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The Development of Feudalism in Japan

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?.

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The Development of Feudalism in Japan

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  1. The Development of Feudalism in Japan

  2. 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?

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. 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

  7. 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?

  8. 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)

  9. 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

  10. 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

  11. 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?

  12. 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

  13. Inside Japan • Battle for Government Control: • 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

  14. 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

  15. 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?

  16. 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

  17. 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

  18. 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

  19. 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?

  20. 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

  21. Artisans • Armorers served the needs of the castle samurai • Carpenters erected and repaired building

  22. Merchants • Were wealthiest members of the castle towns • Barred from becoming samurai • Created separate forms of recreation: wrestling, gambling and Kabuki

  23. Feudal Castles • Daimyo ruled provinces from their castles • Architecture funneled attacking troops into a bottleneck trap • Beautiful gardens and pools were inside the castle

  24. Osaka Castle – Plain style (moats)

  25. 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

  26. Exterior walls – built high – many 24-32 meters (approximately 60 - 85 feet) Do you notice anything about the picture on the upper right?

  27. Interior walls were built with angles and turns – like a maze to confuse any enemy who breached the outer wall

  28. 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

  29. Samurai • Enforced laws rather than storming other castles • Helped daiymo collect taxes

  30. 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

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