10 th Century Feudal Japan Ms. Burke | World Cultures

 c – 1600  Also known as the Sengoku Period  During this period, the Emperor was the figurehead ruler Ceremonial, cultural, and religious power  Political power rested with the Shogun  Daimyo began fighting over power/land/wealth and the Shogun (their lord) lost control over them

 CHANGES IN JAPAN: Trade with China began to grow Economy developed Use of money increased  Before – it was the barter system Agricultural developments All levels of the social structure wanted independence Earthquakes and famines triggered armed rebellions b y farmers  They were tired of the heavy taxes

 Ended with a series of three warlords Oda Nobunaga Toyotomi Hideyoshi Tokugawa Ieyasu  These men gradually unified Japan  Japan then entered into several centuries of peace under the Tokugawa Shogunate

 Samurai were also known as bushi and followed the “Way of the Warrior” or bushido  Rigid value system of discipline and honor  Lived and died in service to their lords  Male and female!  10% of population

 1847 – 1868  Female warrior  Was injured in battle and asked her sister, Yuko, to behead her  Monument to her at Hokai Temple and honored

1. Frugality No matter his wealth, the samurai lived simply with few comforts 2. Loyalty The samurai unquestioningly followed and defended his warlord or emperor

3. Martial Arts Mastery The samurai was an artist with his weapons, which include:  Katana: curved single-edged sword

 Worn in a samurai’s sash  Usually 70 cm in length  Made of Japanese steel – Tamahagane  Polishing the blade takes between 1 – 3 weeks  Banned in 1945, but people were allowed to start remaking them in 1953

3. Martial Arts Mastery The samurai was an artist with his weapons, which include:  Yumi: long wooden bow with bamboo arrows

3. Martial Arts Mastery The samurai was an artist with his weapons, which include:  Yari: steel-bladed spears

4. Honor Unto Death If the samurai was defeated, badly wounded, or disgraced in battle, he could only restore his honor through the ritual of seppuku Seppuku: suicide by slicing open own abdomen

 Emperor Meiji officially abolished the samurai in 1868

 After the samurai were abolished in 1868, they became the Shizoku Were not allowed to wear a katana (sword) in public Could not execute anyone who disrespected them in public  The Shizoku were outlawed in 1947