The Japanese believed that theEmperor was a descendant of the Sun Goddess.

But by the 1100s, the JapaneseEmperor was weak. His lordswould no longer obey him.

No longer obeying the emperor, Lords refused to pay their taxes.

Feudalism developed in

Japan.

In a feudal system, the ruler is weak. powerful lords exchange land for military service.

The most powerful lord in Japanbecame the Shogun.

The Shogun became the militarydictator of Japan. All Japaneselords had to obey the Shogun.

The Lords of Japan were known as the Daimyo. They owned vast estatesof land and had private armies.

Serving in private armies were theSamurai. The Samurai were skilledwarriors similar to Medieval knights.

The Samurai had to follow the Code of Bushido.

Like the knight’s code of chivalry,the Code of Bushido was a setof rules for samurai to follow.

A samurai had to be loyal to hisDaimyo and Shogun. He had to show no emotion.

If a samurai did not adhere

to theCode of

Bushido, he lost honor.

The only way for a samurai to regainlost honor was to commit suicide.

Feudalism in Japan created a newfixed class system and a new setof rules for society.