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AnonymousI really enjoyed the class tonight. I was intrigued by the extent of torture people inflicted upon themselves or others (e.g., severing heads, suicides, etc...). I also thought the information on castles and the visuals were very interesting. This is information that I will definitely share with my students as we explore ancient civilizations. They seem to perk up when you start to discuss warriors and samurai soldiers. The castle information will be new to my class and I'm anxious to see how interested they are when I present it. I'm particularly interested in exploring the information about the Puzzle of Mountain and Flatland Castles.
AnonymousOn the subject of Samurai I think my studebnts would be very interested in this topic. I am planning on doing my lesson plan from the prospect of communication. I got to this point when I read the story about names by Linda Sue Park. Then in last nights reading I read alot about the tea pouring cermony and that it was the warriors that prefomed it . I feel this is a definite form of communicate. The message that I recieved from the story along with information I got from the Professor is that the warrior appears to be very concerned with the appearance of things. It seems to me that the outside trappings have a more important function the what the individual might be like inside. A good example is the No plays. I read that even if an actor is playing a horrible character he must do it with grace and beauty. I envisage that the warrior had put so much ritual around the act of killing that it becomes more like a play rather then what they are actually doing- endiing alike destroying a living being. I imagine Confucism influenced the warrior into this way of thinking. However, like our "Christains" whom go to church on Sundays and then do as they please on all the other days some warriors only had the outer shell while being somewhat less then perfect on the inside. IIt is much easier to have the apperance of goodness instead of actually being good.
AnonymousOne of the insight I have gained from contemporary Japan class enlightened me to understand Japan today. From their long tradition and status qua of their hierarchical system, Japanese business men often hid the truth and work behind the curtain which resulted in serious business breach with western CEO. I can see Michael Woodford, a resigned CEO of Olympus in his struggle with Japanese business hierarchical system.
Mr. Woodford, who was fired by Olympus in mid-October after raising questions about a series of irregular acquisition payouts, said Wednesday that he would join with shareholders to pressure the company into calling an extraordinary shareholders’ meeting as soon as February — and suggest his own set of “untainted” candidates for a new company board.
The former executive now faces a battle against the current Olympus president, Shuichi Takayama, to see who can garner more shareholder support. Though Mr. Woodford has the support of major foreign investors, he may face resistance from institutional investors in Japan who still control a bulk of Olympus’s shares.
“Let me make it explicitly clear: I am not walking away from Olympus,” Mr. Woodford said in a statement from New York, where he has met with F.B.I. officials who are investigating the case. “I would like nothing more than to return to Olympus and lead it.”
Since Mr. Woodford went public in October with his concerns over Olympus’s finances, the company has admitted to using acquisition payments to hide old investment losses. Still, Olympus maintains that Mr. Woodford was fired because his aggressive, Western style of management was not a good match for the 92-year-old maker of endoscopes and cameras.
AnonymousReflections on Warrior Japan; The lecture on the intricacies of Japan cultural background illumined the socio-political development and distinct delineations of social classes were beyond informative. I was unaware of the clans’ rivalries and acceptable ways of avenging relatives. I was particularly impressed with the traditions and code of honors practiced by the Samurai warriors. I found the marriage dynamics and political alliances beyond astute and politically effective. I found the empress dowagers, a clever way to access power and manipulate socio-political outcomes, given that at that time females depended on males to assert or wield direct power in any form, especially when emperors were too young and inexperienced to assume their reigns. Another interesting revelation was the rapid change Japan underwent and the difficult reconfigurations that forevermore transformed the post-war Japanese cultural landscape.
AnonymousProfessor Samuel Yamashita's lecture on Warrior Japan below, was further elucidated and augmented by the variety of printed resources (books) we were allow to peruse and were extremely useful to further one's research on the subject. Before this institute I imagine and viewed the Japanese culture to be only about "Tokyo Drift". Devoid of a rich historical pass and traditions.
AnonymousThis lecture was very interesting and covered a lot of infromation that I was unaware of. The purposeful designs of the castles, the vendetta policy, the relationship between shame and suicide, were new to me. However, what I found intriguing was the Geisha's and the gentlemen's clubs that high powered men still go to today. Are they like the playboy clubs in our major cities? Do they tell their wives'?
AnonymousThese are my notes from the session for those who may find them useful.
Samuel Yamashita
Minamoto vs. Taira in Heiji Uprising 1160: Warriors from Minamota carried off the emperor because the Taira were powerful in court and this way the Minamoto displaced the Taira. The palace set on fire. Heiji Uprising picture.
