1. Feudal Japan
Chapter 5, Lesson 3
EQ: What creates power struggles and stable periods of rule in societies?

2. Home Learning: Define Vocabulary (Chapter 5, Lesson 3)
Archipelago
Samurai
Revenue
Bushido
Shogun
Daimyo (DY-mee-oh)
Shinto

3. 1. What geographic feature makes Japan unique?
2. How do you think being an island nation affected Japan’s development?
3. In what ways do you think mainland nations develop differently from island nations?

4. Japan's isolation as an island nation has been instrumental in its development as a culture. By 500 BC it was still an undeveloped agrarian culture without cities. Outside influences which led to cultural advancement included (1) contacts with and importing of Chinese culture, especially in the areas of weaving, metals, art and government
Geography of Japan
Japan's isolation
Key in its development as a culture
An archipelago—a chain of many islands.
4,000 islands make up the archipelago
4 large islands

5. UNIFICATION OF JAPAN— BY SHŌTOKU TAISHI (574-622 AD)
Early Japanese society was made up of clans.
Aristocratic clans, however most people were poor peasants
In the early seventh century, Shotoku Taishi, a prince of the Yamato clan, united the clans under a centralized government—he becomes Supreme Ruler of Japan.
He organized his government based on the Chinese model.

6. THE NARA PERIOD: THE FUJIWARA CLAN
After Shotoku’s death in 622– the Fujiwara clan gained political power
Yamato ruler was still emperor, but he was strongly influenced by the Fujiwara clan.
The central government could not overcome the growing dominance of the aristocrats
Aristocrats don’t pay taxes on land—without taxes the central government had no revenue and lost power.

7. JAPANESE FEUDALISM BEGINS
A decentralized government returned to Japan
Heads of noble families or daimyo turned to military force—the samurai for personal protection

8. This scroll image shows Japanese samurai, or warriors, fighting.
It is not known when the scroll was created, but it was probably completed between 1185 and 1333.

9. Samurai— a class of Japanese warriors founded in the 1100s.
Membership was open at first only to aristocratic men
Later men from other classes were permitted to join
Recognized for horsemanship and their military skills.
Japanese rulers often relied on the samurai to help them gain and maintain power.
They were valued culture and supported the theater, collected important Japanese paintings.
They valued courage, loyalty, honor and lived by a strict warrior code—Bushido

10. Samurai Warrior Attire
The Samurai

11. Samurai Sword

12. THE FIRST SHOGUNATE: KAMAKURA SHOGUNATE
By the 12th century, rivalries among Japan’s aristocratic families resulted in constant civil war.
Minamoto Yoritomo, a powerful noble defeated several rivals and set up a military government under a shogun (general)
Centralized power returned under shogun
Emperor remained ruler, but in name only
The Kamakura Shogunate, founded by Yoritomo, lasted from 1192 to 1333.

13. Draw a Castle…

14. Warwick Castle, England

15. Feudal Japan

16. Japanese Traditional Castle

17. Compare & Contrast: Japanese and European Feudalism

18. Feudal Hierarchy Emperor – Japanese political ruler
Shogun – Had the powers of a military
dictator; Ruled Japan through
puppet emperors
Daimyo- heads of the nobles families, controlled landed estates
Samurai – loyal warriors of local lords
Peasant – Worked the land which belonged to the local lords

19. Japanese Feudal System
Emperor
and
Shogunate
Daimyo
Samurai
Peasants

20. Bell Ringer: Buddhism
Briefly write a paragraph explaining what you think you know about Buddhism.
Where did it originated?
Which countries practice it?
Who is the leader of that religion?
Is it older than Christianity?
What is the religion about?

21. Japanese Religion Shinto (“the Sacred Way”) Buddhism:
Belief in spirits (kami) and that the spirits of ancestors were present with them.
Buddhism:
Brought by Chinese monk travelers in 500s to Japan

22. Japanese Relgion
Read “Religion and Culture” on pg. 95. Fill in the information about Shinto and Buddhism in the following table.

23. Japan’s Religions

24. Japanese Culture Chinese/Korean culture influence:
Adopted Chinese system of writing
Painting styles
Simple arts: cooking, gardening, tea, hairdressing
Strong central government

26. Activity: Women in Japan

27. Assignment:
Chapter 5, Lesson 3: Review Questions #1, #3, #4, #5 1. Identifying: What did Bushido mean to the samurai? 3. Drawing Conclusions: How did Japan’s geography affect its economy and culture? 4. Evaluation: What influenced the rise and fall of central rule in medieval Japan? 5. Describing: What was life like in early Japan?