Questions and Answers
What is a daimyo?
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?
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What were samurai known for?
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How did samurai roles change during the Edo period?
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What were farmers responsible for in feudal Japan?
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What are the two types of farmers in feudal Japan?
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The order of social structure in Japan was ______.
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The emperor had real power in Japan's social structure.
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What change occurred in the social structure at the start of the Meiji period?
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What were honbyakusho?
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What characterized hyakusho?
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What was the role of artisans in society?
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Why were artisans and farmers ranked above the merchant class?
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What roles did the merchant class play?
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How did the merchant class change over time?
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What was the fate of outcasts (eta)?
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Under what circumstance could a non-outcast enter an outcast village?
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Outcasts were shunned because they worked with the dead.
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What were non-humans (hinin) regarded as?
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How could someone become a non-human?
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What would happen if you killed a non-human?
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Who established the social classes during the Edo period?
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It was possible for individuals to change classes in feudal Japan.
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Which cities housed merchants as the Edo period progressed?
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Which city housed artisans?
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Although the emperor was the head of the government during the Meiji period, who had the real power?
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What type of government ruled Japan in the early Meiji period?
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Define oligarchy.
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What goals did the people in the oligarchy have?
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What became the capital of Japan and why?
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How was the oligarchy eventually run?
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Define constitutional government.
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What models of government did Japan debate during the Meiji period?
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Define liberal.
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Define conservative.
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What government did the oligarchy adopt?
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What was the new German adaptation called?
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What model of government did the oligarchy decide on?
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Who did the emperor want citizens to be loyal to, and how did he accomplish that?
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With the hierarchy gone, what changed for citizens?
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Why did the oligarchy choose to write a constitution?
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How did the oligarchy choose to integrate opinions into the constitution?
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What did the oligarchy do in response to violent debates?
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When was the constitution written, and what was it about?
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How did daimyos' roles change during the Meiji period?
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How did samurais' roles change during the Meiji period?
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How did commoners' roles change during the Meiji period?
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How did farmers' roles change during the Meiji period?
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What religion did the oligarchy want to be national, and why?
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How did the oligarchy try to reshape belief in the individual?
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With increased education and the removal of hierarchy, what did people gain the ability to do?
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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 Hierarchy and Class Structure
- 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.