Lesson about the Samurai, invasion of the Mongols; activity and book work included.

1. 11/18/15 Bell Ringer
You are a Japanese warrior, proud of your fighting skills. For
many years you’ve been honored by most of society, but you face
an awful dilemma. When you became a warrior, you swore to
protect and fight for both your lord and your emperor. Now your
lord has gone to war against the emperor, and both sides have
called for you to join them.
How will you decide whom to fight for?
**consider fighting for your LORD & fighting for your
EMPEROR**

2. Objective and Standard
• I can evaluate the importance of the Samurai
in Japan and their role in society.
• 7.31 Analyze the rise of a military society in
the late twelfth century and the role of the
shogun and samurai in that society.

3. Samurai

4. The Rise of the Samurai
• The need for the samurai came from the need
of Japan’s large landowners, daimyo, to have
protection for their land and property.
• The word samurai comes from the Japanese
word for servant.
• Most samurai came from noble families and
were required to be loyal to the emperor.
• Only the most powerful samurai received land
for their service.

5. Becoming a Samurai
• Young men and even some young women trained to
become samurai warriors in feudal Japan.
• Their training included learning the art of warfare,
and later, the way of peace. To become a samurai
demanded strict training in the martial arts.
• Many samurai developed great sill handing a sword,
but also learned the proper way to conduct a tea
ceremony and how to write poetry
• Above all, a samurai trained to overcome his/her
fear of death.

6. Bushido
Read “The Samurai Lives Honorably” on pages
456 – 457
1. What were two things that samurai could not
do?
2. What was Bushido, and who was expected to
live by its rules?
3. List 4 things samurai were required or
expected to do.
4. What samurai values are still admired in
modern-day Japan?

8. Mongols Invade Japan
• Supported by the samurai, the shoguns were
able to keep order and control Japan for about
a century
• 1274 – Kublai Khan sends Mongol army to
conquer the islands
• Success was on Japan’s side for 3 reasons:
1. Shoguns sent troops to fight
2. Warring nobles put aside differences to fight
3. A great storm sank many Mongol ships

9. Mongols Invade cont...
• 1281 Kublai Khan tries again to invade Japan,
this time sending 2 armies and fighting for
weeks.
• Another storm hit Japan and sank most of the
Mongol fleet and drowning many soldiers,
causing them to flee.
• The Japanese called the storm that saved
them, kamikaze, which means “divine wind”

10. Rebellion and New Leaders
• Read “Internal Rebellion” and “Strong Leaders
Take Over” on pages 458 – 459.
1. How did the daimyo help weaken the shoguns?
2. Where did the first guns in Japan come from and
how were they used?
3. Who finally reunited Japan around the year
1600?
4. What caused the ruling shogun to close Japan
off from the rest of the world in the 1630s?

11. Complete Japan
Overview Box Project

12. Become a Samurai!
• Create a flyer to advertise for the opportunity
to become a samurai! (use pages 454-457)
• Flyer should include:
– What samurai means
– What is the main job of a samurai
– Bushido (what it is and why it’s important)
– Perks (the cool things about being a samurai)
– The required uniform and weaponry
• Flyer should be colorful and include at least
one picture

13. Definitions
Use pages 454 -455 to define the following terms:
• Daimyo
• Samurai
• Figurehead
• Shogun

14. Exit Ticket
1. What was the importance of Bushido?
1. How do you think our society would be
different if we all followed Bushido?