The Three Unifiers

Question 1

Ronin

Answer 1

A rōnin was a samurai without a lord or master during the feudal period of Japan

Question 2

Seppuku

Answer 2

Seppuku is a form of Japanese ritual suicide by disembowelment. .

Question 3

Shi-no-ko-sho

Answer 3

Japan’s feudal classing system

Question 4

Oda Nobunaga

Answer 4

Oda Nobunaga was the son of a daimyo from a small domain on the coast of Honshu. When he was 21, he killed a rival lord and planned to unite Japan under his own leadership.

Question 5

How did Oda Nobunaga gain power

Answer 5

When the Ashikaga shogun was murdered in 1565, his brother Yoshiaki appealed to Oda for help and Oda had him installed as shogun. As most of the power was with Oda’s forces Yoshiaki rebelled against him but lost. For the next 30 years their was no shogun but through ruthless battles Oda began centralising the government

Question 6

What happened when Oda Nobunaga became shogun

Answer 6

He became shogun in 1573 and thus ending the warring states period as he unified half of Japan’s provinces.

Question 7

How did Oda Nobunaga die

Answer 7

After being wounded in an assassination Oda committed seppuku whilst being surrounded by his enemies

Question 8

Toyotomi Hideyoshi

Answer 8

Toyotomi Hideyoshi was a soldier in Oda’s army and took over leadership after Oda’s ritual suicide. He developed a strong central government that expanded control over the islands of Shikoku and Kyushu.

Question 9

Why did Toyotomi Hideyoshi expel Christian missionaries

Answer 9

Hideyoshi also opposed European Christian missionaries. He expelled them from Japan, prohibited the Japanese from becoming Christians, and later executed 26 Japanese and foreign Christians. He did this due to the religion’s political ambitions, intolerant behavior towards Shinto and Buddhism, and connections to the sale of Japanese people

Question 10

How is Toyotomi Hideyoshi significant

Answer 10

He solidified the class structure, unified the nation under central control, and popularized cultural practices such as the tea ceremony.

Question 11

Tokugawa Ieyasu

Answer 11

Tokugawa Ieyasu was a member of the council of five but he had his own ambitions. Instead of supporting Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s son, he forced him into battle. Ieyasu won a great military victory in 1600 and three years later declared himself the new shogun

Question 12

How did Tokugawa Ieyasu use diplomacy to gain power

Answer 12

He used a small castle to create a large military headquarters that housed thousands of samurai thus attracting merchants, artisans and other common residents.

Question 13

Battle of Sekigahara

Answer 13

The Battle of Sekigahara was the last major conflict between the western and eastern armies.

Question 14

Why was the Battle of Sekigahara significant

Answer 14

This battle marks the last conflict before the complete unification of Japan. As Ieyasu captured two major castles and had the final provinces leader, Mitsunari beheaded in Kyoto.

Question 15

What are the 8 social classes of Japan

Answer 15

From top to bottom it is: Emporer, shogun, daimyo, samurai, Ronin, peasants, artisans, and merchants

Question 16

How were social classes established

Answer 16

The order of the social class is based on a person’s contribution to society, not their wealth.

Question 17

What is it like being a samurai as a kid

Answer 17

Samurai boys were raised to become professional soldiers in a lord’s service. Soon after they were born, they were given a small sword in a special ceremony. From a very early age they were taught archery, horse riding and sword fighting as well as unarmed combat.

Question 18

What is it like as a samurai

Answer 18

Their financial status and their strict moral code made them frugal eaters. They would eat husked rice, chestnuts and kelp. They would drink white rice wine. To marry samurai’s must ask the permission of someone of the same or higher ranks.