Japanese Culture Essay

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Recommended: Samurai impact on japan

Amanda (Asia Pacific Study)

14/5/14 - 27/5/14
To what extent does the Society structure affect the routines and rituals of people?

(8.1)
Is there a difference towards how the local festivals are celebrated during ancient times and now?
There are countless local festivals around Japan. Every shrine celebrates its own unique kind of festival. Many traditional festival and religious ceremonies are still celebrated today in Japan. The festivals are celebrated the same way, as it was hundreds of years ago. These celebrations provide valuable information about the life of the Japanese people.

(8.2, 8.3 and 8.5)
Who was in control of the hierarchy system in Ancient Japan?
Japan had its first emperor in 400 AD. Japan developed a system where the emperor and his chief general called shogun. Next in line were the daimyo’s, who were important land owners and the samurai. The lower ranks were the farmers, craftsmen, merchants and the peasants. Each class had to obey the class above it. This was known as the feudal system and it also existed in Europe. Many areas in Japan were under the control of the Emperor. During the classical period in Japan, there were struggles for influences in the imperial court. The Emperor of Japan had many challenges for his authority. There were noble families like the Fujiwara Clan who were greedy for power. The powerful Fujiwara clan dominated Japanese politics from the seventh century until the twelfth century. Most emperors married women from the Fujiwara Clan. The person with highest status was the emperor, but quite often the shogun and daimyo were more powerful than him. They each had to swear their loyalty.

(8.6)
What was a samurai’s role?
A samurai is a Japanese knight. The samurai were paid by t...

... middle of paper ...

...raditions in Japan. 2014. Japanese Traditions, Traditions in Japan. [ONLINE] Available at:http://www.mapsofworld.com/japan/culture/traditions-in-japan.html. [Accessed 22 May 2014].

Feudal Japan | History | Articles. 2014. Feudal Japan | History | Articles. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.facts-about-japan.com/feudal-japan.html. [Accessed 22 May 2014].

Cultural Norms and Traditions in Japan - AngloINFO Tokyo, in Tokyo (Japan). 2014. Cultural Norms and Traditions in Japan - AngloINFO Tokyo, in Tokyo (Japan). [ONLINE] Available at:http://tokyo.angloinfo.com/information/moving/country-file/culture/. [Accessed 22 May 2014].

Roberts, j. (1990). Samurai warriors. Great Britain, England: Aladdin books ltd. (Original work published 1990).

Book Research

Religion
Shinto was the first religion of the Japanese people. The Shinto people believed that all the natural

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