Medieval Japan

Medieval Japan

1. Social hierarchy

   • Daimyo
     • Warrior class
   • Samurai
     • Warrior class
       • Daimyo: noble families
       • About 260 Daimyo
       • Owned large areas of land
       • Samurai: warriors who were linked to Daimyo
       • Helped control their Daimyo's land - in turn were paid in rice
         • Used weapons commonly in battle
           • Naginata -
           • Katana
           • Bow and Arrow
           • Wakizashi
   • Peasant
     • Peasant class
       • Grew the food for the society
       • Paid taxes to daimyo - Listened to daimyo's samurai
   • Artisan
     • Artisan class
       • Crafted non-essential things
       • Not highly regarded or needed
   • Merchant
     • Merchant
       • Lowest on the social structure
       • Some could be very wealthy - were still not respected as they did not contribute to society
   • Hinin, Ronin
     • Hinin - Outcasts that were so disrespected they were technically not a part of the social hierarchy
     • Ronin - Samurai without a master (Were either rejected, or their master had passed away)

2. Shogunates

   • Ran from 1185 (the beginning of the Kamakura Shogunate) to 1868 (When the emperor retook control)
   • Tokugawa Shogunate (1603 - 1868AD)
     • Ended the Warring States period in 1600
     • Ended in 1868 - The emperor retook control
     • Created strict order which kept peace - No wars for 250 years
     • Isolated Japan from the rest of the world - You had to be given special permission to leave Japan (for trading purposes)
       • Christianity (foreign religion) was introduced during the 16th century, some Japanese began practising it
         • All Japanese Christians were banned from practising their religion - Every person in Japan forced to sign up at their local Buddhist temple
       • If a daimyo was given permission to trade, they were given a 'red seal permit'
         • Daimyo that were allowed to trade a limited amount of items - Daimyo could not become rich this way anymore
       • Only city foreign cities were allowed to enter was Nagasaki
     • High taxes created for peasants and daimyo to pay
       • Reduced wealth of the people
       • Increased economic power of the Shogunate, keeping it strong
     • Number of samurai a daimyo was allowed was restricted
       • Led to many samurai being forced to either take up government jobs or become Ronin
   • Kamakura Shogunate (1185 - 1333AD)
     • First Shogun - Minamoto no Yoritomo
     • First Shogunate
     • Lost power in 1333
   • Muromachi Shogunate (1366 - 1538AD)
     • Capital city was moved to Kyoto - Emperor went back to Nara
     • Nobles began to gain more power and fought amongst themselves - Then against the Shogun
       • This lasted over 100 years
       • Known as Sengoku (Warring States)
         • Warring states Period: 1467 - 1573AD

3. Belief Systems

   • Confucianism
     • Like China, the Japanese believed in Confucianism also
     • Affected the social hierarchy - How people were treated
   • The Eightfold Path - Teachings of Siddhartha Gautama
     • Resist evil
     • Free your mind of evil
     • Respect life
     • Work for the good of others
     • Control your thoughts
     • Practise meditation
     • Say nothing to hurt others
     • Know the truth
   • Shinto
     • Based on animism (all things have spirits)
     • Spirits called 'Kami'
     • Once you die you enter the spirit world
     • Closely linked to nature
       • Shrines placed in natural areas (e.g. forests)
       • Shrines also placed in homes - to worship ancestor spirits

4. Religions

   • Buddhism
     • Came from China/Korea to Japan in the 6th century
     • Teaches meditation and discipline
     • Taken on by the wealthy first - Eventually all members of society took on Buddhism
   • During the Tokugawa Shogunate, a person could only follow two religions - Shinto and Buddhism

5. Art and literature

   • Pottery/painting
     • Jomon pottery
     • Paintings
     • Woodblock prints (Ukiyo-e)
   • Calligraphy
     • Also known as Shodo
     • Two different types:
       • Kanji - Hard to master
       • Hiragana - easier, used by most people
   • Poetry
     • Haiku poems - Three lines
       • First line - 5 syllables
       • Second line - 7 syllables
       • Third line - 5 syllables
   • Origami
     • Folding paper to create beautiful and interesting shapes

6. How we get to Shogunate Japan

   • Jomon (10000 - 300BC)
     • People were called Jomon because of their style of pottery - Cord, wire and sticks were pressed into wet clay to give texture
     • Evidence of Jomons: Pottery, midden, figurines called dugo
     • First people to arrive - came from mainland Asia
   • Nara (710 - 794AD)
     • First coins and taxes used
     • First known literature/books created
   • Heian (794 - 1184AD)
     • Military commanders became more powerful - They were called Shoguns
     • Japan still run by an emperor (no more empresses) - Capital city moved to Kyoto