Japanese Feudalism Analysis

A Comparison of Japanese and European Feudalism Feudalism is defined by Webster’s Dictionary as “the system of political organization prevailing in Europe from the 9th to about the 15th centuries having as its basis the relation of lord to vassal with all land held in fee and as chief characteristics homage, the service of tenants under arms and in court, wardship, and forfeiture.” Feudalism dictated much of the Medieval era in Europe, but lasted much longer, and more successful, in Japan, lasting from the mid-12th century to the mid-19th century. European feudalism was almost completely defined by the relationship between a king and his nobleman, lords or barons, to whom he would grant land based on personal relationships. The fiefdom, the land which the king owned but given to the lord, would be ultimately controlled by the king but cultivated by the lord and his workers. The workers were …show more content…
Being born into the samurai lifestyle meant that it was title that was given not earned. Musui is an example of a man who doesn’t want to follow Bushidō, which defines a life full of servitude and work, and instead follow his pleasures and earn money without doing much work. He runs away at age 14, gets into debt multiple times, and gives up his rights as the head of the family in his 30s, to his son who is only 15. And when he has reached an old age, at which he is writing this autobiography, he notes that “My past conduct truly fills me with horror. Let my children… read this record carefully and savor its meaning” Musui is a member of the samurai class who doesn’t live up to the title. A knight, however, would have earned it through many rituals and years of servitude. An important comparison here is that fact. While many samurai followed Bushidō, some did not proving that like knights, the samurai were not as perfect as it would