Chapter 13 Japan Under the Shogun

How do forms of government and decision making reflect a society’s worldview?

The Emperor

The Imperial House of Japan is the oldest continuing hereditary monarchy in the world!

The Emperor’s Imperial seating in Japan is called the Chrysanthemum Throne and has been since 660BC.

During the Edo period, the emperor was largely a figurehead – someone with no real power except in title. He is considered a symbol of state and unity of people.

Social Structure

The shogun is a military rank and historical dictator prior to the Meiji period in Japan. In Japanese it literally translates to “commander of force” and was the ruling dictator in historical Japan.

During the Edo period the Tokugawa Shogunite ruled the land.

The Daimyo

This was a group that ruled the territorial land in historical Japan. The Daimyo status was hereditary – meaning it was passed down from your parents.

The Daimyo was also the title of the ruling landlord in different regions chosen by the Shogun.

The Samurai

The Samurai were the very respected warrior class of pre industrial Japan. The word samurai comes from the Japanese word ‘saburau’ meaning ‘those who serve in close attendance to the nobility’.

The Samurai There are many subdivisions in rank for the samurai. They were considered a noble class which trained not only men, but women and children as well.

By the end of the 12 of the warrior. th century the entire class was almost entirely associated with the ‘bushi’ the upper class of the samurai. The samurai followed a set of rules and beliefs called ‘Bushido’ – the way The lowest rank being the ronin – samurai with no master.

The 47 Ronin

The story of the 47 Ronin is considered one of Japan’s most treasured legends. The legend begins with a young daimyo, Lord Asano who was asked, along with other important representatives to meet the emperor.

Lord Kira, a high ranking daimyo was assigned to teach the young Lord Asano proper procedure and behavior in the Emperor’s presence.

The great offence!

Lord Kira was a greedy man. He demanded many gifts for his help and often set unreasonable demands and requests on the young Asano.

Legend has it that Asano was generally a very even tempered and patient man, following the laws of Confucianism. However, while in the shogun’s house Asano lost his patience with Lord Kira and drew his sword – requesting battle! Kira drew back, like a coward, but was struck in the face by Asano’s sword. The injury was non-life threatening (he lived) but the damage was done.

The consequence

Asano knew he had committed a grave offence. He had drawn his sword inside an imperial castle and struck a high ranking official. His punishment was death – which he accepted. When he died, his title, and belongings were stripped from him and his family. All that followed him were now left dishonored.

His samurai were divided, most were given the option to follow Lord Kira, which would allow them to keep their title and place in society. 47 of them chose to become ronin and out of loyalty, avenge their former master’s death.

Honorable behavior has always been an important value in Japanese society. How are the actions of these people affected by their idea of honor? What other values are demonstrated in this story?

It took many years to formulate the plan. Many of the Ronin gained jobs as merchants or farmers in the peasant class.

They launched a surprise attack on Lord Kira in his home and killed him – bringing back his head, as evidence of his death.

The 47 ronin had fulfilled their obligation to their master. They are all buried side by side together in the Sengakuji Temple in Tokyo.

Peasants

Farmers were considered very important to Japanese society as they produced the food that sustained the people. Peasants had to obey to strict laws that controlled everything about their day to day life – such as, they were unable to smoke tobacco or drink alcohol and they needed special permission to travel outside of their districts.

Ninjas!

A ninja or a shinobi were covert or mercenary agents in feudal Japan who specialized in the art of war.

The ninjas were used in order to start war, or during times of war for espionage and assassinations. They were a sharp contrast to the disciplined and honorable samurai. The origin of the ninja is obscure and largely unknown, but their mystery still lives on today!

Artisans –The swordsmith was considered the most valuable artisan. What does this suggest about Japanese worldview?

Japanese artisans usually lived in towns and cities. An artisan’s son was restricted not only to the class of his father but also to the particular craft that his father practiced.

Although artisans were highly skilled, their rank in society was lower than a peasant as the materials they produced required materials from others. The objects produced by artisans were high quality paper and porcelain, lacquered or enamel containers or sometimes items for the home, like clocks, pots, pans and mats.

Merchants

Merchants bought items from artisans to trade or sell to others. They also arranged for shipping and distribution of food and stored rice in their warehouse.

Since rice was predominantly used as currency during the Edo period, merchants generally acted in a similar way to modern day bankers.

Since they never produced anything they were on the bottom of the social order. They were constantly watched in order to control their wealth and power in a society. If they were caught bragging or showing off their wealth they could be punished by having their homes or businesses taken away.

Women in Japanese Society

Women were raised and treated according to the social class they were born into. For example, samurai women were expected to care for, teach and raise their children in the ways of samurai.

However, in the general society, women were considered less valuable then men and could not own property and did not have legal existence.

Outside of Edo Society

Outcasts – Burakumin, were people who were shunned by other people in society often due to their work. Usually they had occupations that had to do with death such as executioners, undertakers, butchers, tanners.

They lived in their own hamlets and ghettos due to superstition.

Recap on Edo Society!

First Contact With the West

1534 was considered the year of European Age of Exploration. Like many other groups of people this is the first time the Japanese had contact with the outside world.

Based on what you know about Japanese society, why do you think they might think of the outsiders as ‘barbarians’?

The Southern Barbarians!

In 1543, a Portuguese ship was wrecked off the shore of a Japanese island The Portuguese sailors had said they had come to trade.

The Japanese were fascinated by Portuguese firearms.

They were familiar with gunpowder because of contact with China, but they had never seen guns before.

Japanese swordsmiths soon began imitating these weapons!

Followed by the Portuguese were the Spanish, Dutch, British traders and Christian missionaries.

A New Kind of Belief

At first the Portuguese and Japanese got a long because of their favorable first impressions.

The Japanese were structured and disciplined and the Portuguese brought about new technologies.

Portuguese society had been influenced by Renaissance values and ideals such as: competition, the individual and a more flexible social structure – all of these were major differences inside of Japanese society.

Jesuits

Francis Xavier arrived in Japan in 1549 to start missions to convert the upper classes, the daimyo and samurai, to Christianity.

Portuguese also sent Franciscan priests to work with the poor and outcast classes.

Both the Christian beliefs of the Europeans and the combined Japanese beliefs (Shinto, Buddhism and Confucianism) all held strong ethical codes – rules about right and wrong behaviors. However, the Christians believed in one true god, which was new for the Japanese.

Assignment Time!!

You will need to describe/show what you have learned about Japanese social structure during the Edo period.

Be sure to include information about how their beliefs and values contributed to their hierarchy.

Using the Tic Tac Toe model, you must choose a project that is in line with your previous assignment. You may NOT repeat a project. Construct a model Make a collage Make a pamphlet/brochure Create a mobile Free space Design a website Make a song Write a newspaper article Plan a tour