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Feudal Japan Power Point 2010-11
Feudal Japan Power Point 2010-11
Feudal Japan Power Point 2010-11
Feudalism in Japan
Yamato Period
• 300-710.
• Chinese cultural influence.
• Aspects of China that were
adopted included:
– Confucianism.
– Buddhism.
– Art & architecture.
– Government structure.
– Language, especially kanji characters.
• Prince Shotoku, 573-621 AD
– Spread Chinese culture and Confucianism.
– Allowed Buddhist sects to grow and develop.
– Created a new governmental structure.
• Including a 17 Article Constitution in 604 AD.
A Divine Emperor
• Prior to 400 AD clans ruled separate areas of
Japan.
• Yamato Clan produced the first 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.
Nobles Gain Power
• Earned trust of Emperor, which gained them
control.
• Married daughters of princes.
– Making sure grandsons were related to both families.
• Nobles received most of government’s high-ranking
posts.
• Nobles dominated emperor.
– Emperor’s role became almost completely ceremonial
• Nobles advised Emperor to give shoen to nobles
and clans.
– Shoen is a grant of land.
– Similar to manor or fief in European Feudalism.
• By the end of the Yamato period, Japan was divided
into 5000 shoen and the government had almost no
land
Heian Period
• 764-1156.
• Characteristics of the period:
– Growth of large land estates.
– Chinese art and literature spread.
• Writing and artistic style.
• Personal diaries and novels
– The Tale of Genji.
– Etiquette and highly refined court life.
• Began to move away from Chinese models of
religion and government.
• Buddhism evolved into Zen Buddhism.
– Japanese form of Buddhism that focuses on mental and
self discipline.
• Not influenced by Chinese civil service system.
Refined Court Life of the 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.
– Modeled after influences from Chinese culture
Kamakura Period
• 1185-1333.
• Minamoto Yoritomo.
– Founded the Kamakura Shogunate.
• Considered the beginning of the Medieval
Japan.
– Chinese influence declined.
– Increased influence of court system.
• Development of Feudalism in Japan.
Japanese Feudalism
• What is Feudalism?
• Why did Japan need it?
Reason #1: Nobles vs. Nobles
Land - Shoen
Shogun Loyalty
Land - Fief
King Loyalty