1. Early Japanese culture was influenced by adopting aspects of Chinese culture such as Buddhism, Confucian values, architecture, and agricultural techniques, while maintaining native Japanese traditions like Shintoism. 2. As centralized imperial rule declined in the 1100s due to civil war, a decentralized feudal system emerged in Japan similar to contemporary European feudalism, with samurai warriors and daimyo lords ruling over peasant farmers. 3. During the Shogunate period from the 1100s to 1860s, supreme military leaders called shoguns governed Japan through a feudal system with the emperor serving as a figurehead, cementing decentralized rule in contrast to the earlier imperial system modeled after China.

1. 1
Chinese
culture

2. 2
Rise of Japan
Centralized
rule:
600-800s
Decentralized
feudal gov’t
Heian Period
800s-1160s
Centralized
Feudal
Shogunates
1180s-1860s

3. 3
I. “Selective Borrowing” from China
A. Imitate superior culture
1. Buddhism
2. Confucian values
a. Impact = Position of Japanese women
declined
3. Arch. & urban planning
4. Ag. & manu. techniques spurred Japanese eco
Buddhist –inspired
Todaiji Temple in Japan
Rise of Japan

4. 4
Buddhist –inspired
Todaiji Temple in Japan

5. 5
B. While maintaining Japanese traditions
1. Shintoism
2. Nobility/Aristocracy

6. 6
II. Limits to “Borrowing”
A. Fall of Tang China made Chinese model less
attractive
B. Centralized rule failed in Japan; emperor remained
but… decentralized Feudal System Emerged

7. 7
Rise of Japan
III. Japanese Middle Ages – 600-1450
A. 600s -900s
1. Emperor led, centralized rule
2. Confucian-based governing, adopted from
Chinese

8. 8
Rise of Japan
B. Civil war between ruling families – 1100s
1. End of centralized, imperial rule
C. New Form of Governance - feudalism
1. Decentralized feudal gov’t
2. Comparable to European feudal system
a. Both have “Coerced Labor” system – serfs
- (add this to Venn)

9. 9
Rise of Japan
D. Shogunate period begins
1. Shogunate = Centralized feudal gov’t
2. Shogun = Supreme military and political leader
3. Emperor = figurehead only
Shogun
Daimyo -
Lords
Samurai - Warriors
Peasants

10. Comparison Essay Organizer – European & Japanese Feudal Systems
Analysis: Identify CAUSES for these similarities.
Prompt: Compare Europe Japan
the feudal systems
of Middle Age
Japan and Europe.
Chivalry Warrior Codes Bushido
- Loyalties based on
negotiated contracts
- Aristocratic lords controlled
mass of peasants
- Highly militaristic; long centuries
of internal warfare caused by
feudal loyalties & rivalries
-Warrior values – impeded dev. of
stable, central gov’t
Analysis: Identify CAUSES for these differences.
Thesis: Write and analytical thesis addressing the above prompt.
- Relied on group &
individual loyalties
- Knights received land
ownership – would become
lords
- Samurai granted land rights;
not ownership – lord/Samurai
relationship remained clear
- No ritualized suicide - Ritualized suicide = Seppuku
Legacy = emergence of “hari-kiri”
parliamentary institutions
where aristocrats join to
defend defined rights against
monarch; Emergence of
lawyers
Legacy =Less-institutionalized
group consciousness;
collective, decision-making
teams linked to the state
Today =More awareness of
“Honor Codes” in business
relationships
Today =more emphasis on
written contracts in business
-Family alliances
-Loyalty
-Ritualized combat
-Contempt for non-warriors
-Military/warrior ethic
persisted = personal ties
as foundation for
political activity

11. 11
Critical Intro:
Compare Japanese and European
Feudalism.

12. Japanese
Samurai
European
Knight

13. 13