Japanese Long bows not held in middle. Laquer carts that artistocratic women went in.
Who were the samurai? saburau - to serve. Samurai is someone who serves. Origins of samurai in the 900's in the provinces of Kyoto because the Chinese style government est 600s 700s began to no longer function. These armed men then became the justice system. Some warriors were from aristocratic families sent to the country, some were descendants of emperors, they could all use bows and spears. Some of the early warriors bands consisted of 20 or 30 men.
When Minamoto and Taira fight there are larger bands but it is not like later warrior society where the loyalty is formalized. 1165 Minamoto Yoritomo and Minamoto Yoshitsune are brothers and they beat the Taira. But the are not close. They have same father but different mothers and were not raised together. Yoshitsune was a great warrior and very slight. Yoritomo was a great administrator. Yoritomo sends men to kill Yoshitsune who hides. Eventually he is found after years he is found with his family and vassals. Yoshitsune people all commit suicide. They kill the women and the warriors kill each other. Yoshitsune is a tragic hero and is killed.
Yoritomo creates a tent government (bakufu) in his home town of Kamakura in eastern Japan.
The emperor still has authority to rule and gives Yoritomo the title of Shogun (sei-i-tai-shogun - barbarian quelling generalissimo) This title was first given in 794 when they were fighting the Ainu.
The tent government had four offices: samurai, board of inquiry, administration, legislative (issues laws) These offices were in Kamakura.
Provicial officials were constables like sheriffs (Protectors) shugo.
Jito- steward or overseer. Officials who collected taxes from Taira lands. The Jito collected 12-13% of what they collected. 87-88% went to the central government.
Old Chinese style government stopped functioning because people could avoid taxes. A shadow government also ruled and then the military government came in as well. There was not revolution. Essentially the warrior government does not overthrow the old system but becomes another government within it. Multiple methods of land ownership within each government.
Socially in addition to urban aristocracy there were also military officials. Imperials live in Kyoto while the central military government in Kamakura.
In the country were provincial aristocrats, farmers and military tax collectors and constables.
Japanese feudalism is that there is no subinfeudation. A vassal cannot have vassals. German feudalism was similar.
Taira lived an aristocratic lifestyle but the Minamoto maintained military lifestyle.
Minamoto shogun power erodes when Yoritomo's wife's family (Hojo) became the real ruling family. Hojo regency.
Kamakura government survives until 1336. 1333 an attempt to restore imperial power. Ashikaga Takauji supports the emperor in the rebellion but then creates his own government. He is the Benedict Arnold of U.S. History. His name is betrayal and disloyalty. Ashikaga creates his own government in Kyoto. Murumachi or Ashikaga military government that lasts until 1573. It become aristocratic in character and very different from the Kamakura who were rough warriors.
Ashikaga sends constables that can take 50% of the taxes they collect and each had a large jurisdiction. A constable then had great power, wealth and large armies. The Yamashita family became very rich. Ashikaga constables stayed in Kyoto but their people are in the country collecting taxes. More power in the countryside.
Old private estate system of classical Japan still survives.
Gradually power moves to the countryside. Wealth and military power in the country.
Samurai armor protected very effectively so the best way to kill a warrior is to knock the warrior down and put a sword in the throat. Much warrior combat was not fatal.
Scholar writing book on warrior medicine (Carl Friday?)
Armor made of flat bars of iron wrapped with thread and strung together.
Long swords and short swords.
Many warriors were farmers in the off season until about 1600.
Question: Who was fighting? In 1467 there was a succession dispute between two Ashikaga brothers in the Onin War.
What encourages conflict is that power and wealth moved to the countryside and villages then become the center of the economy. The villages are moated (defensible). Villages displace private estates as the basic economic unit. As military power stays in the countryside it drains power from the capital. The new powerful warriors in the countryside are called Daimyo. These Daimyo build castles on hilltops. Almost every hilltop in central Japan in 1500s had a castle on it.
Villages become economically independent. Daimyo emerge. The daimyo want to expand the territory and control villages in his territory. Hundreds of daimyo with villages and castles. Any mountain castle has usually had several owners.
Takatori castle built in 1300s. Elevation of 1750 feet. 5 or 6 owners. 12 foot wall with good edge. No mortar. and well built. Remains of central keep and there was a tower. View from Takatori castle.
Mountain castles were 20 acres in average size with multiple compounds to keep the fighting away from the castle. You would not want to be besieged because they did not have wells or much water. Dry moats surrounded the castles.
