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: Rise of Feudalism: 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