Medieval Japan

Medieval Japan

1. Shogun

   • gained power by winning civil war against other clans
   • begun in 12th century to 19th
   • the military leader (man)
   • 1st Kamakura( 1185-1333ad)
   • first was Minamoto no Yoritomo
   • Muromachi Shogun (1366-1538AD)
     • lasted over 100 years
     • Moved the capital to Kyoto and the emperor went to Nara
     • Tokogawa Shogun
       • (1603-1868AD)
       • was the last shougnate
       • Ieyasu Tokogawa was the first

2. Daily life

   • family life
     • respect for elders
       • large family groups
     • the individual was not considerd important the whole was
   • clothing
     • peasents wore straw
     • silk and emperor wore lots of it
     • confusciamnsm
     • strict what you wore
   • meals
     • was usually rice
       • and fish
     • drank fresh water & sake
   • housing
     • peasants
       • lived in 1 storey buildings
       • made of wood, paper, straws
     • most houses were made from wood for it was plentyful
       • it gave a little during an earthquake

3. origin story

   • Isanmi & Isagnagi
   • dipped a blade in water & the drops became Japan
   • Isagnagi created the moon and God
   • Japan is the rising sun

4. levels of class

   • Emperor
     • was ornamental when the shogun period began
     • Emperor Meiji
       • was the emperor after the shogun system cloasped
       • was 17
       • Had new reforms like
         • A written constitution
         • religious rights
         • a unified language
   • samurai
     • were the warriors
     • bushido
       • seppuku
         • slit the stomach
         • to aviod dishonour
       • the way of the warrior
     • loyalty, bravery
     • armour
       • light-weight
         • made from scales of llacquered iron sown together with silk
   • Daimyo
     • had the samurai to protect them
       • became shougun if won the civil war
     • territorial lords

5. Social Heirachy pyramid

   • Emperor & Shogun
     • Nobles families & Daimyo & Samurai
       • Farmers & Peasents
         • Artisans & craftsmen
           • Merchants
             • Hinin including Ronin

6. Art & literature

   • wood block printing
     • cheap and efficent
     • several different ways
     • copied paintings and documents
   • Calligraphy
     • Left-Right -Up-down
     • style was influenced by China
     • was on official documents
   • oragami
     • begin in the 8th century
     • famous hobby
     • crane
   • haikus and Prose
     • prose were made up stories
       • like anime
       • or cartoons
     • were poems
       • distinctive to Japan
       • 5-7-5

7. Japanese Legacies

   • food
     • udon
     • sashimi
     • sushi
     • sake
   • oragami
   • calligraphy
   • Bonzai's
   • gardens and tea ceremonys
   • houses/temples made from wood

8. Beliefs and Values

   • Shinto
   • buddishm
   • zen buddishm
   • Samurai bushido
   • Isanami and Isagnagi
     • origin story