Japanese Feudal System

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HOW WAS JAPANESE SOCIETY ORGANISED?

• The shogunate was the government or system run by the shogun.

• It organised how Japan was ruled, including managing regional lords (daimyo).

• There were different shogunates in history, like the Kamakura, Ashikaga, and Tokugawa shogunates.

Shogunate

• The shogun was the military ruler of Japan.

• Had real power and controlled the country, while the emperor was mostly a figurehead.

• Led Japan's military and government.

Shogun

What's the difference between Shogun and Shogunate?

-In medieval Japan, society was organized under a feudal system, with people having specific rights and responsibilities.

-Society was strictly hierarchical, from the powerful shogun and wealthy daimyo down to lower classes like peasants and merchants.

-Wealthy classes provided land and protection to peasants in return for their labour.

-Feudalism in Japan was similar to the model in medieval Europe, with a strict hierarchy of social classes from most important to least important.

-People were born into a social class, and they stayed in that class for life.

-The system worked based on rights and responsibilities for each social class.
-Tokugawa Ieyasu (1543–1616) helped solidify the feudal system by dividing Japan into provinces, each governed by a lord known as a daimyo.

Japanese Feudalism

Multiple Choice

Who divided Japan into provinces and strengthened the feudal system by assigning lords known as daimyo to govern them?

• Toyotomi Hideyoshi
• Tokugawa Ieyasu
• Minamoto no Yoritomo
• Emperor Meiji

Multiple Choice

What is the main difference between the shogun and the shogunate in medieval Japan?

• The shogun is the government; the shogunate is the military leader.
• The shogun is a title for the emperor; the shogunate is the royal court.
• The shogun and shogunate are the same entit with different names.

• The shogun is the military leader; the shogunate is the government led by the shogun.

Multiple Choice

In Japan's feudal system, what happened when someone was born into a social class?

• Everyone had equal opportunities regardless of their social class.
• Social classes were determined by wealth and not birth.
• People remained in the social class they were born into, with little opportunity for mobility.
• People could easily change their social class throughout their life.

• Toyotomi Hideyoshi was born into a peasant family in 1536.

• He rose through the ranks to become a samurai, then a daimyo, and eventually ruled all of Japan by 1585.

• Hideyoshi was Japan's military dictator but did not take the title of shogun.

• The title of shogun was reserved for descendants of Minamoto no Yoritomo, the first shogun.

The Peasant Shogun

Multiple Choice

Why did Toyotomi Hideyoshi never take the title of Shogun despite becoming the rule of Japan in 1585?

• He was already recognized as the Emperor.
• The title of Shogun was reserved for descendants of Minamoto no Yoritomo, the first shogun.

• He believed the title was outdated.
• He was not interested in political titles.

• Hideyoshi was adopted by the Fujiwara clan and used their title of kampaku (regent).

• He installed a teenager as emperor and controlled Japan behind the scenes.

• Some daimyo challenged his authority, believing he lacked the nobility to lead.

• Hideyoshi defeated these challenges using his military strength.

Multiple Choice

How did Hideyoshi defeat the daimyo's challenges?

• By relying solely on brute force
• By ignoring the daimyo's power
• By avoiding any form of negotiation
• By using military strategy, forming alliances, and employing diplomacy.

Japanese Feudal System

• The emperor was worshipped as a descendant of the sun goddess.

• He lived a rich and artistic life surrounded by noble families.

• The shogun managed routine governance of the country.

• During the Kamakura and Ashikaga periods, the shogun was often challenged by other powerful daimyo.

• In the Edo period, the daimyo were brought under the control of the Tokugawa shoguns.

• The daimyo built huge castles surrounded by moats and high stone walls for protection against enemies

Multiple Choice

What role did the emperor have during the shogunate period in Japan?

• The emperor was a religious leader with very little actual power.

• The emperor was the supreme military leader.
• The emperor had full control over the government.
• The emperor was responsible for military decisions.

Multiple Choice

What significant change occurred during the Edo period regarding the daimyo?

• The daimyo were brought under the control of the Tokugawa shoguns.

• The daimyo became the rulers of Japan.

• The daimyo lost all their lands.

• The daimyo united with the emperor.

Fill in the Blanks

The emperor was worshipped as a descendant of the

Match

Match the term with its description:

• Daimyo

• Tokugawa Shogun

• Shogun

Powerful noble who had their own estates

The effective ruler of Japan

Brought the daimyo under control

• Powerful noble who had their own estates

• The effective ruler of Japan

• Brought the daimyo under control

The emperor was the highest level of Japanese society.

