1. Japan & Europe Comparison
Feudalism
Japan & Europe Comparison

2. Heian Japan The Emperor became a symbolic ruler
Heian aristocrats ruled through political stealth & artistic style
Japan became a hotpot of double-dealing and intrigue

3. Heian Period: Cultural Borrowing and Flowering (pre – feudalism)
Chinese religion, philosophy and language greatly impacted early Japanese society. The lower classes were more in favor of borrowing from the Chinese than were the upper classes.
Chinese writing.
Chinese artistic styles.
Buddhism [in the form of ZEN].
BUT, not the Chinese civil service system! 

4. Tea ceremonies & flowers!
Tea Ceremony was part of Wabi, meaning quiet or sober refinement, or subdued taste
Began with Zen Buddhists

5. Lady Murasaki Shikibu
The Tale of Genji perhaps the world’s first novel
She contributed much to the Japanese script known as katakana, while men wrote with Chinese characters, kanji.

6. Noh plays Noh plays were religious, historical and romantic.
They had male actors and a chorus.

7. Zen Buddhism
A Japanese variation of the Mahayana form of Buddhism, which came from India through China.
It reinforced the Bushido values of mental and self-discipline.
Inspired art & drama

8. Development of feudalism (Europe and Japan)
What is Feudalism?
A decentralized social and political order formed for reasons of protection.
Feudalism is defined by land ownership
Serfs in Europe
paying their lord.

9. Origins of European Feudalism
After fall of Roman Empire – no unifying force
Kings are unable to defend their lands, lands of their nobles
Nobles had to find way to defend own lands

10. Origins of European Feudalism Charles Martel (Charles the Hammer)
French “King” - won the Battle of Tours in 732, -saved Europe from the Islamic expansionism that had conquered Iberia.
Brilliant general, -forefather of western heavy cavalry, chivalry, founder of the Carolingian Empire (named after him), catalyst for the feudal system

11. Charles Martel and the Franks defeat the Arab Invaders at Poitiers

12. Origins of European Feudalism Charlemagne (~742-814) (Charles the Great)
Attempts to rebuild “Roman” Empire
Revives art and culture
Saves the Pope (Leo III) -rewarded with the title “Holy Roman Emperor” (Power shift from Constantinople to Northern Europe)
Reforms: monetary, governmental, military, cultural, educational and ecclesiastical (outlaws “whoring, drunkenness, and covetousness” among the nuns and converted the Saxons.)
After his death roads degrade and villas turn to castles.

13. Charlemagne
Note the symbolism in this painting

14. Origins of Japanese Feudalism
After the end of the Heian period the power of the emperor declined
Rugged terrain made central control difficult
Japan saw the rise of various military clans.
Conflicts between these clans turned into civil war
A society led by samurai clans under the political rule of the shogun emerged

15. Structure of European 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

16. hate
I have fiefs
I have manors
you
I have
debt
I have Disease

17. Structure of Japanese 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

18. The emperor reigned, but did not always rule!
Feudal Society

19. Who is really in control?
Europe
Pope (Catholic Church!!!) is head of Roman Catholic Church
Early popes seen as spiritual leaders
During Middle Ages, they became powerful political figures
Japan
Emperor holds the highest rank, but no real power.
-Head of Shinto religion and “revered.”
Shogun REALLY in charge

20. Roland swears fealty to Charlemagne
Lords in Europe
The king would give out grants of land to his most important noblemen (barons and bishops),
A lord granted land (a fief) to his vassals.
Vassal would provide military service to the lord. Land for loyalty is the basis of feudalism.
The vassal pays homage and swears fealty
Roland swears fealty to Charlemagne

21. Daimyo in Japan
Shoguns appoint loyal Daimyo to be local administrators:
Daimyo are wealthy landlords who are: Judges, tax collectors, military leaders and are in charge of road construction and maintenance.

22. Daimyo
Samurai

23. Knights in Europe
Had a duty to learn how to fight and so serve their liege Lord according to the Code of Chivalry
Weapon practice included two-handed sword, battle axe, mace, dagger and lance.
Expected to guard a castle and support his liege lord in Medieval warfare
Granted land with serfs to tend it
To become a knight took years of training
Page→ esquire → knight

25. Samurai in Japan
Samurai were warriors - granted position and land in exchange for military service.(also rice)
Duty to maintain peace in the provinces
lived by an honor code called Bushido
would rather commit suicide than live without honor.

26. Code of Chivalry Loyalty Defense Courage Faith Humility Nobility
Justice
Loyalty
Defense
Courage
Faith
Humility
Nobility

28. Code of Bushido
Fidelity
Politeness
Virility
Simplicity

29. Seppuku: Ritual Suicide
It is honorable to die in this way.
Kaishaku – his “seconds”

31. Ninjas –Just For Fun appeared in 14th century
roles included sabotage, espionage & assassination
cause social chaos
At least one ninja academy for girls

32. Manorialism in Europe the economic portion of feudalism
life was centered on the lord’s manor
included the village, church, farm land and mill.
involved a hierarchy of reciprocal obligations that exchanged labor or rents for access to land.
encompassed the political relations between the Lord of the Manor and his peasants
sometimes referred to as the seignorial system, or Seigneurialism.

34. The Reciprocal obligations of manorialism
Peasants paid the lord of the manor certain dues in return for the use of his land
The Lord of the Manor was expected to provide protection for his peasants
He also provided 'Banalities‘ – use of oven & mill
Lord had judicial power and could gain revenue by the payment of fines
Lord could claim the goods of a person who died on their lands and had no direct heir

36. Feudal Japanese Economics
Japan was an agricultural society based on the production of rice. Terraces were created to increase the amount of arable land.
There was little trade; it was mostly local with few or no contacts with Korea or China.

37. Commoners in Japan
Japanese peasants were reduced to the status of serfs.
They were bound to the land and treated as property.
made up 75% of the population.
not allowed to ride a horse or carry a sword.
Social Mobility: In times of war, a peasant who fought well could rise in status in the society.
Farmer with Hoe
(Ivory)
Farmer’s wife
Noble occupation

38. Europe Mostly Isolated in Feudalism
Little long distance trade
Northern Hanseatic League
Education declined - controlled by Church
Art and architecture less sophisticated
Christianity spreads to Scandinavia and Baltic regions
Islam seen as a threat to Europe

39. Threats to Japan: Mongol attempted invasions of Japan
Kublai Khan sends two invasion forces
4,400 ships and 140,000 men
kamikaze winds stop them.
Mongols lose up to 75% of men

40. Threats in Europe: Vikings Seamen and warriors Why migrate Technology
Convert to Christianity
Places of settlement
Magyars
Muslims

41. Castles in Europe
castles helped a king or a vassal defend the land around
provided homes for the nobles and their families and servants.
outer walls could be up to 33 feet thick
by 1500, became much less important (cannons invented)

42. Castles in Japan
In 12th and 13th centuries castles were built by Samurai and Daimyo.
Built mostly of wood, they were easily destroyed in sieges.

43. Comparative thesis
Compare the (1st & 2nd period social, 3rd & 5th period economic, 6th &7th period political) aspects of the feudal systems of Japan and Europe between 1000 and 1450 C.E.