Feudal Japan
Japan’s Early Development-Until the 400s, Japan lived free from outside influence.
Rough seas and fierce storms called typhoons kept other people away and kept the Japanese
from crossing the seas around them. This caused the Japanese to develop a strong sense of the
importance of country (they were very loyal to Japan). The early Japanese were farmers and
hunters. Their religion was called the Shinto or “the way of the Gods”. People that follow the
Shinto believe that spirits, called Kami, live in all living things. This caused them to have a
great respect for nature.
Feudal Japan-In 858, a clan called the Fujiwara gained the right to rule as regents.
Regents are people who govern in place of a ruler. The Fujiwara, however, were unable to gain
authority over Japan’s most distant lands. The noble families who governed these provinces did
not respect the regents. As nobles claimed different parts of the lands, a system like European
feudalism began to form. The most powerful nobles, know as daimyos, or “great names”
formed their own armies. The soldiers, or samurai, vowed loyalty to their daimyo. The daimyo
gave them land that was won in battle. Peasants lived on and farmed the land owned by the
samurai. They gave the samurai food and money to pay for his armor and weapons. In return,
the samurai agreed to protect them.
Samurai-The samurai were much like knights in feudal Europe. Only the sons of nobles
could become samurai, and their training was long and hard. As part of their training, they hiked
barefoot in freezing weather. Sometimes they went days without eating. This helped them
accept pain and hunger without complaining. Their training also taught them to be ready for
battle at all times and to not fear death.
The Fall of Feudalism-In the late 1100s a daimyo named Minamoto Yoritomo set up
a military government. In 1192, Yoritomo convinced the emperor to give him the title of
Shogun, or leading general. Yoritomo and the shoguns who came after him built on the feudal
system. They gave land to loyal daimyos. In return, the daimyos promised to send soldiers to
the shoguns in times of war. This system lasted until 1330, when daimyos began to question the
authority of the shoguns. Daimyos fought one another for control of land. By the late 1400s
Japan was divided by civil war.