Japanese Feudalism
Lord or Vassal?
What is feudalism?
• A political, economic, social system in
medieval Japan and Europe, in which
land was granted by a lord in return for
loyalty and work from lower class
members called vassals.
What is a lord?
• Lord is a person who grants land called
a fief in return for loyalty.
• Vassal: receives land or protection from
their lord and in return promises to be
loyal
Does anyone here in this room have
any gum or candy or drink they can
give me for a bonus point today?
Congrats! You’re farmers and
also known as peasants -- part of
the largest class of Japan’s
feudal system!
• Peasants were considered fairly
important since their food helped the
entire population survive. Plus, rice was
used more than coins for currency to
pay for things such as taxes!
Can anyone trade me a give
me a school supply to have
and in return I’ll give you extra
credit.
Congrats! You’re a merchant
• Part of the the lowest class in Japan!
Merchants were part of the lowest class
because they didn’t “Make” anything
themselves for society – they just sold
what others made.
But wait, who can tell me the
the myth about the beginning
of Japan and the name of the
first family clan?
Congrats, you must be from
the Yamoto blood line of
emperors of Japan!
• You might look good, but basically you
have no power! Watch out – you are
easy to push around by people with
military power.
Who can draw a picture of a
samurai sword or the shape of
Japan?
You are an artist.
You are higher than a
merchant because you make
valuable goods like swords,
but you’re still in the lowest
class.
The rest of you are involved in
a rock paper scissor contest!
• Stand up.
• I’ll call up two to complete.
• Take your spot above the peasants if
you win.
Winners are WARRIORS! I
hope you were honest.
• You are part of the warrior class, and
you are samurai.
• You make up about 10% of Japan and
live by a strong Bushido Code of loyalty.
• You have enormous power – peasants
bow to you or are beheaded.
• In return for their loyalty, you protect
them from rival samurai while they farm.
Samurai
• Even though you LORD over the
peasants, you are VASSALS to the
daimyo.
• Each castle is headed by the strongest
local samurai who is called a daimyo.
• The daimyo lives in the castles and
makes all the laws. He collects all the
rice taxes from the peasants and
distributes food as necessary.
The Samurai must fight for the
power to be the local
DAIMYO.
• Who is the strongest among you?
• We will see – play rock, paper, scissors.
• Those who win will get control of a local
piece of land.
Daimyo
• The strongest samurai can become daimyos.
• Daimyos controlled local areas. They were lords to
the samurai who lived in their castles.
• Samurai promised to be true to their daimyo and help
protect the castles from rival daimyo provinces. There
were about 260 daimyo by the end of the feudal era.
• They usually lived in castles that were fortified with
much land for their peasants.
• Their samurai also lived in the castles with them, and
it was also their place of business.
Of the daimyos, show me your
guns (muscles).
• Class – who has the biggest guns???
Congrats, SHOGUN!
• Your “show” guns were amazing. That
makes you the strongest one in the class.
You rule! You’re a shogun, the true ruler of
Japan! You are “lord” all the below
“vassals!”
• Shoguns were at the top of society – the
military and true ruler of feudal Japan and
ruled in the name of the emperor.
The rest
• Other people fell outside the pyramid.
The ethnic minority, the slaves and
people in condemned industries such as
butchers, executioners and tanners who
were considered unclean.
• Also actors, wandering bards and
criminals.
The Feudal Order of Japan
________ (figure head at the top, but no real power)
__________ ( the one running the show!)
__________ (one is the boss of each province)
_______ (an army for each daimyo and his area)
Peasants (the biggest population of Japan)
__________________ (the lowest class)
Japanese Feudalism
The Feudal Order
Emperor (figure head at the top, but no real power)
Shogun ( the one running the show!)
Daimyo (one is the boss of each province)
Samurai (an army for each daimyo and his area)
Farmer (the biggest population of Japan)
Merchants and Artisans (the lowest class)
Hmk: Draw some sort of picture, write a short poem or a paragraph explaining how
the feudal order in Japan works.