peonies, was one of the extravagant materials used in an armor robe that may have been made for a 14th Century imperial prince STURDY SHINGUARDS of cloth or leather were reinforced with strips of iron to give protection from the front
Kamakura Period (1185-1333) Bakufu Seitaishogun (Shogun)
The emperor reigned, but did not always rule! Feudal Society
Feudalism A political, economic, and social system based on loyalty, the holding of land, and military service. Japan: Shogun Land - Shoen Loyalty Land - Shoen Daimyo Daimyo Loyalty Samurai Samurai Samurai Food Protection Peasant Peasant Peasant Peasant
Feudalism A political, economic, and social system based on loyalty, the holding of land, and military service. Europe: King Land - Fief Loyalty Land - Fief Lord Lord Loyalty Knight Knight Knight Food Protection Peasant Peasant Peasant Peasant
Code of Chivalry Code of Bushido Justice Loyalty Defense Courage Faith Humility Nobility Fidelity Politeness Virility Simplicity
Medieval Warriors vs. European knight Samurai Warrior
Medieval Warriors vs. Knight’s Armor Samurai Armor
Buddhism Pure Land Sect – commoners Lotus Sect – Nichiren (1222-1282) Zen Buddhism – based on meditation
450 ships and 15,000 men, but typhoon winds stopped them. Mongol “Invasions” of Japan Kublai Khan 1264 Great Khan of Mongols 450 ships and 15,000 men, but typhoon winds stopped them.
Mongol Invasions Kamakura Bakufu massive mobilization, religious ceremonies in preparation of another attack 1281 - 150,000 Mongols Kamikaze winds!
Mongol Invasions Kamakura Bakufu in debt Samurai dissatisfied Samurai funded by merchants; forced to sell lands Peasants form the ikki uprisings led by samurai Civil War leads to defeat of Kamakura in 1333
Ashikaga Age: 1338-1573 Godaigo proclaims himself supreme ruler - unsuccessful Ashikaga Takauji attacked 1335 Puppet emperor Godaigo est. southern court Japan’s disunity increases
Ashikaga Age: 1338-1573 Shoguns fought for power. Less efficient than the Kamakura. Yoshimitsu (1376-1408) Alliance unsuccessful Leads to 100 yrs of civil strife
Ashikaga Age: 1338-1573 Onin War (1467-1477) Sengoku Jidai “Age of the Warring States” Battle over succession Capital destroyed Marker at location of outbreak of Ōnin War
Ashikaga Age: 1338-1573 New order based on military not honor or ancestry Ge koku jo “those below subjugating those above” Daimyo referred to person actually ruling the land Traditional families Military leaders Lowly samurai
Reunification 1573-1603 Ritual Suicide Oda Nobunaga (1534-1582) 1560 destroyed Imagawa clan 1568 used firearms to defeat Matsunaga clan Despised Buddhists 1582 betrayed Committed seppukku Ritual Suicide It is honorable to die in this way.
Reunification 1573-1603 Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1536-1598) Named chief general Defeated traitor diplomatic 1590 brought all 66 daimyo’s into a feudal agreement
C A S T L E S
Osaka Castle
Main Gate of Hiroshima Castle
Caernorfon Castle, Wales
Warwick Castle, England
R O E N S
The Age of the Warring States: (1467 - 1568) Castles built on hills in different provinces. Power shifts from above to below. Europeans arrive in Japan bringing firearms & Christianity. Christianity & foreign trade flourish.
Oda Nobunaga (1534-1582) Banishes the last Ashikaga shogun. Unifies a large part of Japan.
Catholic Jesuits in Japan St. Francis Xavier [First Catholic Missionaries in Asia]
Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1536-1598) Becomes suspicious of European territorial ambitions. Orders all European missionaries expelled from Japan. Tries to invade Korea, but fails.
First Christian Martyrs (1597): Shrine in Nagasaki Today
Tokugawa Ieyasu (1543-1616) Appointed shogun by the Emperor. Four-class system laid down with marriage restricted to members of the same class! Warriors. Farmers. Artisans. Merchants.
Tokugawa Shogunate Period Japan closed off to all trade [except to the Dutch and Chinese]. The Dutch were restricted to a small island in Nagasaki harbor. Japanese Christians persecuted and Christianity is forbidden. The government is centralized with all power in the hands of the shogun. Domestic trade flourishes. Towns, esp. castle towns, increase. Merchant class becomes rich! New art forms haiku poetry, kabuki theater.