Feudalism developed in Japan as powerful clans and nobles (daimyo) gained independence and rivaled the emperor for control in the 9th-12th centuries. This led to many wars until a shogun unified the country in 1192, taking real power from the emperor. In the Edo Period starting in 1603, Tokugawa Ieyasu became shogun and established a feudal system with the daimyo lords divided under his control through a system of rotating residence, hostages, and obligations. This strict system maintained peace for over 250 years under 15 generations of Tokugawa rule.

1. Medieval Japan

4. How did Feudalism develop in Japan?
• Before feudalism, Japan was inhabited by many
different clans. The clans fought each other frequently.
This meant their lives were lived in fear of attack.
• Japan’s first emperor was established when he was
able to unite the clans in the 6th century.
• By the 9th century the emperor still existed and now
kept himself safe by surrounding himself with loyal
nobles (daimyo) and their warriors
• As these nobles gained wealth, independence and
strength they became rivals to the emperor as they
wanted his position
• By the 12th century there were lots of wars again as the
fight for control raged

5. How did Feudalism develop in Japan?
• The winner of these wars became Japan’s first
shogun in 1192. The emperor lost his real
powers to the shogun but remained an
important figurehead for the Japanese people.
• The Edo Period was a time in which one
family, in fact 15 generations ruled for 264
years; the Tokugawa family. Tokugawa Ieyasu
took the title of shogun in 1603 and ruled with
strict controls.

6. The Japanese Feudal Pyramid:
Warrior
Class

8. Tokugawa Ieyasu and his rule
• Ieyasu had 260 daimyo under him and he knew he needed
to control them or he may lose his position. He divided
them into 3 groups: his relatives, allies and former enemies.
• Together he and his family owned one third of Japan’s land.
His loyal followers and family were given land near the
capital, Edo and regions that were important for trade or
defence. Less trustworthy daimyo (lords) were placed at
the fringes of Edo, surrounded by Ieyasu’s supporters.
• He also made each swear loyalty to him and if they rebelled
he would confiscate their land and give it to someone else!
• Each daimyo had a certain amount of authority, they had
registers of the peasant’s lands and collected taxes at a set
rate – this provided farmer’s with security and protection in
exchange for their taxes.

9. From 1653 Ieyasu enforced the daimyo to
obey him in a cunning way…
• The daimyo were ordered to spend every other year in
Edo (the capital) and when they returned to their lands
their wives and children stayed behind as hostages!
• The expense of maintaining two homes and organising
impressive processions to and fro meant that they did
not have money spare to start rebellions.
• They had to also give military service and supplies, in
times of peace they had to provide labour and
materials for the shogun’s building projects. The
shogun had to give permission for them to marry off
their daughters, extend their castles or build a ship!

10. Peace
• Because of Ieyasu’s strict rules and controls
Japan found itself in an extended period of
peace.
• The samurai continued to practice their
military skills in theory but also began to focus
on the arts such as the tea ceremony,
literature and philosophy. They honoured
bushido but many became fat, lazy and in
debt as they gambled to pass the time!