The Japanese Feudal
System
Standard 7.5.3
Ch 5 Medieval Japan
The Shogun
military ruler of a warrior government set
up in Japan in 1192
 Shogun means “great general”
 supported by nobles called daimyo who
were his vassals
 Minamoto Yoritomo:
-- 1192 became first shogun

Armor worn by first Shogun
Daimyo
powerful military lord loyal to shogun
 daimyo gets land and protection from
shogun in return for their loyalty

all daimyo were potential challengers for
power unless kept under shogun’s control
 some daimyo owned much land

Samurai
means “those who serve”
 samurai were soldiers who serve the
daimyo in return for land


Bushido:
-- code of conduct for samurai
-- Loyalty, Honor, Courage, Refinement, and
Excellence.
Samurai Armor
Samurai Warrior in Armor
Samurai Bushido
• The Samurai is obedient to his lord.
• It is a Samurai's right to protest against bad judgments or
orders from his lord and death is the final protest Samurai
can make.
• The Samurai is ready to die at any time.
• There is no such thing as failure, only death or success.
• To die in the service of one's lord is the greatest service a
Samurai can render.
• Dishonor to lord or family is also dishonor to the Samurai.
• All debts, both vengeance and gratitude, are repaid.
• Cowardice is dishonorable.
Seppuku

Seppuku, also known as hara-kiri, is a form of
ritual suicide used by samurai. It can be given
by a lord as punishment or chosen by an
individual for a number of reasons. A samurai
must request permission from his feudal
superior in order to commit seppuku.
 Samurai convicted of significant crimes are
usually ordered to commit seppuku. This is a
privilege of their caste, or social class, allowing
them to commit suicide rather than face
shameful execution.
Samurai Sword