Japan: Kamakura Warring States

Japan: Kamakura & Warring States

11 1185 -1600 CE

Kamakura: A New, Less Gentle Japan

Gempei Wars: Taira vs Minamoto clans 1158-1185 AD

Shogun: (pronounced show goon) Minamoto Yoritomo Officially the

Emperor’s Military Leader In Reality the Emperor’s Military Overlord New leadership rejects the effete culture of Heian

Kamakura: A New, Less Gentle Japan

Kamakura Bakufu (tent government)

Military might and military virtues win the day for Kamakura Focus on Military Virtue New government center at Kamakura Away from emperor’s court at Heian

Kamakura Period Samurai Warrior

Kamakura Bakufu Government: Lord-Retainer System

Japan’s system fits the patron-client pattern:

Patron provides leadership, resources, and membership in a protective group Client reciprocates with loyalty, obedience and service Example: Godfather (the movie)

Except: The Emperor-Shogun link is only a facade

Kamakura Bakufu Government: Lord-Retainer System

Shogun’s government structure: Classic Patron-client, or Lord-retainer system Shogun accepts allegiance (oaths of loyalty) from lesser lords Each lord supported by corps of samurai retainers who swear allegiance to him. Lords provide leadership and resources Retainers provide military service, loyalty, and obedience to their lord

Samurai Culture: Emergence of Bushido

Bushido: the way of the warrior Japan’s “chivalry” code Discipline Loyalty Self-cultivation Martial arts, philosophy, and literary arts

Painting representing the Gempei Wars

Samurai Culture: Emergence of Bushido

Loyalty is the core virtue of Bushido During Kamakura period loyalty may not have been as absolute Lords paid retainers with grants of land from their han (domain or fief)

Samurai became independent landowners with financial incentives separate from the interests of their lord During times of severe stress the clash between ideological loyalty and financial interest becomes obvious

Samurai Culture: Emergence of Bushido

Bushido: Japan's code of chivalry Emphasis on loyalty and self cultivation Different values system from European chivalry

Unlike European chivalry No concept of special place for women No “gentlemanly” respect for, protection of, or deference to the “weaker” sex

Kamakura Samurai Armor

Bushido Culture

Strong sense of responsibility Ritualistic and formal Seppuku: Ritual suicide to accept responsibility for grievous error

Samurai

Weaponry: Swords Bow and Arrow Also Spears For mounted samurai

Mongol invasions: 1274 & 1281 Divine Winds: or Kamikaze save Japan at

the last moment

Kamakura: Japan under attack

Kamakura Period Continues: 1281-1467

Remaining 200 years of Kamakura Japan relatively stable 1467 Kamakura system collapses into Civil War Major lords battle for dominance and power

Warring States Period: 1467-1568 CE

100 years of civil war Changes in Bushido and lord-retainer system Dramatic changes in social structure Change in economic structure

Changes in Lord-retainer System & Bushido

Early on Samurai retainers rewarded with land Creates incentive to protect personal property To preserve property for heirs Ideological commitment to LOYALTY conflicts with self interest Self-interest often wins Samurai not always loyal

Changes in Lord-retainer System & Bushido

By the end of Warring States: Samurai paid with stipends – not land Stipends only paid so long as lord and lord’s estate remain intact Samurai’s ideological loyalty reinforced by financial self interest Loyalty becomes far more absolute

Changes in Lord-retainer System & Bushido

0nly 200 Daimyo (great names) remain All surviving Daimyo swear allegiance to new Shogun

Daimyo: Japan’s feudal Lords from 1600s forward Han: The autonomously governed fief or domain of a Daimyo

Social and Economic Change

War with Swords, Bows, and Spears Siege tactics Castles emerge Castle towns Japan Urbanizes

Castle Towns and Urbanization

New Castle towns Produce markets Merchants Cash-crop agriculture

Castle Towns and Urbanization

Service sector develops Craftsmen Sword smiths Blacksmiths Artisans Artists Education Entertainers Geisha Kabuki Theater No Puppet Theater

Arts

Kabuki Theater

Wood block printing

No Puppet theater

Warring States Results

Japan as a nation of cities Castle Market Towns built around castles Japan developing formal arts Japan’s Bushido culture aligning ideas of loyalty with reality of financial self-interest Strong military ethic dominates culture