Chapter 13 Section 5Japanese Feudal Age

Mr. SchoffGlobal History I

OA

What is Kabuki?Kabuki Theater

Answer the caption question on page 321

Feudal JapanIn Japan during the 1100s, local warlords fought one anotherWhile armies battled for power, feudalism developedThe emperor had no real powerMilitary rulers called shoguns set up dynasties called shogunatesThe shoguns gave land to vassal lords called daimyoThe daimyo, in turn, gave land to lesser warriors called samurai– Fighting aristocracy

• Heavily armed, trained fighters• Developed own code of values known as bushido

– Bushido emphasized honor, bravery, loyalty– Betray the code and expect to commit seppuku (ritual suicide), rather

than live without honor/respect

ShogunateIn 1603, the Tokugawa shogunate came to powerThe Tokugawa ended wars between feudal lords– However, they continued the feudal system

They imposed restrictions on society by taking control of the daimyo and forcing the peasants to remain on the landOnly the samurai could serve in the army or hold government jobsUnder the Tokugawa shogunate, agriculture improvedFarmers used new seeds and tools to grow more foodThe population of Japan grewTowns were linked by roads– trade increased

Zen Buddhism and moreDuring this time, a form of Buddhism called Zen spread through JapanZen Buddhists valued peace, simple living, nature, and beautyMany Japanese learned Zen practices, such as the tea ceremony and landscape gardeningZen was contradictory– Zen monks were great scholars yet emphasized importance of “non-

knowing”– Emphasized compassion for everyone, yet samurai fought to kill

At the same time, the Japanese made advances in the arts and theaterIn kabuki theater, actors wore colorful costumes and acted out stories about families or events in historyIn literature, Japanese poets created a form of poetry called haiku

EMPERORHeld highest rank in societybut had no political power

SHOGUNActual ruler

DaimyoLarge

landownersSamurai

Warriors loyalto daimyo

PeasantsThree fourths of

populationArtisans

MerchantsLow status but

gradually gainedinfluence