The Medieval Period started at different times for all places. In Europe it began about 800 CE. In Japan it started about 1100 CE. Feudal Europe and Feudal Japan were two periods of time that were very similar but very different at the same time: politically, socially, and economically.…
A revolution took place in the centuries from the time of the Kamakura shogunate, which existed with the Tenno's court, to the Tokugawa, when the bushi became the unchallenged rulers in what historian Edwin O. Reischauer called a "centralized feudal" form of government. Instrumental in the rise of the new bakufu was Tokugawa Ieyasu, the main beneficiary of the achievements of Oda Nobunaga and Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Already powerful, Ieyasu profited by his transfer to the rich Kantō area. He maintained two million koku of land, a new headquarters at Edo, a strategically situated castle town (the future Tokyo), and also had an additional two million koku of land and thirty-eight vassals under his control. After Hideyoshi's death, Ieyasu moved quickly to seize control from the Toyotomi family.…
“Feudalism” as a term has been controversial since its conception. Its origin is the German “feudalismus,” and was first used in the English language in its current meaning in the 17th and 18th centuries. There is difficulty defining this term because of its inherently large scope; a feudal system is one in which there may be a social, economic, or political system of seigniorial landownership and general dues of the peasantry. This naturally describes many societies throughout history, and so, many historians would argue that to effectively narrow the subject and thus reasonably study the idea of a feudal structure, one must focus on specific criteria. Barendse would agree with this sentiment, as he states in his article, “The Feudal Mutation,”…
Japan in the 1600s and 1700s was controlled by a system of Tokugawa shoguns who ruled effectively. They instituted union, order, and peace during the reign. Japan was unified under 3 important leaders, Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Tokugawa Ieyasu who enforced unification within Japan. During this time Japan was going through many changes too, like urbanization, creating an ordered society, and also sustaining traditional ways.…
Medieval Europe vs Feudal Japan Having extensively researched both Medieval Europe and Feudal Japan, I conclusively maintain a preference to live in Feudal Japan. This is due to Japan’s superior social, military and medical frameworks as opposed to Medieval Europe's underdeveloped and primitive society. It is because of Feudal Japan’s pragmatic and intuitive societal construct that makes it my undeniable choice of residence. Feudal Japan's healthcare and sanitation system was far more contextually advanced than Medieval Europe in question. Europeans bathed on average twice a year, whereas the Japanese would bathe almost daily.…
Introduction Fukoku-Kyōhei, meaning “enrich the country and strengthen the military” quickly became the motto for a reinvigorated Japan stepping onto the global stage commanded by the West, while also acting as the mold for which they would inevitably fit through their rather abrupt transformation: The Meiji Restoration (Christensen 1). What may have ultimately began as an endeavor to modernize, may have also become the trigger for exponential societal change and an undertaking that would eventually boast Japan’s military confidence and induce drastic social change. The Meiji Restoration had significant rippling effects around the world during the late 1800’s and allowed Japan to become recognized as an influential world power, but also an…
More specifically, the talk of the small Civil wars that broke out within medieval Japan. Below the topic of one war in particular, The Onin War, will be explored and recapped. There will also be mention of the Damages that Feudal Japan would take as a result of the war among itself. As a brief explanation; Feudal Japan was a time in Japan where Samurai, honor-bound warriors sword to a “shogun” or general, and Bushido, the samurai’s code of conduct and way of life, ruled.…
The Meiji Restoration transformed and introduced Japan to an industrialised western culture which influenced Japan’s social structure and values. The Meji restoration brought tremendous social change as millions of people were suddenly able to choose their occupation and move without restriction. By providing a new financially secure environment, the government increased it’s investment in new industries and technologies. As Japan citizens began to live in cities that introduced them to abroad influences, creating social situations in which the traditional authority was undermined. Industrialisation neglected traditional values, and emphasised efficiency, independence, individualism and materialism.…
19 February 1942. A total of 365 days have passed since the Japanese bombing of Darwin. Our now heavily populated thriving city of Townsville has transformed drastically from our once only main hub of Flinders Street. Many of us repeatedly question the Japanese and their motives behind their desire to bomb our golden country. Without a doubt, Japan has one of the strongest and loyal approaches to imperialism.…
This shows that after World War I, Japan had been influenced by the ideas of imperialism and was attempting to separate itself from the world and form trade routes solely within the boundaries of its self developed “Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere”. Japan was trying to colonize and dominate the pacific seas. Using methods of industrialism and militarism, they were doing very well. Japan trying to prove its global imperial presence is an example of how the original problems of imperialism and industrialization during World War I were present in the second world…
The growth of the Mitsui company in the 17th and 18th centuries was fascinating. Under the guidance of Hachirobei, the company evolved from a struggling brewery and pawnshop to handling the Japanese government’s accounting in 1707. Hachirobei incorporated many innovative ideas and practices to propel his company to unprecedented success. He came from very humble beginnings and is the embodiment of what capitalism can do for a person. Hachirobei’s humbling upbringing gave him values that would translate to a fortune for him and the Mitsui family.…
Housing and Living Areas There were many different manners of houses in the Shogun Japan period. In Shogunate Japan there were originally two different types of houses, the first house being known as a pit-dwelling house, columns were inserted into a big hole that was dug in the ground and then was enclosed with grass. The second was built with the floor raised high above the ground, this style (The elevated floor) is said to have originated from Southeast Asia.…
In the societies of medieval Europe and feudal japan, there were many differences and simerialites, also how they were organized and controlled was different. The middle ages (medieval Europe) is known to be the historical period of Europe between the 5th and 15ht century. The medieval period ended with advent of renaissance which is known to be the beginning of the modern era. Feudalism in japan was all basically a fight for more land, wealth and above all power. When the government started becoming weaker large land owners had much power, and fought amongst themselves for each others land, which introduced the samurai.…
Introduction Japan, in the nineteenth century, has gone through much reform. Prior to the Meiji Period, much of what the citizens knew was based around farming and agriculture . Japan had not yet explored trade with other countries, aside from China, which happened during the Taika Reform. The Taika Reform, happening in mid-sixth century, “opened Japan to the incorporation of new ideas and institutions from China .” Many scholars associate the Meiji Reform to the Taika Reform, although the Taika Reform was thought out, and carefully executed .…
If knights and samurais engaged in battle, who would triumph? Many European and Japanese cultures are similar. They both have the same feudalism system. Feudalism is the promises of a lord and a vassel. Shoguns and knights are similar because they are the rulers and landowners.…