Sometimes around villages are stones the remains of mountain castles.
Bitchu Matsuyama Castle at 1434 feet. Built on stone outcroppings of mountaintop.
In 1560 flat land castles begin to appear. Average size 40-60 acres built on flat lands near rivers or major highways. They had duel function - military and administrative. Flatland castles become the center of villages. The strategy that they represent is that they can withstand attack - full moats. 75 yard wide inner moat.
Tower with an extra floor. Stone dropping slots. Moats were wide enough to withstand cannon fire that was not accurate beyond 75 yards.
Japanese begin using the arqubus in the 1550s.
Question: Are the Japanese left alone? Chinese copper cash was used. Pirates. Limited trade. In 1500s were licenses to trade.
Later Christian persecutions: Burning at the stake but with loose rope so Christian runs from the fire to make the Christian look ridiculous.
Mongols attacked Japan twice in 1280s. Japanese prepare with a wall on the coast of Kyushu. But the Mongol invasion fails due to the divine wind.
Only 64 flatland castles survive. Castles are broken into different compounds that you would have to fight through.
Osaka castle plan. 7.4 mile outer moat. 1.5 mile inner moat.
*****
Battle of Sekigahara
October 18th Western Army led by Ishida Mistunari 80K men
Eastern Army led by Tokugawa Ieyasu 74K men
Tokugawa gathered his lords the night before the battle and reminded his lords that it is your heads or your enemies. The warriors would carry head bags. After a battle there would be display of heads.
Dawn broke and they were fogged in with 10 foot visability. At 7 or 8 AM the fog rose and the battle begun. The battle was over by 2PM and the Eastern army prevailed and most of the Western lords were killed.
The battle takes place because the groups are arrayed geographically.
Both leaders were part of Hideyoshi's council. Hideyoshi attacked Korea twice in his plan to invade China. The Nose Mound of Korean noses.
Emotional context Ishida had insulted one of the lord Kobayakawa. Kobayakawa switches sides during the battle because he remembered the insult from Ishida.
One of the clans that escaped from the battle slept with the souls of their feet toward the Tokugawa as a sign of respect.
33,000 heads were displayed and Ishida is executed and head put on a pike.
Afterwards, Tokugawa Ieyasu gets the title shogun from the Emperor. He is given court title and court rank from the Chinese style government.
He rewards his allies with territory of his enemies. The outside lords lose land or are moved to a new place.
Powerful enemies in the far south or far north and his most trusted allies have land near those enemies.
Distributed land he gained. (See handout)
They create a new military government that survives the battle and lasts. The impose controls on the imperial court. Second shogun marries youngest daughter to emperor. Reduce power of other lords by reducing the power of other lords. Only one castle can remain in each feudal domain. Each lord can have only one castle.
Severe punishment for breaking laws. In the worst cases, they can take your land away. Lords contributed to public works projects to keep them poor.
Hostage system established (such things had been used from the Qin China and in Koryo Korea). All hereditory lords must spend 6 months out of the year in Edo and when not in Edo, main wife or heir must be in Edo. Outer lords had to be there for a year at a time. 70 to 80% of what a feudal domain generated was used up in this rotation system. 3 residences in Edo - yourself, family, men and each was the size of a city block. Travelled with about 300 men.
His cousins spent 300 years in Edo during Tokugawa period and are talented and good looking.
New government administered the Tokugawa domains. Every feudal domain had an administrative structure like the Tokugawa administration.
In a castle town, the lord's highest ranking officials lived closest.
The other thing that happens is that in the begining of the 1590's farmers and warriors could not move back and forth. So Warriors, Farmers, Artisans, Merchants, Others (Heinen and Eta) Warrior system in 1500s was merit based more than by birth.
Hideyoshi was able to control about 25% of the country in what looks like national unity but it does not really last. While Ieyasu creates an effective central government. The system of alternate attendance really kept control of the provinces. Centralized feudalism. There are 300 or more feudal domains, but the center of power is clearly in Edo.
Tokugawa also close the country. Catholics are seen as a threat and Christians are killed. The Dutch help kill the Christians on behalf of the Tokugawa but of course the Dutch were at war with the Spanish and Portuguese.
Dutch remains on the artificial island of Deshima in Nagasaki. Dutch were allowed to go to Edo once a year.
Protitutes were allowed to come onto the Dutchman island. Kempfer's journal has been translated.
The Dutch brought the latest weapons to the shogun. Also the shogun would ask about different things the Europeans would do.
