Japan Under the Shogun - Mrs. Auger's Site
Download
Report
Transcript Japan Under the Shogun - Mrs. Auger's Site
Japan Under the Shogun
CHAPTER 13
The 47 Ronin
Lord Asano
Lord Kira
Ronin
Seppuku
Samurai code and Japanese society
Attack on Lord Kira
Honourable behaviour has always been an important
value in Japanese society
How are the actions of the people in this story
affected by ideas of honour?
What other values are demonstrated?
“to understand the story of the 47 ronin is to
understand Japan”
What do you think this means?
Tokugawa or Edo Period
Tokugawa/Edo period took place from 1600 to 1868
This was a time of almost complete isolation
Prior to 1600 was a time of constant war
Powerful land owners (daimyo) competed with
eachother for money and power
In 1600 this ended
How do think peace and stability was brought to
Japan?
Answer: A strong leader
Unifying the land
Tokugawa Ieyasu became the first Shogun (ruler of
Japan)
How?
There was a still and Emperor, but the Shogun had
ALL the power
Shogun created a strong and stable government that
would be ruled by his descendants for over 250 years
How did he do this?
Control the Daimyo (many of whom were his enemies)
2. Alternate Attendance: Every two years the Daimyo
were forced to live in Edo. Their family members lived
in Edo permanently.
3. Sharing power: Bakuhan System: two levels of
government. Shogun had control over national issues,
and the daimyo controlled local affairs
4. Strict Laws: Shogun controlled people’s lives, from
marriage to dress
All done to keep the Daimyo spending money so they
could not rise up and challenge the shogun
1.
In your journals
Read the Chart on the top page 286 and answer the
question underneath it in your journals
Talk about with a partner
Feudal Society
During Tokugawa era Japan was a Feudal society
There were strict social classes
Membership in each class was hereditary
You could NOT move up classes
Strict rules governed each class
Example: rules of dress applied to everyone from the
emperor to the peasants
Punishments were harsh
The Samurai
The Samurai
Respected warrior class
Only samurai could have swords
Were many classes within the Samurai, Ronin being the
lowest
Collected taxes, acted as police
They lived simple and thrifty lives
But had great social privilege
Example: they could cut off the head of a commoner who
insulted them!
7 principles: Justice, Bravery, Compassion, Courtesy,
Honesty, Loyalty, Honor.
Peasants
Were considered important because of all the food
they produced
Very strict laws ruled how they lived every aspect of
their life
Many were never allowed to leave their village
Artisans
Lived in cities and towns
Son of a painter had to be a painter, could not
practice another type of art
They were seen as less important than peasants,
because they didn’t produce anything
Merchants
Bought items from artisans and peasants to trade
and sell
Merchants acted as bankers (using rice as money)
Were the lowest class
Outcasts: Not even in the heirarchy
Were ignored or shunned by all the classes because
of their work
Butchers, leather tanners, those with leprosy
Very strict rules applied to these people
The Ainu were also separate from the social
hierarchy
Japan’s indigenous population, were completed
excluded from Japanese society, and still are in many
ways
Women in Feudal Japan
The class women were born in to determined their
role
Women in the samurai class had to prepare their
sons to be samurai
Women in the peasant class had to work on the farm
and raise the children
Overall, women were always seen as lower than men
Read page 293 and answer the questions
Harmonious Society
The social controls from the feudal society had a
lasting affect on Japan
Control and Obedience are still the foundation for
Japanese society
Confucius
Was a Chinese scholar who taught about morality
and the right way to live
His teachings had a huge effect on Japan and China
Everyone had a proper place in society
If everyone accepted their place (duties) there would
be peace and order
People should be modest and study hard
Lets look at page 296
First Contact With The West
1500’s the Portugese arrived in southern Japan
Portuguese society: competition, the individual, flexible
social structure
Japanese society: honour, respect, the group, strict social
structure
Portuguese wanted to convert the Japanese to Christians
Japanese: Shinto (kami), Confucian code of correct
behaviour and Buddhist self discipline
Christianity: One God
Page 302: answer the questions
Videos
Confucius