Medieval Japan was shaped by its geography as an island nation, leading to a unique feudal system dominated by shoguns, daimyo, and samurai, similar to European feudalism. The samurai adhered to the bushido code, emphasizing honor and loyalty, while the ancient capital of Edo served as the political center with emperors holding little real power. Traditional Shinto beliefs highlighted the warrior culture, with significant contributions to art and literature, including 'The Tale of Genji' by Lady Murasaki Shikibu, recognized as the world's first novel.

1. Medieval Japan

2. JAPAN’S GEOGRAPHY
●Because of the fact that Japan
was an island nation – in fact it is
an archipelago – it was long
protected from invasion by the sea.
●But the powerful men of Japan
fought against each other as they
tried to gain power.

3. JAPANESE FEUDALISM
●It is similar to the feudalism that
existed in Europe where knights
fought for the nobles to protect the
peasants from rival noblemen and
their knights.
●Japan’s feudal and military rule
lasted almost 700 years.

4. Comparing Feudalism
●European
●1. King
●2. Lords
●3. Knights
●4. Peasants
●Japanese
●1. Emperor
●2. Shogun
●3. Daimyo
●4. Samurai
●5. Peasants

5. Feudalism
A political, economic, and social
system based on loyalty, the holding
of land, and military service.
Japan:
Shogun
Daimyo Daimyo
Samurai Samurai Samurai
Peasant Peasant
Peasant
Peasant
Land - Shoen
Land - Shoen
Protection
Loyalty
Loyalty
Food

6. Feudalism - in detail!

7. JAPAN’S LEADERSHIP
●Edo (Tokyo) was the ancient
capital of Japan and the emperors
ruled from there.
●Emperors actually held very little
power and existed only as
technical rulers.
●The real power lay with the
Shoguns, the military leaders of
Japan.

8. DAIMYOS
●Over time the powerful estate
owners, called daimyo, became
more independent and they hired
bands of samurai to protect them
and the peasants who worked for
them from rival daimyo.
●They are like the Lords of the
European feudal system. They
gave land and money to those who
protected and worked for them.

9. SAMURAI
●About 900 years ago, samurai
warriors came to power in Japan.
●Samurai means “those who
serve.”
●They were sworn to serve their
leaders (Shogun and Daimyo) and
use a strict code of rules and
conduct called Bushido.

10. Full Samurai Attire

11. BUSHIDO
●The Bushido rules stressed
honor, discipline, bravery, and
simple living.
●A samurai’s loyalty to his daimyo
was greater than his loyalty to his
family.
●Samurais eventually could
become a Daimyo or Shogun.

12. Samurai Live Honorably
Honor was the most
important thing.
● Must commit
suicide if they lost
a fight.
● Would never
disobey an order.
● Many adopted Zen
Buddhism because
it stressed self-
discipline and
meditation.

13. Seppuku:
Ritual Suicide
Kaishaku – his
“seconds”
It is honorable to die
in this way.

14. Knight’s Armor Samurai Armor
vs.
Medieval Warriors

15. Osaka Castle

16. Main Gate of
Hiroshima Castle

17. KAMIKAZE
●In 1274, the Japanese were
threatened with invasion by Kublai
Khan and his forces from China.
●Kublai Khan only got as far as
Kyushu when a mighty storm blew
the invasion fleet back to China.
●The Japanese called this storm
kamikaze, meaning “divine wind.”

18. THE SHINTO TRADITION
●Shinto is an ancient Japanese
religion that is based on ancestor
worship, nature worship, and hero
worship.
●This is a perfect religion for a
warrior culture because the people
venerate their dead warriors and
strive to mimic their actions.

19. SHINTO
● Shinto is Japan’s
oldest religion
● Shinto gods are
called kami.
● Kami are spirits: wind,
rain, mountains,
trees, rivers and
fertility
● Humans become
kami after they die,
too

20. JAPANESE ART
●Japanese art is very simple and
symbolic. Everything must be created
with ceremony and according to rules.
●Tea is served in a special way with
specific rules of hospitality and contact.
Flowers are arranged in a specific way
based on simple rules.
●Art is created to be simple and
beautiful with clean lines and no clutter.
It often portrays scenes from nature

21. JAPANESE LITERATURE
●Lady Murasaki Shikibu is said to have
written the world’s first novel in the early
1000s.
●Her novel, The Tale of Genji tells of
the life and loves of young Prince Genji.
●The story describes Japanese court
life in great detail and is true to life.
●Many say that it is the greatest
Japanese novel ever written.

22. Tale of Genji (first novel)

23. ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS IN
COMPLETE SENTENCES
●1. How is Japan naturally protected from
outsiders?
●2. What does Ancient Japan share in common
with the Middle Ages?
●3. Who held the most power in Japanese society,
and what city did they rule from?
●4. Which Japanese group is similar to the Lords
of the Middle Ages? Why are they similar?
●5. What is the Bushido?
●6. What religion is most often followed in Japan
and why does it fit their culture well?
●7. Who wrote the world’s first novel and what was
the title?