Theory of Character and Characterization

16 Combine with the quotes and the historical fact about feudal era, the writer sees the possessors of political and military power will naturally mold their society to fit their own needs. They will manipulate the economy so that they get the greatest share of production; they will develop a class structure which gives them the highest position; they will, as wealthy consumers, influence writers and artist; they will establish standards to which their society must conform. The wider definition of feudalism stresses social and economic factors; the essence of feudalism is in the exploitation of an agricultural population by a ruling group. It occurred in the feudal society of Western Europe. Japanese feudalism cannot be seen equally as European feudalism which had to do with political disunity. It involved both disunity and unity. According to Miller and Moore in Japan: Yesterday and Today Japan did not develop into a modern national state in commercial and military competition with the other countries of the world and they eliminated most of the foreign stimuli. It was characterized by political unity and national isolation 1976:7. The evolution of Japanese feudalism can be divided into three phases according to Embree in Encyclopedia of Asian History Volume 2: The first phase is Kamakura Period 1185-1333, in which the warrior class bushi or samurai, who had evolved during the Heian period as the administrators and protectors of the estates, destroyed Fujiwara power and established effective political control over Japan. The second stage is Muromachi period 1333-1568. It was marked by the disintegration of the shogun‟s effective control and the rise of independent feudal domains Hans governed by the powerful local lords daimyos. The third phase includes Momoyama period 1568-1600 and Tokugawa period 1600-1868. It witnessed the growth of a central government powerful enough to dominate 17 the daimyos but not to eliminate them. The major role in this phase was played by Hideyoshi, a military genius of peasant birth, who enjoyed a brief near-dictatorial rule until his death in 1598 1988:28. The beginning of Kamakura Period was marked by the victory of Minamoto Yoritomo 1147-1199 after defeated by Taira Kiyomori in the Heiji War 1159. He received honors and privileges from the court and in 1192, he was appointed sei-itai shogun , a title originally conferred during campaigns against the Ainu to the north. The great crisis of the Kamakura period was the Mongol invasions dispatched by Kublai Khan to conquer Japan in 1274 and 1281, when the Hojo monopolized the Kamakura deputies, and became a supervisory authority for western Japan. Although the invasions failed and the Mongols took no territory, the impact on bakufu politics of the Mongol incursions was considerable. In 1320s, the Hojo were unable to hold the allegiance of some of their most powerful vassals. In 1333, they were overthrown by an alliance of Go-Daigo, members of the court, Buddhist clergy, and such powerful eastern warrior houses as the Ashikaga and Nitta. In the fourteenth century Ashikaga shoguns replaced the Kamakura bakufu. They established their headquarters in Kyoto‟s Muromachi sector, thereby providing the name of historians customarily use, Muromachi period. In this period, a lot of betrayal occurred. In the Onin War, which ranged between 1467 and 1477, much of Kyoto was destroyed; nobles and monks fled to the provinces, and Japan sank into endemic feudal war. New provincial forces took shape behind the shugo’s back. Many small domains began to take shape, each dominated by retainer bands whose 18 leaders strove for stability and mastery through uneasy alliances loosely cemented by the exchange of hostages. Japan for sure had become feudal. In addition, here are some quotes from the same book; Encyclopedia of Asian History Volume 2 showed that the sixteenth century was a time of upheaval and disorder, but at century‟s end Japan was substantially unified and pacified. This was the result of three trends. The first was a gradual growth in the size of domains that local figures with retainer armies were carving out. Second, the entrance of new foreign technology changed the face of warfare and brought the victory to leaders who had access to firearms. Third, a generation of formidable warlords brought a new ruthlessness and thoroughness to their campaigns. The greatest of these were Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Tokugawa Ieyasu Embree,1988:30. The first steps toward unification were made under the leadership of Oda Nobunaga 1534-1582. His determination pacified the countryside, but not his vassals. In 1582, his men attacked his headquarters and killed him. His work was continued by Toyotomi Hideyoshi 1536-1598, an outstanding lieutenant of Nobunaga. He first crushed the vassals responsible for Nobunag a‟s murder and then set out to win over his fellow generals. While professing loyalty to Nobunaga‟s heir and family, he gradually took the lines of power into his own hands. Hideyoshi wanted his son, Hideyori 1593-1615 inherit his position and lands. Therefore, he appointed five great vassals as his son‟s guardians. Unfortunately, they soon quarreled. At almost the same time, Tokugawa Ieyasu 1542-1616 emerged as the new hegemony after his victory at Sekigahara in 1600. In the Tokugawa Shogunate, bakufu control of daimyo was strict. Injunctions warned 19 them of their duties; their marriage had to be approved; they were expected to contribute to bakufu building projects for temples, castles, and the like; they were forbidden to have more than one castle or to repair it without central approval; and they were barred from establishing checkpoints or toll stations. Within their domains, however, the daimyo enjoyed substantial autonomy. Finally, the Edo Period lasted from 1800 to 1868. This was a very important part of the Japanese time line, as this is when much of the artistic developments of the country occurred. It is also the period when the samurai really came to the forefront of culture and politics, being placed in status high above other commoners. The Edo Period was the last period marked by a ruling shogunate in the feudal age of Japan. In roughly 1870, the people rallied around the Emperor and the age of family rule came to an end. “The Japanese feudal periods played an important role in shaping the culture and government of the country ” Embree,1988:45. Although it ended many years ago, some of the artistic and cultural traditions started during then are still in practice today. The Edo Period was the most important of the feudal times in Tokugawa shogunate . Tokugawa cultural life was rich and varied. Schooling and literacy spread rapidly. By 1700, most of the samurai were receiving some written education; their bureaucratic posts and cultural role as the heads of society made it incumbents upon them to combine civil and military values. He brought art and theater to the masses. The entertainment was still very important today, included Chusingura or Japanese