Feudalism began developing in Japan in the 1100s as central government and imperial control weakened. Power shifted to regional noble families and warlords called daimyo who controlled land and hired samurai armies for protection. Japanese society became highly militarized with samurai following a code of honor as they pledged loyalty to their daimyo in exchange for land. This feudal system dominated Japan until the 1800s and helped unify the country under shogun rule.

1. Feudal Japan

2. Students will be able to…
• Explain the development of feudalism in Japan
• Describe how power shifted from the nobles
to the nobles in the 1100’s
• Explain how Japanese society became a
military society

3. A Timeline of Japanese Leadership
593-622
Prince Shotoku
800’s
Fujiwara clan
comes to power
– They hold the
REAL power in
Japan
1100’s
Feudalism
Begins in
Japan
Minamoto Yoritomo
Becomes first Shogun
1192 1603
Tokugawa Ieyasu
Isolates Japan and establishes a
Dynasty which lasts until the 1800’s

4. Central Government Grows Week
• Japan remained strong
and untied for centuries
• Fujiwara clan came to
power and remained
Japan’s most powerful
family for almost 300
years.
• 1100’s the power of
central government and
the Fujiwara clan declined
– Running out of money
– Lost authority over large
land owners

5. Feudalism:
• A political and social system of local rule in
which lords (Daimyo in Japan) gave land to
vassals in exchange for service.

6. Japanese Feudalism

7. Feudalism in Japan
• Daimyo (large
landholders) gained
control over Japan
– Hired Samurai armies to
protect themselves and
attack other daimyo
– Powerful families (Taira
and Minamoto) had large
armies of samurai
– The emperor still remained
in power – but no longer
had any real power
continuing the pattern
started in early Japan

8. As daimyo power increased central government
weakened and lawlessness increased
• Small landowners wanted protection
– To get protection they pledged loyalty to a more
powerful lord or daimyo
– Loyalty included military service
– This person is known as a vassal

9. Military Society
• Military leaders called
Shoguns or “supreme
commander of the army”
rose to power
– Shoguns ruled on the
emperor’s behalf – usually
allowing his own interest
to come first
– Minamoto Yoritomo
became the first shogun in
1192 – ruled the country of
Japan
– Shotgunates would last for
nearly 700 years

10. Samurai
• Warriors
• Vowed to fight for their lord
even if they could not protect
their family
• Honorable death more
important than long life
• Women were often warriors
• Lived by a code of honor called
Bushido: loyalty, honor, and
bravery – became the
unwritten code of conduct for
all Japanese
• Zen Buddhism an important
aspect of their lives

11. Three Powerful Warriors Unify Japan
Oda Nobunaga
• Mid 1500’s
• Recognized the importance
of guns
• First Japanese soldiers to
use guns in battle
• Controlled nearly half of
Japan before he died in
1582
Toyotomi Hideyoshi
• General for Oda Nobunaga
• Born a peasant
• Controlled all of Japan
before his death in 1598

12. Three Powerful Leaders
• Tokugawa Ieyasu
– Became Shogun in 1603
– Founded a dynasty
(Tokugawa Shogunate) that
would last until 1868
– Established the capital of
Japan Edo which would
become Tokyo
– Isolated Japan, banned
Christianity, forbid
Japanese to leave Japan,
and ended all foreign trade
– Lasted until the 1850’s

13. Why it Matters…
• Japan remains strongly united today. It
continues to limit immigration and controls
the country’s dealings with foreigners