Feudal Japan: Daimyos, Samurai, and Governance

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Questions and Answers

What is a daimyo?

A feudal lord of a domain who gave full allegiance to the shogun and Bakufu (correct)

A wealthy merchant

A type of samurai

A form of government in Japan

The three types of daimyo are part of family, conquered in battle, and ______.

trusted in battle

What role did the shogun play in the feudal system?

Head of Bakufu and controlled daimyos, had real power.

What was Bakufu?

Military government. Signup and view all the answers

What were samurai known for?

Warriors that enforced rules and were expected to be models of cultural, moral and intellectual development. Signup and view all the answers

How did samurai roles change during the Edo period?

They became more administrative and became the first class to become literate. Signup and view all the answers

What were farmers responsible for in feudal Japan?

Food production. Signup and view all the answers

What are the two types of farmers in feudal Japan?

Honbyakusho and hyakusho Signup and view all the answers

The order of social structure in Japan was ______.

Emperor, Bakufu (shogun and daimyo), samurai, farmers, artisans, merchants, outcasts, non-humans. Signup and view all the answers

The emperor had real power in Japan's social structure.

False Signup and view all the answers

What change occurred in the social structure at the start of the Meiji period?

The emperor gained power and control. Signup and view all the answers

What were honbyakusho?

Wealthy farmers that owned specific land plots. Signup and view all the answers

What characterized hyakusho?

Tenant farmers that were poor and could own nothing. Signup and view all the answers

What was the role of artisans in society?

Made goods for decorating homes and for daily life for trade. Signup and view all the answers

Why were artisans and farmers ranked above the merchant class?

Merchants were disliked as they produced nothing on their own. Signup and view all the answers

What roles did the merchant class play?

Provided goods for city population, developed early middle class. Signup and view all the answers

How did the merchant class change over time?

Increased importance as cities grew. Signup and view all the answers

What was the fate of outcasts (eta)?

Worked with the dead and lived outside of towns. Signup and view all the answers

Under what circumstance could a non-outcast enter an outcast village?

If they were forced to for business. Signup and view all the answers

Outcasts were shunned because they worked with the dead.

True Signup and view all the answers

What were non-humans (hinin) regarded as?

Inferior. Signup and view all the answers

How could someone become a non-human?

If they were kicked out of a higher class or born into the class. Signup and view all the answers

What would happen if you killed a non-human?

It wouldn't be considered murder; it was seen like killing a dog. Signup and view all the answers

Who established the social classes during the Edo period?

The Bakufu. Signup and view all the answers

It was possible for individuals to change classes in feudal Japan.

False Signup and view all the answers

Which cities housed merchants as the Edo period progressed?

Edo, Osaka, and Kyoto Signup and view all the answers

Which city housed artisans?

Kyoto Signup and view all the answers

Although the emperor was the head of the government during the Meiji period, who had the real power?

The men that helped overthrow the Tokugawa family. Signup and view all the answers

What type of government ruled Japan in the early Meiji period?

An oligarchy. Signup and view all the answers

Define oligarchy.

Power is in a few people. Signup and view all the answers

What goals did the people in the oligarchy have?

To modernize Japan, grow the economy, and renegotiate unequal treaties. Signup and view all the answers

What became the capital of Japan and why?

Tokyo, because of its good location after Emperor Meiji defeated the Tokugawa family. Signup and view all the answers

How was the oligarchy eventually run?

A constitutional government. Signup and view all the answers

Define constitutional government.

A government whose operation is controlled by a set of rules. Signup and view all the answers

What models of government did Japan debate during the Meiji period?

Liberal and conservative. Signup and view all the answers

Define liberal.

Favors personal freedom and social traditions. Signup and view all the answers

Define conservative.

Addresses rapid change in a more comfortable manner. Signup and view all the answers

What government did the oligarchy adopt?

A German style government with a strong cabinet and limited powers of parliament. Signup and view all the answers

What was the new German adaptation called?

Dajokan. Signup and view all the answers

What model of government did the oligarchy decide on?

A government based on centralized control rather than a democratic model. Signup and view all the answers

Who did the emperor want citizens to be loyal to, and how did he accomplish that?

Wanted citizens to be loyal to him by eliminating the hierarchical class system. Signup and view all the answers

With the hierarchy gone, what changed for citizens?

Citizens could choose their own occupations, leading to national unity. Signup and view all the answers

Why did the oligarchy choose to write a constitution?

To gain international respect, specifically with the West. Signup and view all the answers

How did the oligarchy choose to integrate opinions into the constitution?

