Example+Project+About+Feudal+Japan

=The Amazing Empire of Feudal Japan=

Feel free to explore the page to learn all kinds of fun information about the glories of feudal Japan!

media type="googlemap" key="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Japan&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=37.735377,86.572266&vpsrc=6&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Japan&ll=36.204824,138.252924&spn=39.471843,86.572266&t=m&z=4&output=embed" width="425" height="350"
 * Location:** Japan is a group of islands in the Pacific Ocean located to the east of China. Most people live on the four islands: Hinshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu, and Shikoku. See map:


 * Origins of the Empire:** People came to Japan during pre-historic times and lived in clans. Like the barbarian conquests in Europe and Asia, Japan is also believed to have been taken over by a warrior group who likely became the ruling class in coming years. See this [|website] to learn more! Later, emperors took power and used Shinto beliefs to unify the people of Japan. They were considered chief priests.

Fun Fact: Only one family has ruled Japan: The Yamamoto clan ruled from AD 400s to 1946. "Longest unbroken dynasty in the history of the world"(Holt, Reinhart, and Winston 287)!

Chinese people came to Japan and brought writing, Buddhism, and other ideas like how to govern, artistic techniques, road engineering, medicine, weights and measures and clothing. Japanese students went to China in the 600s and believed that Japan would be better if it was more like China. Law code and centralized government of Japan were modeled after China.
 * Influence of China:**

Capital was Heian and later became city of Kyoto. New ruling class emerged in Japan that was different from Chinese models. (Holt, Reinhart and Winston 287-288).


 * Economic System:** Only 20% of Japan is good for farming because there are so many mountains but Japanese farmers work VERY hard and there is a lot of sunlight and rain to make growing food possible. Also, rivers helped irrigation.


 * Feudal Japan:** Centralized power declined and new feudal system arose. Sources of power: central (emperor and his family) and local landholders and their own warriors (Samurai)

1st family to have control over emperor: **Fujiwara.** How? Held government jobs and married into emperor's family. Fujiwara family controlled central government from 800s-1100s (Holt, Reinhart and Winston)


 * Fights for central power**: 1156 civil war between Taira clan and Minamoto clan. Minamoto Yoritomo given title of **shogun** (general who also controlled finance, law, courts and office appointments). Real power belonged to **shogun**, emperor was a figurehead. Yorimoto started a military government.

New clan: Hojo took over after Yorimoto's death. And power declined after defeating Mongol invaders.

media type="youtube" key="o8b6Pls6o_s" height="360" width="480"
 * Local Power:** Separate from central government. Wealthy landowners (**daimyo)** had power on local level. The landlords had **samurai** warriors to protect their land like the knight sin feudal Europe. **Samurai** followed **Bushido:** the way of the warrior. The code was so serious that if a **samurai** thought they disappointed theit lord they may commit suicide by stabbing themselves in the stomach. (**seppuku)** Differed from knights because there was no emphasis of treating women well in **Bushido**.


 * Society:** Japanese people relied on their religion a lot. It is called **Shinto.**

Shinto involves worshiping many different nature spirits and asking them for help with things like fertility and successful crops. Even today in Nara, people treat deer like they are gods. Here's a picture of me feeding one with my mouth! There's also a picture of prayers to kami or gods outside a temple in Tokyo.


 * Zen Buddhism:** Became very popular in feudal Japan as it offered salvation for all people regardless of how much money they had to make offerings. Also, Zen was useufly for warriors who used it to stay focused on their tough job as a fighter. Zen Buddhism also helped to develop new art forms like landscape architecture.......

and tea ceremonies which helped people to be calm. Zen also influenced the development of the **Noh Play** or dance dramas about religions, historical or romantic dramas. Similar to Greek plays because men actors wore masks and performed outside (Holt, Rinehart and Winston 290). media type="youtube" key="kTv8uM_jmmI" height="360" width="480"media type="youtube" key="XK_4Z5DZcNM" height="360" width="480"

media type="youtube" key="qiwCVbsRp0o" height="360" width="480"
 * Women:** Women were valued as writers in the Japanese courts. //The Tale of the Genji// written in AD 1000 by Lady Marusaki Shikibu is the world's first novel!


 * Rise to Power:** Japan didn't grow in territory but they were able to ward off attacks from empires like the Mongols. They also learned a great deal through exchanges with the Chinese although they did not get any land from the Chinese. The economy of feudal Japan grew successful because the **daimyo** encouraged agricultural growth to tax and pay for military campaigns. People felt hopefuly because any man had a chance to rise in status if they were good warriors. Also smaller landowners could negotiate with a **daimyo** to get control of the local government.


 * Downfall: Daimyo** began to fight among themselves and there was no effective central power while this fighting took place for about 100 years. Decentralization of Japan in the mid-1400s led to disunification with most **daimyo** ruling lands independently until the late 1500s to early 1600s (McCannon 150). Also people were so busy trying to make things beautiful that they didn't concentrate on having a stable government. (Kidspast.com)

media type="youtube" key="aZ4k4dtRgPw" height="360" width="480"

These cranes commemorate the lives lost in Japan after the bombing of Hiroshima during WWII.
 * Impact on the World:** Japan's cultural developments like the spread of the idea of Zen which is still practiced around the world and helpe people to find calm in their hectic lives. In addition, Japanese culture helped people to appreciate the value and strength of a warrior spirit, During WWII, Japan posed a real threat to other global powers because of their intense fighting spirit which originated during the time of the **Samurai**. Also, as in Europe, Japanese feudal society teaches us about the importance of central government to regulate the way the land is used and to ensure that landowners don't get too powerful by themselves. It also teaches us that in order for a central government to work, it has to run for all of its people, not just the wealthy.


 * Useful Websites:**

[|Japanese Feudalism Site]

[|Kids Website Summarizing many important aspects of Japanese society from ancient times until feudalism]


 * MLA Citations:**

McCannon, John. Barron's AP World History 3rd Edition. Barron's Educational Series Inc. New York 2006.

Holt, Rinehart and Winston. Harcourt Brace and Company. 2005 Austin Texas.

[]