The Japanese Feudal The Japanese Feudal SystemSystem

Standard 7.5.3Standard 7.5.3

Ch 5 Medieval JapanCh 5 Medieval Japan

The ShogunThe Shogun

military ruler of a warrior military ruler of a warrior government set up in Japan in 1192government set up in Japan in 1192

ShogunShogun means “great general” means “great general” supported by nobles called supported by nobles called daimyodaimyo

who were his vassals who were his vassals Minamoto Yoritomo: Minamoto Yoritomo:

-- 1192 became first -- 1192 became first shogunshogun

Armor worn by first ShogunArmor worn by first Shogun

DaimyoDaimyo

powerful military lord loyal to shogunpowerful military lord loyal to shogun daimyodaimyo gets land and protection from gets land and protection from

shogunshogun in return for their loyalty in return for their loyalty

all all daimyodaimyo were potential challengers were potential challengers for power unless kept under for power unless kept under shogun’sshogun’s controlcontrol

some daimyo owned much landsome daimyo owned much land

SamuraiSamurai

means means “those who serve”“those who serve” samuraisamurai were soldiers who serve the were soldiers who serve the

daimyodaimyo in return for land in return for land

Bushido:Bushido:

-- code of conduct for -- code of conduct for samuraisamurai

-- Loyalty, Honor, Courage, -- Loyalty, Honor, Courage, Refinement, and Excellence. Refinement, and Excellence.

Samurai ArmorSamurai Armor

Samurai Warrior in ArmorSamurai Warrior in Armor

Samurai BushidoSamurai Bushido• The Samurai is obedient to his lord. • It is a Samurai's right to protest against bad judgments or orders from his lord and death is the final protest Samurai can make.

• The Samurai is ready to die at any time. • There is no such thing as failure, only death or success. • To die in the service of one's lord is the greatest service a Samurai can render.

• Dishonor to lord or family is also dishonor to the Samurai.• All debts, both vengeance and gratitude, are repaid. • Cowardice is dishonorable.

SeppukuSeppuku

SeppukuSeppuku, also known as , also known as hara-kirihara-kiri,, is a form of is a form of ritual suicide used by ritual suicide used by samuraisamurai. It can be given . It can be given by a lord as punishment or chosen by an by a lord as punishment or chosen by an individual for a number of reasons. A samurai individual for a number of reasons. A samurai must request permission from his feudal must request permission from his feudal superior in order to commit superior in order to commit seppukuseppuku. .

Samurai convicted of significant crimes are Samurai convicted of significant crimes are usually ordered to commit seppuku. This is a usually ordered to commit seppuku. This is a privilege of their caste, or social class, privilege of their caste, or social class, allowing them to commit suicide rather than allowing them to commit suicide rather than face shameful execution.face shameful execution.

Samurai SwordSamurai Sword