Japan Under the Shoguns Flashcards
Japan Social Structure Order
*Emperor
*Shogun
*Daimyo
*Samauri
*Ronin
*Peasants
*Craftsmen
*Merchants
Job of Emperor
Emperor: The emperor was a religious leader with no real power. He was more like a distant god-like leader to the Japanese people
Shogun
The Shoguns had the real political and military power. The title of Shogun was earned by being the most powerful military leader. Shoguns were also in charge of creating laws, controlling Daimyo, and collecting taxes
Daimyo
*The Daimyo were noble lords who owned large amounts of land.
*Th size of their land influenced how many Samurai they could control which influenced their power.
*The Daimyo oversaw Samurai who were loyal to them.
*Daimyo pledged their loyalty to the Shogun.
*They were known for their fine castles.
Samuri
*Samurai were respected and highly skilled warriors
*followed the strict code of Bushido.
*They were loyal to their Daimyo and served in their private armies.
Ronin
*The Ronin were Samurai without a Daimyo or master.
*This could have been because they have fallen out of favour with their master if their master had died.
*Ronin were seen as wanderers without any honour.
Peasnts
*90% of the population were peasants of fishermen.
*They worked on the land owned by the Daimyo and often had little food for themselves.
Artisans
*Craftsmen who were less respected than farmers because they didn’t make food but were richer.
shinto general
*Worshipped Kami
*Shinto centred around worshipping natural features as they believed Kami (spirit being) resided there
*Over time, people built shrines to worship Kami, which became a place for community gathering, festivals and purification
*purification is represented by a mirror which also represents honesty, and is seen as a way to reflect on the ones actions.
*Up to WW2 the emperors used Shinto to support their position, claiming that the royal family descended from the Sun goddess
Sinto Main beliefs
*Family and Tradition: ceremonies for birth, marriage, and other milestones.
*Physical Cleanliness: part of everyday life, and particularly observed in visits to Shrines
*Religious festivals: Honouring spirits is an opportunity for people to come together and enjoy life and each other’s company.
*Love of Nature: Being in contact with nature means being in contact with the gods
Zen Bhuddism
*emphasised self-discipline through mediation, where seekers of enlightenment would sit quietly and empty their minds
*This appealed to people in all field like labour, arts, or warfare.
*Tea ceremony was another expression of Zen, using tea as an aid to meditation due to its soothing stimulating qualities, which later became a complex ritual
*shared the Shinto respect for the natural world, with meditation, landscape painting and garden designs all linked
Samauri
*Samurai means those who serve
*Samurai must be born to samurai parents or be adopted by them
*Most importantly, Samurai boys were taught two skills- how to survive and how to kill
*This included being taught sword fighting, wrestling, jui-jitsu and archery
*They also needed to learn reading, writing, the proper way to walk, bow and hold chopsticks
*During peaceful limes Samurai wrote poetry, practiced flower arranging and calligraphy.
Bushido
*Samurai lead their lives according to the code of Bushido. Bushido includes loyalty to one’s master, heritage self-discipline and respectful, ethical behaviours.
*A samurai’s honour and code are more important than their religion
*The samurai who lost his honour was expected to kill himself in the ritual of Seppuku or Hara-kiri
Armour
It was hand to hand
Helmets were made of iron
Had full body armour made of steel/iron to protect them
Had creatures designs to scare enemies
Swords
Katana: long curved sword
Tanto: a short blade
Wakizashi: it was like the katana but smaller
Naginata: long spear with a short sword blade
Yumi: longbow used by the samurai
Kabuto Wari: a longer heavier weapon
