The Development of Feudalism in Japan

Heian to Tokugawa

The Imperial Court (AD 400-783)

A Divine Emperor: The Spiritual Leader of Japan

• Prior to AD 400, uji (clans) ruled separate areas of Japan

• One clan, Yamato, first emperor

• Emperor descendent of Sun Goddess

• Emperor more about religion than politics

• Uji fought to be advisors

Chinese Influences on the Japanese Court

• Capital city of Nara based on Changan

• Emperors want political and spiritual power

• Prince Shotoku- government, calendar and legal ideas

• Chinese characters• Chinese poetry• Architecture

Taika Reforms (AD 646)

• Introduced by Emperor Tenchi

• Make government like the Tang Dynasty

• Land reforms: all rice growing land became the emperor’s

Refined Court Life During the Heian Period (AD 794-1185)

Nobles Gain Power over the Imperial Family

• Earned trust of emperor; became advisors

• Married daughters to crown princes

• In high-ranking posts• Shoen (tax-free estates)

as gifts to nobles• Made role of emperor

ceremonial

The Refined Life of Court Nobles

• Elegant appearance– Clothing and makeup

• Restrained behavior– Rude to laugh with

mouth open

• Decorum– Letters folded properly

• Leisure– Pastimes like Go

The Rise of the Provincial Nobles

• Rugged, independent, led private armies

• More powerful as court nobles isolated themselves

• Battled with each other for control of provinces

The Rise of Feudalism and the Mongol Invasion (AD 1185-1333)

Inside Japan

• Battle for Government Control– Taira and Minamoto

Clans– Yoritomo Minamoto won

• Rise of Feudalism– Samurai dominate

society– Bakufu (military

government)– Emperor only religious

Threat from Outside

• Mongol Invasions– Kublai Khan wanted control– 450 ships and 15,000 troops

• Destroyed by typhoon

– 7 yrs. Later 150,000 troops

• Aftermath of Invasions– National unity– Debts– Unpaid samurai roam the

land– Kamakura shogunate driven

from power

Feudal Pyramid

Peasants

Civil War and Reunification (AD 1333- 1603)

Stability Under the Ashikaga Shogunate

• Godaigo supreme ruler of Japan

• Ashikaga attacked royal forces at Kyoto

• Godaigo fled south• Ashikaga most powerful

between 1367-1467• Fighting started over

the position of Shogun’s deputy

The Onin War: A Turning Point• Civil war between

families over power• Most of Kyoto

destroyed in the fighting

• Power of emperor and shogun reduced

• Political power to whoever won in battle

• End of Ashikaga Shogunate

Two Attempts to Unify Japan (1)

• Oda Nobunaga– Brilliant military

techniques and firearms– Acted as a brutal tyrant,

especially towards monks

– Controlled 32 of 66 provinces by his death

Two Attempts to Unify Japan (2)

• Toyotomi Hideyoshi– Rose through ranks of

Oda family– Negotiations to pacify

rebel daimyo– Brought all 66 provinces

into feudal agreement

Life in a Castletown During the Tokugawa Period (AD 1603-1868)

Tokugawa Ieyasu Closed Japan’s Doors

• Fought and used negotiation to bring all provinces under his control

• Period of unity and growth• Established shogunate at

Edo• Four classes: samurai,

peasants, artisans, merchants

• Isolated Japan from rest of world for 200 years

Castle Life• Artisans

– Armorers served the castle

– Carpenters built

• Merchants– Wealthy– Banned from becoming

samurai– Recreation: wrestling,

gambling, kabuki

• Samurai– Enforced laws– Helped to collect taxes

• Feudal Castles– Daimyo rules from castles– Architecture funneled

attacks into bottleneck trap– Gardens and pools in the

castle

• Castletowns become Commercial Hubs– Centers of government– Towns grew around castles– Inns, stables and stores

grew along the routes to castles

Nijo CastleThese are the plans of the original castle.

CastleThis is a medieval castle that has been restored. The architecture is similar in all Japanese castles, and mimics Chinese style.