Question

What caused the rise of the feudal system in Japan?

Answer 1

Hint: Feudalism refers to a political and economic system that developed during the Middle ages. The feudal system that emerged in Japan was like feudalism in Western Europe.

Complete answer:
In Japan, the emperor was the chief political and religious figure. However, by the 1100s, the power of the emperor was so weakened that Japan collapsed into civil war. Unable to control the Japanese lords, the emperor lost his political power.

A system of feudalism emerged in Japan that was alike to feudalism in Western Europe. Lords and their private armies gained immense power. By 1192, Japan’s most powerful lord or noble had the emperor nominate him as Japan’s “Supreme Military Governor” or Shogun. For the next 600 years, the emperors acted as mere figureheads while the Shoguns were the real rulers of Japan. They stood at the top of the feudal system of Japan. The Shogun was a military autocrat.

The highest nobles after the shogun were the Daimyos. A daimyo referred to a noble landowner or a lord. Daimyo had control over large estates, or pieces of land. Daimyo also owned private armies or armys of warriors. In exchange for loyalty and protection, the daimyo gave land to the warriors or samurai. Samurai were fearless soldiers on horseback and they also had swords with them. For them, to die in battle was an honor. Samurai followed the “Code of Bushido”, which demanded him to be brave and loyal to his lord.


Note:
- Feudalism in Japan and Europe were similar in many ways but there were several differences.
 - In Europe, when a lord dies, the oldest son generally becomes the successor of his land. In Japan, a man could choose the son who he thought could best take care of the land, and if he had no heir, he could adopt a son.
- In Europe, women were respected but at the same time were considered weak. In Japan, samurai wanted their wives to be tough and self-disciplined.