Lord Matsumai and the Ainu conquers the Ainu. Brian Walker wrote a book on this.
Lord Shimazu took over Okinawa in 1609. Okinawans were influenced by the Chinese.
Koreans, Chinese and Dutch were allowed to trade with the Japanese.
Nagasaki had a China town. Professional translators were in Nagasaki. Japanese and Koreans re established relations in 1609. The Choson state wanted to retrieve the Korean scholars that had been captures. Korean potters remained in area near Hiroshima.
********? Firearms in Japan... Japanese using musket drill ? Find this for discussion *****
Warriors were moved off of the land and they became soft and aristocratic.
In other areas the warriors continued to be martial for example in Lord Shimazu's domain.
The Ideals of the Samurai -- Warrior House Code. The oldest of these text date from 1100s it is very Buddhist. Later war becomes more important. Warriors are urged to be polite. "If you go to a brothel, pick the ugliest because she will be most grateful." "In the morning brush your teeth."
Important book written by warrior woman in 1880 translated by Kate Nakai
"Women of Mito Domain" Warrior women were expected to kill themselves.
Shiba Goro went from being the boy who was sent away while his family committed suicide but then went on and became leader in Japan.
Hagakure The Book of the Samurai Yamamoto Tsunetomo tr William Scott Wilson
Code of the Samurai
The Battle of Kawanakajima - arquebus used.
Castle books:
Feudal Architecture of Japan by Koyshi Hirai
Kagemushi - the Shadow Warrior- a movie by Kurusawa.
************************
Vendetta in Japan
Jan 31, 1703 Incident of 47 Ronin.
The 47 Ronin attack Lord Kira. They go at night to his house and then kill him in the kitchen. They present his head at the grave of Lord Asano.
Lord Asano was told to work with Lord Kira the master of ceremonies. Asano forgot to give Kira a bribe so Kira brushed him off. The emissaries visited the shogun's palace for several days.
Asano attacks Kira because Kira insulted Asano. Asano is made to commit suicide by the end of the day because he drew his sword in the palace. Asano's domain is taken away from his family. His 300 warriors are released from service. The domain disappears. Asano's brother is forced to close his school. Asano's men led by Oishi Kuranosuke will carry out a vendetta. He spends time in Ichiriki Teahouse, Kyoto. Then 46 of Asano's men break into Kira's house and kill him.
The warriors when they parade the head, they are challenged but they announce their vendetta. They wash the head in the temple. They send two men to tell the Tokugawa authorities.
Then Oishi says now it is time. They put vials of perfume on their heads so their head smells nice when presented if they have to commit suicide.
The Tokugawa authorities have the 46 men arrested where they are held in custody in five households. They are made to commit suicide at the 5 residences.
At each residence a tent is set up and a mat is brought out. He would disrobe and he would cut open his bowels and the head is cut off by his second.
Suicide is a way to express sorrow or grief. During the WW2 soldiers were taught a distortion of the Warrior Code or ethic. Japan airlines pilot who ditched plane in harbor and people died, committed suicide.
The ronin broke the law because they did not do a legal vendetta.
From 1630s there were legal vendettas. They took about 2 years to carry out because the target would know he was the target.
In the first 100 years of the Tokugawa there are about 100 registered vendettas. In 1700s commoners and women carried out illegal vendettas.
If in a sword fight all sides were punished. Dueling prohibited.
Film _Twilight Samurai_ about a low ranking warrior.
Principles of Tokugawa Order: (see handout)
*Hierarchy
*Fixity (you needed travel documents especially if high ranking or weapons moving)
Lord Nambu Shigenao was off schedule and had to spend 3 years in house arrest.
*Propriety - emotion was to be controlled. Vendetta system- you do not run around getting in sword fights. Sex was regulated - red light district - register, leave swords behind, and you could stay 48 hours. Every licensed quarter had his own lingo so you could buy guidebooks to different areas. The courtesans were ranked
Great ship- were at top of courtesan hierarchy and had attendants.
Heavenly gods, Half-nighters, etc.
Yoshino was the most famous great ship was daughter of warriors but orphaned at a young age. She was skilled as a dancer, caligrapher.
Courtesans are called geisha today. Geisha still exist.
The Autobiography of a Geisha - a country geisha sold into a house in the 1930s.
The bill is sent to the wife.
Geisha houses are like Hostess Bars.
