Bushido code
The Bushido code is set of rules that a Samurai warrior must follow. This code included the following rules a Samurai would follow:
· A samurai must show loyalty to his masters · A samurai must show devotion · A samurai must show obedience · A samurai must obtain his duty · A samurai must be able to commit self sacrifice · A samurai must always show honor to death |
Samurai warriorIf a samurai warrior failed to up hold his honor he could obtain it by performing Seppuku (ritual suicide). The Bushido code is a internally consistent ethical code. A Bushido warrior would sign his contract with his own blood. A Samurai would hold a sword called the Katana they would look in the sword and see there own soul in the sword. |
Bushido warrior
The Bushido warrior is equipped with a katana (the long sword) and a wakizashi (the short sword) he also held a long bow. They would use iron brass leather armor. There swords were slowly and hand constructed they have double edged so they can attack with both sides. They have soft iron and a hard outside layer. |
Feudal period
Hierarchy in feudal Japan
Society was divided into two classes in Feudal Japan, the nobility and the peasants. The noble class made up roughly twelve percent of the population with peasants making up the rest. |
Emperor and Shogun
The Emperor and the Shogun were the highest-ranking nobles. During Japan's feudal period the Shogun held the most power while the Emperor was more of a puppet figure with little actual power. As the Shogun was a military leader his sword, or Nihonto in Japanese (katana came later in the Mid-Muromachi period), was an important part of his attire. |
Daimyo
Daimyo were powerful warlords and the most powerful rulers under the Shogun from the 10th century to the early 19th century. Within their province the Daimyo had complete military and economic power. Daimyo had vast hereditary land holdings and armies to protect the land and its workers. The most powerful warlords sometimes achieved the status of Shogun. |
Samurai
The Daimyo armies were made up of Samurai warriors. Samurai worked under Daimyo, but they had additional privileges and held a higher social status than common people. These privileges included being able to have a surname, a family crest, and carry two swords. People with Samurai family names are still treated with great respect in Japan today. Although most samurai were not well educated, they had a strict code of honor or the "way of the warrior", known as bushido in Japanese. If a Samurai broke the bushido code and brought dishonor to him or herself they would be expected to commit seppuku, or ritual suicide. Women were allowed to serve as samurai but always served under a male leader. |
Peasants
Peasants were divided into several sub-classes. The highest ranking of the peasants were farmers. Farmers who owned their own land ranked higher than farmers who did not. Craftsmen, or artisans, were the second highest ranking after the farmers. They worked with wood and metal and some became well known as expert Samurai sword makers. Merchants were the lowest ranking because it was felt they made their living off of other people's work. However, in later times when Japan began to use money more as currency merchants became wealthier. |
KAMAKURA PERIOD: 1185 – 1333
The Kamakura period began with Minamoto no Yorimoto establishing the Kamakura Shogunate in 1192 in Kamakura. Minamoto referred to his new government as bakufu, which translates to "tent government". The Emperor gave the military title of Seii Tai-shogun to Minamoto and in Western literature his government is often referred to as the shogunate. The bakufu had two main divisions, one to oversee the samurai, and one to judge legal suits. The shogun had complete power over the emperor and imperial court. Later in the Kamakura period the Hojo clan installed a regent for the shogun. During the Hojo regency the shogun was reduced to a powerless figurehead much like the emperor. |
Women
Women who belonged to the aristocracy were allowed to take part in politics. Women could also become samurai warriors but this was not allowed if they were in the aristocratic class. Although women were allowed to become samurai, a male samurai of equal rank could give orders to a female samurai. Female samurai were able to give orders to men of lower social classes like farmers and craftsmen. In the beginning of the Kamakura period women were also allowed to inherit land estates. However, this changed later as the amount of available land decreased towards the middle of Kamakura period. |
Gokenin
Vassals of the shogunate during the Kamakura and Muromachi periods were called gokenin. Gokenin exchanged loyalty to the shogunate for protection and the right to attain higher positions in government. Through this system the gokenin provided the shogun with the military force needed to control the country. The gokenin were allowed to own land their children were allowed to inherit the land estates. This led to a weakening of the shogunate. During the Muromachi period the gokenin class were replaced by Daimyo. |
Agriculture and Manufacturing
Agricultural methods improved during the Kamakura and farmers were learning how to increase yields by raising two crops a year. Cows and horses were being used to help plow the land and water wheels were implemented for irrigating crops and grinding grain. People who worked on farms often had side jobs of making silk, paper, and pottery. Many of these people quit working on the farm once they realized they could make a living by producing and selling their own goods. |
Mongols Attack
The shogunate had little interest in foreign relations and even ignored communications sent from China. In 1268 a new Mongol leader came to power, Kublai Khan, and demanded that Japan pay tribute to his nation. Japan ignored the demands and began to prepare for a potential Mongol invasion. In 1274 the first Mongol invasion took place with a combined force of 23,000 Chinese, Mongol, and Korean troops. They arrived on 600 ships and brought catapults, crude missiles, and archers. The Mongol invaders landed at northern Kyushu at Hakata where they fought with the local Japanese troops. After only one day of fighting a Typhoon wiped out the Mongol forces. Kublai Khan realized that his forces had been defeated by a nature and not superior military force. He decided to attack again 7 years later in 1281. Again the forces landed in northern Kyushu and fought with the Japanese for 7 weeks. Again a typhoon wiped out the Mongol fleet. Shinto priests said that a kamikaze, or divine wind, protected Japan. The victories were a great source of pride and also helped legitimize the shogunate system of government. |
Kenmu Restoration
For a short time at the end of the Kamakura period Emperor Go-Daigo regained control of Japan from the shogunate. He tried to restore imperial authority and give back power to the court nobility. Eventually, after almost 60 years of war, Go Daigo was driven from Kyoto and the shogunate system was re-established. |
Works Cited
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