Political parties formed and debates on the constitution occurred around Japan. Signup and view all the answers

What did the oligarchy do in response to violent debates?

Introduced new laws to reduce public protests, increased censorship and control. Signup and view all the answers

When was the constitution written, and what was it about?

1889, used tradition and modern views. Signup and view all the answers

How did daimyos' roles change during the Meiji period?

Received governmental pensions, merged with court nobility into a aristocrat class. Signup and view all the answers

How did samurais' roles change during the Meiji period?

Military conscription ended need for samurai; they became educated and involved in government. Signup and view all the answers

How did commoners' roles change during the Meiji period?

People with low incomes could receive high incomes; intermarriage bans were removed. Signup and view all the answers

How did farmers' roles change during the Meiji period?

Given ownership of their lands and free to grow what they wanted. Signup and view all the answers

What religion did the oligarchy want to be national, and why?

Shintoism, to bring unity. Signup and view all the answers

How did the oligarchy try to reshape belief in the individual?

With mottos and periodicals/newspapers. Signup and view all the answers

With increased education and the removal of hierarchy, what did people gain the ability to do?

Have their own individual beliefs. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Feudal Structure and Key Terms

Daimyo: A feudal lord pledging allegiance to the shogun and Bakufu, representing significant power in the domains.
Types of Daimyo: Three sources of daimyo include family ties, conquest, and trust established in battle.
Shogun: The supreme military leader within the Bakufu, exerting authority over the daimyos and maintaining real power over Japan's social structure.
Bakufu: The military government that governed Japan during the feudal era.
Samurai: Elite warriors expected to embody cultural, moral, and intellectual ideals and enforce the law.

Societal Changes During Edo and Meiji Periods

Samurai transitioned from warriors to administrators due to reduced militaristic needs during the Edo period, leading to their literacy.
Farmers' Role: Core to food production with strict regulations governing their clothing and lifestyle.
Two categories of farmers:
- Honbyakusho: Wealthy farmers owning designated land.
- Hyakusho: Poor tenant farmers unable to own property.

Social order: Emperor at the top, followed by Bakufu (shogun and daimyos), samurai, farmers, artisans, merchants, outcasts, and non-humans.
Emperor: Symbolic head of state lacking real political power.
Changes at the outset of the Meiji period elevated the emperor’s role, granting him actual control.

Classes and Their Dynamics

Artisans: Craftsmen creating goods for trade and living mostly in cities, above merchants in social standing due to tangible contributions.
Merchants: Provided goods for urban populations, developing an early middle class; previously engaged in international trade but became more significant with urban growth post-isolation.
Outcasts (eta): Perceived as lower class, engaged in undesirable occupations related to death; faced exclusion due to Buddhist beliefs.
Non-humans (hinin): Lived marginally, performing roles like fortune-telling and begging, segregated by societal laws.

Governance and Political Shift

The Bakufu established social classes, making class mobility extremely challenging and cultivating societal prejudice.
Major urban centers for merchants included Edo, Osaka, and Kyoto; artisans predominantly resided in Kyoto.
Following the Meiji Restoration, real power shifted away from the emperor to those who overthrew the Tokugawa regime.

Oligarchy to Constitutional Government

Japan functioned under an oligarchy initially, focusing on modernization, economic growth, and renegotiating unequal treaties with the West.
Constitutional Government: Introduced rules governing government operation, emerging from debates reflecting liberal and conservative ideals.
German influences shaped the new government structure, adopting a strong cabinet under the Dajokan system of governance.

Transformation in Roles Post-Meiji

Daimyo lost their domains but received pensions, integrating into an aristocratic class amid urban investment opportunities.
Samurai allowances gradually reduced until abolished; they transitioned into various civilian roles or governmental functions.
Commoners experienced upward mobility, significant legal and social changes like allowed surnames, and removal of bans on inter-class marriages.
Farmers attained ownership of land but faced taxation challenges; prosperity varied widely among them, leading to protests during economic strain.

Cultural and Religious Shifts

The ruling oligarchy favored Shintoism as a national religion promoting unity while permitting Buddhism and Confucianism.
To reshape national beliefs, the government utilized mottos and media to foster a sense of individualism, coinciding with increased education.

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Description

Explore the intricate feudal structure of Japan, including the influential roles of daimyos, shoguns, and samurai. This quiz examines key terms and societal changes during the Edo and Meiji periods, highlighting the transition of samurai from warriors to administrators and the vital role of farmers. Test your knowledge on this fascinating era of Japanese history.