The Influence Of The Four-Class Social System In Japan

Although, in the earlier modern years Europe and Japan didn't talk much or have really any contact with one another the developed kind of the same they were very similar.

During the post classical period, 650 C.E to 1450 C.E, Japanese leaders were confronted with several issues that threatened political order in Japan. The problems that arose during that time included a lack of respect for Buddhism, for example, monks were not taking their vows seriously. Another problem included the division between classes in the social structure, one instance was when the lady-in-waiting in the temple showed disdain for the peasants in a lower class than her. Ultimately, one last problem was the lack of overall respect for the government. Samurais were not being properly trained and the Daimyo were fighting among themselves simply for power. The issues that presented themselves during this time period can be solved in many ways. Buddhism, a unified religion, reestablishing Confucian values and relationships, and properly training the Samurai are just

Religion was a big role in the lives of a Samurai. The Samurai had practiced three different religions in their lives which were, Buddhism, Shintoism, and Confucianism. Each of the religions had a different role, Buddhism dealt with war and death, Shintoism with inherited ambience, and Confucianism

Feudal Japan had eight social classes. Peasants, artisans, and merchants made up 90 percent of Japan’s pouplationship. Artisans made equipments, tools and weapons. Merchants sold goods and produce. Peasants were farmers and fishers who gave most of their produce to daimyo and the shogun in exchange for the right to live on the land.

Japan had to deal with many issues during its period of reunification. The major issue for Japan was the constant fighting between daimyo. From 1500-1603, Japan went through a devastating civil war, in which Toyotomi Hideyoshi eventually won. After Hideyoshi, Tokugawa Ieyasu created a Shogunate that had imperial rule, so the daimyo could no longer fight for control. Japan also struggled with its changing economy in that merchants had low status but higher wealth than the daimyo and samurai. The lords did not seem as powerful when they needed to borrow money from low class merchants. In concern to external pressures, Japan had tried to take Korea under the reign of Hideyoshi but they were quickly overpowered. When the Tokugawa took control,

The samurai were a powerful warrior class in Japan, and were very skilled with a sword. Samurai used swords and were trained very well to do many things such as fire a bow while on horseback. The samurai practiced Buddhism, which is a religion that taught people to respect the world to reach enlightenment. When the samurai disobeyed The Bushido Code, they committed Seppuku, which is ritual suicide for the samurai. Japanese culture was influenced by the samurai warrior class.

Buddhism began trickling into China after the end of the Han dynasty. Buddhism began to prosper during the Tang and Song dynasties during the post-classical era; there was state support for Buddhism during the Tang dynasty. During the beginning of the post-classical era, Japan began to participate in the tribute system with China. During this time, Japan borrowed many ideas from China, including Buddhism after they interacted with Buddhism in China and brought it back to Japan. Before the spread of Buddhism, Japan’s main religion was Shinto. By 1192 CE, Japan creates new schools of Buddhism that are strictly

The role of tradition within religion in medieval Japanese society was of great significance. Shinto and Zen Buddhism were two of the major religions practiced in medieval Japan. Shinto was mainly concerned with daily life, while Zen Buddhism prepared the people for the life to come. The samurai also followed an important code called Bushido, a form of warrior philosophy. The ancient Japanese religions helped people understand the universe and also provided a connection between the physical world on earth and the spiritual world.

But Samurai didn’t just follow the religion of Buddhism. Some chose to follow the religion of Shinto, which I the oldest Japanese religion having dated back to prehistoric times. The word Shinto means “the way of the gods” and this religion was only practised in Japan. Shinto has no prophets or scriptures to preach its name and so there is no recorded single founder of the

The Japanese traditions state that the sun goddess created Japan and its emperors. However, researchers highlight 400AD as the start of Japan’s history after its foundation by the Yamato clan in Kyoto. The group controlled other families in the eastern and western parts of the region and tried to extend their rule in Korea. However, such interaction led to the introduction of Buddhism. In the 700s, China joined the Yamato clan and ruled through an imperial court. With the help of the samurai, the Minamoto clan established a military government under Yoritomo’s leadership in the 1100s. The entry of the Portuguese missionaries, Spanish, English and Dutch traders in the 16th century led to the collapse of the dictatorial military government as marked by the transition to the current power in the 19th century.

The japanese feudal system and the European feudal systems were very similar but also very different. In japan Women had more rights than they did in europe, in europe women had very few rights. Both had social systems but those social systems worked very differently. In both Japanese and European feudal systems the samurai and knights were allowed to kill commoners. In japan they believed in shintoism and zen buddhism, while in europe they believed in Christianity.

Apart from heavy burdens imposed on population in both countries in the form of taxes, in the period preceding the Russo-Japanese war Russia and Japan were involved in the territorial and nationalist conflicts (which illustrate imperial ambitions of both governments), leading to worsening of the living conditions and domestic unrest – Russia fought in Caucasian War, Crimean War, Russo-Turkish War, had to deal with the Decembrist revolt and Japan was

While Japan was made up of different clans they had different myths that centered on their divine ancestors. When Japan moved into a single imperial family, their divine ancestors took over and were the new myths of Japan.

When the Japanese modernized they made sure to keep their traditional values. According to document 1, in the timeline, after the Meiji Constitution was adopted, The Sino-Japanese War Began( in which Japan fought the Qing Dynasty over Taiwan and Korea(Doc 1, N.d, line 7). Japan won these territories and benefited from their resources. It wasn’t until 1904 Japan declared another war on Russia to protect and keep Korea for its resources( Alfred Stead, 1904, Doc 9). This was the first time any other country defeated a European imperialist country.

Shinto's encounter with the Buddhism religion being introduced into the Japanese country in 552 BC at a point, were not in constant agreements when it came to the end of the Meiji Restoration in 1868 as Buddhism gradually advanced. For one thing, as Shinto had become the main state religion of Japan this meant the Emperors directions took a different route of having to take more cautious on the state's financial funds. And since those funds relied on the shrines that were most commonly visited for worship, it affected Japan so much that the kami was no longer permitted to be recognized with Buddhist deities causing them to lose their godly status, and an additional serious arrangement for the Japanese spiritual beings took place. Also, traces of Buddhist rituals, images, and purposeful meanings were wiped clean. Despite the fact, it is safe to say that the Meiji Restoration filled with major political, economic and social change did not cause the reformation and purifying of Shinto to last.