Japanese Feudal System

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Japanese Feudal System

• Shoguns, Daimyo and Samurai

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What is a feudal system?

• Feudalism A system of obligations that bound
  lords and their subjects to a king or leader. In
  theory, the king owned all or most of the land
  and gave it to his leading nobles in return for
  their loyalty and military service. Under
  feudalism, people were born with a permanent
  position in society.

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What was life like outside the Heian Court?

• Outside of the emperors influence (and notice)
  Japan was chaotic and dangerous.
• Powerful nobles fought each other for land.
• Rebels fought against imperial officials.
• Peasants grew poorer and some turned to crime.

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How did feudalism develop?

• With the emperor distracted by life at court,
  large landowners decided they needed to protect
  their own lands.
• These landowners (daimyo) hired professional
  warriors (samurai).
• Some daimyo decided to take power for themselves
  (from the emperor).
• After a long war between two rival families, the
  Minamoto clan leader took the title of shogun.
  The shogun was a military leader who ruled in the
  emperors name.

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Japanese Feudal Society

• Emperor The emperor was a figurehead for the
  powerful shogun.
• Shogun A powerful military leader, the shogun
  ruled in the emperors name.
• Daimyo and Samurai Daimyo were powerful lords
  who often led armies of samurai. Samurai
  warriors served the shogun and daimyo.
• Peasants Most Japanese were poor peasants who
  had no power.

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Shogun Daimyo
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Samurai Facts

• Samurai means servant.
• Samurai wore light armor made of cloth interwoven
  with metal strips.
• Samurai fought with swords and bows. All samurai
  carried two swords.
• A samurai inherited his position from his father.
  There were very limited opportunities for
  movement between classes.
• Samurai were paid with land or food for their
  service.

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Samurai Facts (continued)

• Samurai lived by a code of honor called Bushido
  or the way of the warrior.
• The most important behavior for a samurai was to
  serve his lord loyally.
• Bushido teaches that a samurai must always live
  with honor. A samurai who brought himself
  dishonor often committed suicide.
• Other important traits include bravery and self
  discipline.

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Ninja vs. Samurai