1. Medieval Japan and Korea
Preview
Main Idea / Reading Focus
Japan’s Warrior Society
The Tokugawa Shogunate
Medieval Korea
Map: Japan and Korea
Visual Study Guide / Quick Facts
Video: The Impact of the Samurai Tradition on Japan Today

2. Medieval Japan and Korea
Main Idea
During the medieval period, a feudal warrior society developed in Japan, while Korea’s rulers endured invasion and turned to isolation.
Reading Focus
What were the key characteristics of the feudal warrior society in Japan?
How did the Tokugawa Shogunate rule Japan, and in what ways did the culture flourish during the period?
How did the Choson dynasty shape events in medieval Korea?

3. Japan’s Warrior Society
By the 1100s, central government losing control of the empire
Local clans fighting for power and land, no law and order
Bandits roamed countryside, landowners hired armies of samurai, trained professional warriors
Use of samurai, trained professional warriors, developed into feudal warrior society in Japan
Similar to feudal system in Europe
In exchange for allegiance, military service, noble landowners gave property, payment to samurai
Feudalism and Samurai
Unlike in Europe, where knights were usually paid with land grants, only most powerful samurai received land
Most paid with food, usually rice
Those given land did not work, live on land
Payment for Samurai
The samurai’s lands were worked by peasants, who gave the samurai money or food for payment each year.

4. Warrior Role Societal Privileges
Main role of samurai, that of highly skilled warrior
Wore armor, were skilled with many weapons, often fought on horseback
Expected to be in fighting form all the time, ready to do battle should need arise
Societal Privileges
As time passed, samurai rose in status in society, enjoyed many privileges
Crowds parted to let them pass when samurai walked down street
People dropped eyes out of respect—and fear—because samurai had right to kill anyone who showed disrespect

5. Samurai Code of Ethics Discipline Zen Buddhism
Samurai followed strict code of ethics, known as Bushido, “the way of the warrior”
Bushido required samurai to be courageous, honorable, obedient, loyal
Word samurai means “those who serve;” each had to serve, obey his lord without hesitation, even if samurai, family suffered as result
Samurai who failed to obey, protect lord expected to commit seppuku—suicide by ritual disembowelment
Strove to live disciplined lives
Pursued activities requiring great focus, like writing poetry, arranging flowers, performing tea ceremonies
Discipline
Many samurai accepted Zen Buddhism
Spread from China to Japan in 1100s
Zen stressed discipline, meditation as ways to focus mind, gain wisdom
Zen Buddhism

6. Both men, women of samurai families learned to fight
Role of Women
Both men, women of samurai families learned to fight
Usually only men went to war
Female samurai had to follow Bushido
Were prepared to die to protect home, family honor
Samurai women honored in Japanese society
Could inherit property
Allowed to participate in business

7. Rise of the Shoguns Yorimoto Shogun Rule
For most of the 1100s, Japan had no strong central government. Local nobles, the heads of powerful clans, fought for power.
Minamoto family defeated rival clan to become Japan’s most powerful clan
1192, clan leader Minamoto Yoritomo forced emperor to name him shogun, “general,” Japan’s supreme military leader
Shogun ruled in emperor’s name
Yorimoto
Emperor remained at top of society, but became mere figurehead
For nearly 700 years shoguns ruled Japan
Yoritomo allowed emperor to hold court at Heian, later known as Kyoto
Shogun formed military government at Kamakura
Shogun Rule

8. New Threats Kamakura Shogunate Weakened Shogunate
Kamakura Shogunate, military dynasty, ruled Japan until 1333
1200s, Kamakura Shogunate faced major threat—Mongols
1274, again in 1281, large Mongol fleets attacked Japan
Each time Japanese defeated them, with help of powerful storm that wiped out enemy fleet
Kamakura Shogunate
Japanese referred to storms as kamikaze, “divine wind”; believed they showed that the gods favored Japan
Mongol invasions weakened Kamakura Shogunate
Many lords thought shogun had not rewarded them enough; loyalties broke down
1338, Shogunate overthrown
Weakened Shogunate

9. Rebellion and Order Daimyo Fortifications Firepower
A new shogunate took power but was too weak to gain control of Japan. With the loss of centralized rule, Japan splintered into many competing factions.
Numerous local daimyo, powerful warlords with large estates, gained control of territories, battled for power
Daimyo built large fortified castles to defend lands
Daimyo
Castles often on hills, protected by walls, surrounded by water
Towns often grew up around them
Daimyo began to use peasants as foot soldiers, samurai on horseback
Fortifications
1543, Portuguese introduced firearms
Daimyo began to arm soldiers with guns
Some samurai refused to use them
Died wielding swords against superior firepower
Firepower

10. Ambitious Men Generals Take Control Tokugawa Ieyasu
1500s, three strong daimyo worked to take control of Japan
Oda Nobunaga, first to arm soldiers with guns, defeated opponents easily
By death in 1582, controlled half of Japan
Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Oda’s greatest general, continued efforts; by 1590, controlled most of Japan
Generals Take Control
1600, Tokugawa leyasu won decisive battle
Gained complete control of all Japan
1603, emperor made Tokugawa shogun
Event began the Tokugawa Shogunate
Tokugawa Ieyasu

11. What features defined Japan’s feudal warrior society?
Find the Main Idea
What features defined Japan’s feudal warrior society?
Answer(s): Samurai gave military service in exchange for property or payment; shoguns ruled in the name of the emperor; daimyo were powerful warlords.

