Feudal Japan

Students will be able to…

• Explain the development of feudalism in Japan• Describe how power shifted from the nobles

to the nobles in the 1100’s• Explain how Japanese society became a

military society

A Timeline of Japanese Leadership

593-622

Prince Shotoku

800’s

Fujiwara clan comes to power –

They hold the REAL power in

Japan

1100’s

Feudalism Begins in

Japan

Minamoto YoritomoBecomes first Shogun

1192 1603

Tokugawa IeyasuIsolates Japan and establishes a

Dynasty which lasts until the 1800’s

Central Government Grows Week

• Japan remained strong and untied for centuries

• Fujiwara clan came to power and remained Japan’s most powerful family for almost 300 years.

• 1100’s the power of central government and the Fujiwara clan declined– Running out of money– Lost authority over large land

owners

Feudalism:

• A political and social system of local rule in which lords (Daimyo in Japan) gave land to vassals in exchange for service.

Japanese Feudalism

Feudalism in Japan

• Daimyo (large landholders) gained control over Japan– Hired Samurai armies to

protect themselves and attack other daimyo

– Powerful families (Taira and Minamoto) had large armies of samurai

– The emperor still remained in power – but no longer had any real power continuing the pattern started in early Japan

As daimyo power increased central government weakened and lawlessness increased

• Small landowners wanted protection – To get protection they pledged loyalty to a more

powerful lord or daimyo– Loyalty included military service– This person is known as a vassal

Military Society

• Military leaders called Shoguns or “supreme commander of the army” rose to power– Shoguns ruled on the

emperor’s behalf – usually allowing his own interest to come first

– Minamoto Yoritomo became the first shogun in 1192 – ruled the country of Japan

– Shotgunates would last for nearly 700 years

Samurai

• Warriors• Vowed to fight for their lord

even if they could not protect their family

• Honorable death more important than long life

• Women were often warriors • Lived by a code of honor called

Bushido: loyalty, honor, and bravery – became the unwritten code of conduct for all Japanese

• Zen Buddhism an important aspect of their lives

Three Powerful Warriors Unify Japan

Oda Nobunaga• Mid 1500’s• Recognized the importance

of guns• First Japanese soldiers to

use guns in battle• Controlled nearly half of

Japan before he died in 1582

Toyotomi Hideyoshi• General for Oda Nobunaga• Born a peasant • Controlled all of Japan

before his death in 1598

Three Powerful Leaders• Tokugawa Ieyasu

– Became Shogun in 1603– Founded a dynasty

(Tokugawa Shogunate) that would last until 1868

– Established the capital of Japan Edo which would become Tokyo

– Isolated Japan, banned Christianity, forbid Japanese to leave Japan, and ended all foreign trade – Lasted until the 1850’s

Why it Matters…

• Japan remains strongly united today. It continues to limit immigration and controls the country’s dealings with foreigners