He lived in the Imperial Palace in Kyoto.

The emperor was the spiritual head of the country, and after 1185 his role was mainly ceremonial.

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Emperor

The shogun was the de facto leader of Japan, and owned a quarter of the land in the country.

Shoguns rued Japan from 1192 until 1868.

The shogun commanded the military forces and ran the government, know as the shogunate.

The shogun was formally appointed by the emperor.

Shogun

Land not owned by the shogun was divided into regions ruled by the powerful lords known as daimyo.

Each daimyo hired an army of samurai warriors to protect his family and property.

These armies were made available to the shogun when he needed them.

The daimyo received taxes and labour from peasants living in his province.

Daimyo

The samurai were Japanese warriors who swore an oath of loyalty to serve and protect their daimyo.

They followed a code of conduct called the Dushido that highlighted honour, courage, skill in martial arts and loyalty to the daimyo.

Ronin were samurai with no allegiance to a daimyo.

Samurai

Peasants were farmers or fishers, and made up 80 per cent of the population.

Japanese peasants were considered a higher class than they were in medieval Europe because they produced food, which was needed by people of all classes.

Peasants

Merchants traded goods and lent money.
They had a low social status because they were seen to profit from the hard work of others.
Despite receiving little respect, merchants were often wealthy.

Craftspeople made goods and tools, but received less status because their foods were not regarded as essential for life.

Craftspeople were higher than merchants.

Craftspeople and merchants

There were two groups of outcasts at the bottom of society.

The eta performed tasks considered distasteful such as tanning hides, butchering animals, preparing bodies for burial and executing prisoners.

The hinin were seen as undesirable people, such as street cleaners, beggars, former criminals and street performers.

Outcasts

Multiple Choice

What was the primary role of the emperor after 1185?

• Military leader

• Ceremonial head of the country

• Ruler of all land

• Tax collector

Match

Match the social class with its description:

• Samurai

• Merchants

• Peasants

• Outcasts

Warriors who served the daimyo

Traders and sellers of goods

Farmers and laborers

Socially marginalized individuals

• Warriors who served the daimyo

• Traders and sellers of goods

• Farmers and laborers

• Socially marginalized individuals

Open Ended

Describe the role and significance of the samurai in Japanese society.

Fill in the Blanks

Samurai were required to follow a code of conduct called __________ and serve their __________ with loyalty.

Multiple Choice

What did peasants receive in return for working and paying rent to the daimyo?

• Wealth and titles
• Military training and weapons
• Protection, land, and a share of the harvest.
• Access to trade routes

Match

Match the group of people with their ranking in society:

• Merchants

• Samurai

• Daimyo

• Outcasts

• Crafts people

Lower than peasants

Higher than peasants

Higher than peasants

Lower than peasants

Lower than peasants

• Lower than peasants

• Higher than peasants

• Higher than peasants

• Lower than peasants

• Lower than peasants

Defence Features of Himeji Castle
Location:

Built on a hill for a better view of approaching enemies.

Moats:

Deep moats surrounding the castle made it hard for attackers to reach the walls.

Stone Walls:

High, tightly-fitted stone walls that were difficult to break through.

Main Keep (Tenshu):

Several stories high, providing an elevated position for defenders.

Complex Pathways:

Zigzag pathways confused and slowed down attackers.

Narrow Entrances and Gates:

Hard to breach, allowing defenders to control access.

Arrow Slits and Gunports:

Openings for archers and gunmen to fire at attackers while staying protected.

Multiple Defensive Layers:

Several layers of walls and towers for added protection.

Watchtowers:

Towers provided lookout points to spot enemy movements.

Himeji Castle

​Himeji Castle, one of Japan's most famous castles, was built for Ikeda Terumasa. He was a powerful daimyo who oversaw the castle's construction in the early 17th century during the Edo period. The castle was completed in 1609 and served as a residence and military stronghold.

Draw

Using the information you have learned about Himeji Castle, create a detailed drawing of the castle. Be sure to include as many of the defensive features as possible.

Multiple Choice

How did feudalism promote stability and continuity in medieval Japan?

• By allowing people to change their social status freely.

• By creating a clear hierarchy with defined roles and responsibilities.

• By encouraging trade with foreign countries.

• By eliminating the need for a military.