Japanese Culture Erik Brands Japan 4 Main islandsHokkaido

Japanese Culture Erik Brands

Japan • 4 Main islands-Hokkaido, Honshu (or the mainland), Shikoku, and Kyushu. • 75% Mountainous • Rulers- The emperor was supposed to be the ruler, but the shogun are the ones who actually had more power. • Religion- Shinto and Buddhism

Samurai • Japan’s form of military. • Ruled by the shogun and daimyo. • Fought mainly for land. • 8% of the population

Tokugawa Period • Also know as the Edo Period • 1601 to 1867 • In 1868, Tokugawa government fell and the samurai class was abolished. • A time when the samurai were losing their military purpose. Many samurai became bureaucrats, courtiers, and administrators instead of warriors.

Bushido • “way of the warrior” • Code of the samurai • Enforces the requirement to conduct themselves with calmness, fairness, justice, and politeness. • It also stressed finding a proper death in battle, for the cause of their lord. • The samurai must unswervingly obey his master.

Death • Seppuku- An honorable form of suicide for defeated or dishonored samurai. – Could be performed as a ritual after committing a crime – Could be done on the battlefield in order not to be taken prisoner of be disgraced by being killed by an enemy. – Sometimes, when another samurai was defeated after a good fight, the victor would allow the opponent this honorable way of dying. • http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=zz 6 8_x. Dww 2 o&mode=related&search=

Clothing • Kimono- worn by all classes, men and women. – Materials and colors showed the class. Silk was reserved for the upper classes like the samurai while others wore hemp, ramie, cotton and other common fabrics.

Clothing • Kamishimo- Samurai wear it. It is a 2 piece costume worn over the kimono. – Kataginu- The upper half. It is a sleeveless vest with large shoulders. – Hakama- The lower half. They are flowing pants whose design contain an important meaning to the samurai. • The seven folds in these pants represent seven virtues of the Samurai – Yuki (courage), Jin (humility), Gi (justice), Rei (chivalry), Makoto (honesty), Chugi (loyalty), and Meiyo (prestige). • http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=b 4 Bn. RMOCc Xg

47 Ronin • • Ronin- masterless samurai. Asano- The Lord of the Castle of Ako. Oishi- Asano’s Chief Councilor. Kira- High official appointed by the shogun to entertain guests.

47 Ronin • Kira insults Asano and attempts to humiliate him for two months because he did not receive an expensive gift from Asano. • Asano drew his sword and injured Kira for the constant insults and humiliation. • Asano is sentenced to seppuku and Oishi is now in charge. • Castle is taken over and the 321 samurai are ordered to disband. • Oishi and other samurai want to bring back their master’s honor and seek revenge by killing Kira who was not punished at all. • Eventually, the 47 ronin attacked Kira’s mansion and defeated his 61 guards. • Kira was beheaded because he would not commit seppuku. • Oishi and 45 of his men were to execute themselves not as criminals but as honored warriors. • The 46 ronin were buried side by side next to their master at Sengaku-ji Temple.

• http: //www. state. gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/4142. htm #history • http: //marian. creighton. edu/~marianw/academics/english/japan/samurai/samur ai. html • le. daisho. free. fr/ceremonieduseppuku. htm • http: //www. asianinfo. org/asianinfo/japan/re ligion. htm