 Military government started by
MinamotoYoritomo
 Led by a shogun
 Emperor “ruler” in
name only
 Samurai
means “One
Who Serves”
Video 1:00-4:30

Samurai served his
Daimyo and the
Shogun

Hierarchy:
 Shogun
 Daimyo
 Samurai Video 7:51-10:20
 Farmers/Peasants

Samurai
answered
directly to
their Daimyo.

Daimyo
(warrior lords)
answered to
the Shogun.

Daimyo paid his
samurai with land
& food

Daimyo expected
obedience and
loyalty in return
 Ronins were
Samurai
without a
Daimyo. Ronins
were rare.

Daimyos became so powerful they ruled
their land like kingdoms and fought with
one another for power.

1500’s – 1600 = CHAOS

1603 – Tokugawa
Ieyasu reunites Japan

He establishes a new
capital in Edo (Tokyo)

Next 250 years are
peaceful
 Time where culture
of Samurai flourishes
 Samurai’s code
of honor
 Means “way
of the warrior”
 “Death before Dishonor”
 Bushido taught Samurai to be:
loyal, trustworthy, honest,
honorable, and have no fear of
death.

1. Gi: the right decision, taken with equanimity, the right
attitude, the truth. When we must die, we must die.

2. Yu: bravery tinged with heroism.

3. Jin: universal love, benevolence toward mankind;
compassion.

4. Rei: right action--a most essential quality, courtesy.

5. Makoto: utter sincerity; truthfulness.

ó. Melyo: honor and glory.

7. Chugo: devotion, loyalty.

Ritual suicide for a dishonored samurai
Video 5:00-7:30
Also called Hara-Kiri which means “stomach cutting”.
 Dishonored
samurai wrote a
death poem
 Performed ritual
disembowelment
 Kaishaku
(assistant) cut off
the samurai’s
head
Honor was gained through death

Part of Samurai training was mental training.

Self control helped overcome emotions and
fear of death.

Samurai were expected to always be alert.

In the 1600’s, Samurai were expected to be
students of culture as well as warriors.
Read text pg. 245

Samurai were trained in:
 Calligraphy
 Poetry (Haiku)
 Tea Ceremony
 Zen Buddhism
Video 24:00-27:30
Read text pg. 247
 Zen Buddhism
stressed
mindfulness,
discipline, and
meditation.

Mental Zen
training taught
their mind to be
one with the
sword.





A samurai had to learn self-control.
They must overcome emotions that might
interfere with fighting.
Samurai had to learn to always be alert and
prepared to fight.
Samurai could never relax because an attack
could come at anytime.
Samurai developed a “sixth sense” about
danger.
Video 12:40-15:52
 Bows and arrows,
spears, and
swords
 Carried 2 types:
1. Katana: long
sword
2.
Wakizashi:
short sword
 The Katana was
thought to
contain a
“soul”.
 The Wakizashi
was used for
close fighting,
cutting off
heads, and
seppuku.
Video 15:52-20:00
 The cherry blossom is the symbol of
the Samurai.
 Both samurai and cherry blossoms
have beautiful but short lives.