AnonymousMuch of the discussion about Japan and the military technology there reminded me of a lecture by Philip Hoffman at Caltech. He is developing a thesis to answer the question how Europe became militarily dominant by the 19th century. A brief version of his argument is that the military dominance is due to improvements in gunpowder technology that occurred because gunpowder warfare was cost effective and constant in Europe while in other regions it was not so. In Ashikaga Japan, gunpowder technology developed rapidly when the warlords were competing for power. However once the Tokugawa established control, improving gunpowder technology was no longer a priority for anyone in power in Japan and thus the Japanese fell behind. Similarly the Ming and Qing Chinese had very short periods of warfare where gunpowder would be effective and therefore did not improve. (Fighting nomads with early gunpowder weapons is not cost effective because the supply lines required made costs prohibitive.) The article is at:
AnonymousJust re-watched this fantastic film by Jim Jarmusch on how “the way of the samurai” can be manifest in a modern urban western civilization context. Forest Whitaker (“Ghost Dog”) does a great job living and portraying the samurai code/way of life as the retainer of his master, whom he protects from danger at all costs.
I am glad that the writer took the opportunity to promote books, knowledge and wisdom about the subject of ancient Japan in general and the samurai specifically. Further, I am glad that there is not an over- glamorization of what it means to be a samurai.
A couple questions regarding this film:
How was it received by the Japanese; with acclaim? As culturally (in)sensitive? Philosophically accurate?, etc...?
I believe it is quite possible to adopt such a philosophy and then living it while adapting to one’s current spirit of the age, but rarely do we see people actually rise above their immediate personal and social circumstances in order to do just that. I remember the first time I saw this film (about a decade ago), I was so inspired that I sought out some of those very books (Hagakure, Rashomon) and completely took in their messages.
A couple memorable lines from the film:
Ghost Dog: You know, in ancient cultures, bears were considered equal with men
Bear Hunter: This ain’t no ancient culture here, mister
Ghost Dog: Sometimes it is…
Ghost Dog: Sometimes we’ve got to stick with the ancient ways.
AnonymousSince I am getting ready to prepare my students to compare and contrast feudal Europe with feudal Japan, I found the lecture very helpful. My AP students just read an excerpt from Worlds of History by Kevin O’Reilly called “Love and Marriage: Medieval Europe, India, and Japan.” Students are able to develop their own cultural comparisons based on primary sources, like The Tale of Genji. It’s great to learn so much more background information I can pass on.
AnonymousI think in looking at the Battle of Sekigahara, it would be great to tell the story of this historic battle by using artifacts from the era including for example armor, swords, Japanese prints, and uniforms. That way the students would narrate the story of the battle using art. Also, maybe another lesson idea is to have the students compare and contrast the fighting styles, armor, honor codes and duties of knights with those of the samurai. Now for those who teach the battle in an in-depth way, I found a website, in which the kids build and play their own board game based on the Battle of Sekigahara. Just check out the link below for more information.
AnonymousI am most fascinated by the Tokugawa Period, specifically the paradox of having a highly centralized government while maintaining a rigid feudal structure to their society. What's also interesting is what happened toward the end of this period, which brought an end to feudalism in Japan, and by extension an end to the warrior class. A great movie on this is called: "Twilight Samurai."
AnonymousMany movies have been made about the Samurai. Recently, a pretty bad one with Tom Cruise. Samurai are often depicted as great warriors with super strength and perfect skill with a sword. What I don't think students realize is that the Samurai were also known for the poetry they wrote! Below is a link that teachers might wish to consider when introducing the Samurai to their classes, perhaps using the L from a KWL chart.
AnonymousI was very fascinated by the castles and the samurai code of ethics. In particular, what stood out to me was the honorable suicide. I did some more research and there was a ritual called seppuku. Now it made me wonder because the professor had mentioned that there was a pilot that committed suicide. So I looked into the suicide rate. Currently Japan is number 7 in the whole world. That is still in the top 10. Does that have any correlation to the idea of the samurais and seppuku? If the samurais dealt with shameful situations by suicide, did it now create a culture that to this day continues to follow in this path. Just some thoughts as I was thinking about how history may still currently affect now.
AnonymousThis session was very interesting. The professor's approach is to use a specific event or place as a starting point to expand our understanding of an era or culture. His discussion of the castles was one such place. It lead to a broader understanding of how society was organized during that time and the importance of individual domains. Similarly the discussion of the rules of vendetta shed light on the overall formality and structure of warrior culture along with its fragility. Confronted with an aggressive and technologically advanced European culture later Japan either had to adapt or perish since the highly structured warrior culture could not survive that confrontation.