Japan

Japan

Samurai Bound by the code of bushido- "the way of the warrior". This emphasized honor, bravery, and absolute loyalty to one's lord, but it covered every aspect of a samurai's life, including walking, bowing, and holding chopsticks. If bushido was betrayed, seppukku (ritual suicide) was commited. Supposed to have no fear of death

Tokugawa Shogunate Wanted to end feudal warfare Maintained outward forms of feudalism but created a central government that controlled all of Japan Controlled daimyo by forcing them to live at the capital every other year and keeping his wife and children there all the time. Daimyo had to ask permission to marry or repair their castle Only samurai could serve in the military or hold government jobs Peasants remained on the land Lower classes forbidden to wear silk and other luxuries Agriculture improved Population growth due to food surpluses- more towns appeared Merchant power increased- grew wealthy because of trade increase and gained influence by lending money to daimyo and samurai and marrying their daughters into the samurai class

Zen Buddhism Buddhist sect from China Emphasized self-reliance, meditation, and devotion to duty Valued peace, simplicity, and beauty, revered nature Influenced development of landscape paintings Believed that people achieved enlightenment through meditation and performing everyday tasks precisely Contradictory traditions: monks were scholars, yet they valued an uncluttered mind, stressing the importance of reaching a state of "non-knowing". Stressed compassion, yet samurai fought to kill.Monks sought absolute freedom, yet had rigid rules.

Heian PeriodNoblepeople lived in fairy-tale like places that had lotus pools, gardens, and pavilionsRules of etiquette governed the courtMulticolored silk dressMen studied Chinese but women were forbidden to study itWomen wrote important literary works at this time, including The Tale of Genji and The Pillow BookPoems and romances were sad, love doesn't last and and the world's beauty doesn't last