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Japan. Feudalism, Mongol Conquest and the Tokugawa period. Feudal Japan. Rise of Feudalism. Before Yoritomo comes to power, court nobles dominated Japanese society Under Yoritomo’s rule, samurai warriors took control of Japan’s government Samurai = “one who serves”
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Japan Feudalism, Mongol Conquest and the Tokugawa period
Rise of Feudalism • Before Yoritomo comes to power, court nobles dominated Japanese society • Under Yoritomo’s rule, samurai warriors took control of Japan’s government • Samurai = “one who serves” • Lived according to a code based on honor, respect, obedience and total loyalty to superiors • Revered fighting, symbol = long double edged sword
Bakufu • Military Government • Emperor acted only as religious leader of Japan • Theoretically the Shogun was the emperor’s military adviser or chief of staff, but in fact he was the effective head of state • The illusion was preserved that the emperor and the civil government in Kyoto were supreme and their ceremonial role continued to be observed.
Seppuku/harakiri • Suicide was the course of honor when faced with defeat or when caught up in conflicting loyalites • Seppuku – disembowelment • Harakiri – stomach-cut • The warrior sits cross-legged on the floor in the ritual position and slits open his stomach so that his insides spill out (slow and painful death) • A loyal vassal would even sacrifice his own family if called on to do so
The Mongol Invasion • Mongol invasions • Leader, Kublai Khan, wanted to subjugate Korea and Japan • Sent 450 ships and 15,000 troops to Japan, but they were destroyed by a typhoon • 7 years later, sent another 150,000 troops, but they were destroyed too
Aftermath of Mongol invasion • Sense of national unity developed (Japanese felt their culture was superior) • Japan reaped no spoils from war, only debts • Unpaid samurai terrorized peasants to get money • Kamakura shogunate driven from power by dissatisfied samurai
Tokugawa Period • Closed Japan’s doors • Fought and used shrewd negotiations to bring all provinces under his control • Japan entered a period of unity and growth under Ieyasu • Established his shogunate at Edo • Divided population into 4 hereditary classes • Samurai, peasants, artisans and merchants • Tokugawa’s measures isolated Japan from the rest of the world for over 200 years
Tokugawa Classes • Artisans • Armorers served the needs of the castle samurai • Carpenters erected and repaired buildings • Merchants • Wealthiest members of castletowns • Barred from becoming samurai • Created separate forms of recreation: wrestling, gambling and Kabuki
Togugawa classes • Samurai • Enforced laws rather than storming other castles • Helped daiymo collect taxes • Peasants • Forced to support the entire structure agriculturally • Heavy taxes put higher demands on them • Many moved to cities to become artisans and merchants
Feudal Castles • Daimyo ruled provinces from their castles • Architecture funneled attacking troops into a bottleneck trap • Beautiful gardens and pools were inside the castle • Daimyo’s family required to live in Edo to be “available” as hostages if the daimyo tried to revolt
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
