Power and Control

Student Notes

How can military power and social structure be used to maintain control in a society?

Unifying the Land

At the beginning of the 18th century, the revenge of the 47 ronin took place.  This tale helps to explain the code of honour of the samurai.

A group of samurai were left without a leader after their daimyo, Asano Naganori committed seppuku, ritual suicide, for assaulting a court official.  To avenge their masters honour, the ronin murdered the court official whom Asano had assaulted.  After the murder of Kira, the ronin then were obligated to commit seppuku.  This story has been embraced and preserved in the Japanese culture; instilling in the people the importance of loyalty, sacrifice, persistence and honour.  

For over 200 years, the Japanese were in constant warfare.  Landowners, daimyo and nobles were vying for power over the territory.  

One of the most powerful men in history, Tokugawa Ieyasu,  defeated rival daimyo and generals in a great battle.  The emperor made him the shogun; who held more power than the emperor.  To maintain his power, Ieyasu created a strong shogunate, that was never challenged.  

All this was done to force the daimyo to keep busy and force them to work hard for expenses that were to be paid for.

A Feudal Society.

Roles in Society

There were 216 rules regulating dress

All rule breakers were punished harshly.

The Samurai

The much respected warrior had certain obligations and tasks.  However they could not perform business.  During times of peace, they took care of surveying land, collecting taxes and keeping order.  Based on their code of honour, the samurai were to live simple and thrifty lives.

Peasants

Farmers were highly valued as providers of food to sustain the society, but were controlled by laws:

Artisans

Artisans and craftspeople were restricted to follow in their fathers footsteps when choosing a craft.  These extremely skilled workers were lower than peasants because they were not primary producers and their work required materials that were produced by others.  

Merchants

As the person in charge of distribution of foods and goods, the merchants bought items from the artisans and farmers to sell or trade with others.  They worked like as they used rice as a currency.  

Because the merchants did not actually produce anything, the merchants were at the bottom of society

Women in Edo Society

During the Edo period, women were born into their class.  Depending on where they were brought up, they worked with their husbands in the fields or they were responsible for ensuring their children received a proper school fitting for the families place in society.  However, women were considered lower than men and they did not have any legal existence during the Edo period.

Outside Edo Society

Outcasts

The outcasts of society were usually those that dealt with death; leather tanners and butchers.  Some entertainers and those with leprosy were also expected to live apart from the rest of society:

Ainu

The ainu lived separate from the rest of the feudal hierarchy.  Finally in 1997, the Ainu people were recognized as Indigenous people with protection and support.  

Assignment

Respond to this question:

What would you suggested society could do to reverse the years of discrimination and assimilation policies of minority or indigenous societies?