Chap 17.4 Flashcards
By the 1100s, what was happening to Japan’s government?
By the 1100s, central government losing control of the empire
Who were hired into Japan’s armies?
Landowners hired armies of samurai, trained professional warriors
How did Japan become a feudal warrior society?
Use of samurai, trained professional warriors, developed into feudal warrior society in Japan
How was Japan’s feudal system similar to the system in Europe?
•In exchange for allegiance, military service, nobles gave property to samurai
What did the samurais receive as payment for their services?
- Unlike in Europe, where knights were usually paid with land grants, only most powerful samurai received land
- Most paid with food, usually rice
- Those given land did not work, live on land
In Japan’s warrior society, who worked the land?
The samurai’s lands were worked by peasants, who gave the samurai money or food for payment each year.
What was the role of the samurai?
- Main role of samurai, that of highly skilled warrior
- Wore armor, were skilled with many weapons, often fought on horseback
- Expected to be in fighting form all the time, ready to do battle should need arise
What were the position of the samurai in Japanese society?
•As time passed, samurai rose in status in society, enjoyed many privileges
How were samurais treated in Japanese society?
- Crowds parted to let them pass when samurai walked down street
- People dropped eyes out of respect—and fear—because samurai had right to kill anyone who showed disrespect
What was the code of ethics that samurais’ follow?
•Samurai followed strict code of ethics, known as Bushido, “the way of the warrior”
What did the Bushido require?
- Bushido required samurai to be courageous, honorable, obedient, loyal
- Word samurai means “those who serve;” each had to serve, obey his lord without hesitation,
What did samurais have to do when they fail?
•Samurai who failed to obey, protect lord expected to commit seppuku — suicide by ritual disembowelment
What were the activities that samurai did?
•Pursued activities requiring great focus, like writing poetry, arranging flowers, performing tea ceremonies
What was the belief system of the samurai?
What did this belief stress?
- Many samurai accepted Zen Buddhism
- Spread from China to Japan in 1100s
- Zen stressed discipline, meditation as ways to focus mind, gain wisdom
What was the role of women?
What did women have to follow and do for their families?
How were women treated in Japanese society?
What rights did women have?
Both men, women of samurai families learned to fight
Usually only men went to war
Female samurai had to follow Bushido
Were prepared to die to protect home, family honor
Samurai women honored in Japanese society
–Could inherit property
- Allowed to participate in business
Did Japan have a central government?
Who were the most powerful people?
Rise of the Shoguns
For most of the 1100s, Japan had no strong central government. Local nobles, the heads of powerful clans, fought for power
In 1192, who was Minamoto Yoritomo?
How was he able to rule?
•1192, Powerful clan leader Minamoto Yoritomo forced emperor to name him shogun, “general,” Japan’s supreme military leader.
Shogun ruled in emperor’s name