12. The Tokugawa Shogunate
Strong Central Government
Tokugawa leyasu established capital at quiet fishing village, Edo, now Tokyo
Established strong central government
Tokugawa shoguns brought about period of relative unity, peace, stability
Tokugawa Rule
Tokugawa shoguns closely controlled daimyo, who still held local level power
To keep loyal, shoguns required daimyo to live in Edo periodically, leave families there year-round as “hostages”
Forced daimyo to maintain two residences; attempt to preclude from rebelling
Prosperity
Stability, peace of Tokugawa rule brought prosperity to Japan
Agricultural production rose, population and cities grew
Economic activity increased
New roads linked main cities, castle towns, improving trade

13. Rigid Feudal System Top of Society Shogun, Daimyo Ruling Warrior Class
Under Tokugawa rule, Japan’s strict feudal system more rigid
At top of society, emperor
Only a figurehead
Shogun, Daimyo
Next was shogun, held real power as military ruler
Below shogun, daimyo—owed shogun loyalty
Ruling Warrior Class
Under daimyo, samurai who served them
Emperor, shogun, daimyo, samurai made up ruling warrior class
Three Lower Classes
Below ruling warrior class were three classes
Peasants, artisans, merchants

14. Lower Classes Rules Peasants Honor and Some Status
Members of lower classes could not rise in social status
Could not serve in military or government, or hold government positions that might challenge power of warrior class
Peasants
Peasants made up vast majority—about 80 percent—of Japan’s population
Forbidden to do anything but farming
Supported selves by growing rice, other crops on daimyo, samurai estates
Honor and Some Status
In Japan, farming considered honorable trade
Peasants enjoyed relatively high status, just below samurai
However, peasants paid most of taxes, led hard lives

15. Artisans and Merchants
Below peasants were artisans
Artisans often lived in castle towns; made goods like armor, swords
Merchants at bottom of society
Not honored because did not produce anything
Merchants often grew wealthy
Could use wealth to improve social position
During Tokugawa period, women’s status gradually declined
Many led restricted lives
Had to obey male head of household absolutely
Even samurai class women lost many rights, freedoms
Women
Role of male samurai changed
Peace put many out of work
Not allowed to engage in trade
Many ronin—masterless samurai—fell on hard times
Some became farmers, others warriors for hire, still others bandits
Male Samurai

16. Relations with the West
The prosperity of the Tokugawa Period went hand in hand with Japan’s increasing contact with Europeans.
Initially the Japanese welcomed European traders and missionaries and the new ideas, products and technologies that they brought.
Trade with Europe boosted Japan’s economy
Christian missionaries changed Japanese society
Many Japanese became Christian; soon samurai could be heard chanting Christian prayers in battle
Changes
Over time Tokugawa shoguns grew concerned with spread of Christianity; began to persecute Christians, kill missionaries
Also began to restrict foreign trade, travel
Banned building large ships
Period of Isolation
By 1650, Japan had shut its doors to all Europeans except the Dutch. Japan continued this policy for more than 200 years.

17. Feudal Culture Art and Literature Theater
Japan’s growing cities became centers of culture during the feudal period.
In art, colorful woodblock prints called Ukiyo-e, “pictures of the floating world,” became popular
In literature, realistic stories became popular, as well as form of poetry called haiku
Three lines with 17 syllables; many haiku deal with themes of nature, harmony
Art and Literature
In theater, Noh drama developed, 1300s
Slow-moving Noh plays told stories through use of masks, stylized dance, music
1600s, new type of theatre with more action, plot, humor—kabuki
Women initially performed kabuki, but later banned and replaced by men
Theater

18. What changes did Tokugawa rulers impose on Japanese society?
Summarize
What changes did Tokugawa rulers impose on Japanese society?
Answer(s): They required daimyos to live in Edo periodically and make expensive processions, some family members were kept hostage in Edo, a strict social structure was maintained, and they isolated Japan from outsiders.

19. Medieval Korea
In 1392, powerful general, Yi Song-gye gained control of Korea
Established Choson kingdom
Choson, or Yi, dynasty became one of Korea’s longest ruling dynasties
Lasted until 1910
Formed government based on Confucianism

20. Japan and China as Foes Prosperity and War Hermit Kingdom
During this period, Korea prospered
Produced many cultural achievements, including creation of Korean alphabet
Late 1500s, Japan invaded twice
Koreans held off Japanese using ironclad warships with cannons; also received help from Ming China
Prosperity and War
Fighting with Japan left Korea in ruins
Early 1600s, Chinese invaded
By 1640s, Korea had become vassal state to Qing dynasty in China
As result, Choson kings increasingly isolated Korea, except for trade with China
In West, Korea became known as “Hermit Kingdom” because of isolation
Hermit Kingdom

22. How did foreign influences both help and hurt Korea?
Analyze
How did foreign influences both help and hurt Korea?
Answer(s): helped—Korea's government was formed on Confucianism, which was a foreign influence; harmed—Chinese and Japanese invaded Korea