Hi, I have to write an essay describing the two conflicting power structures that existed in feudal Japan. I just wanted to know if the two conflicting power structures would be the samurai warriors and people who followed Zen beliefs. My book didn't really word this section well, but from what I read, it sounded like these were the two. Thanks.
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I understand now. Thanks Ms. Sue for your help. Hope you have a lovely day.
Great question! Feudal Japan indeed had multiple conflicting power structures, and while samurai warriors and followers of Zen beliefs played significant roles in the era, they are not the conflicting power structures in this case.
In feudal Japan, the two main conflicting power structures were the imperial court and the shogunate. Here's how you can explain and expand on these:
1. Imperial Court: The imperial court, also known as the Emperor's court, represented the centralized authority in Japan. The Emperor held the highest rank and was considered divine. However, during the feudal period, the Emperor's actual political power significantly declined as the shogunate emerged.
2. Shogunate: The shogunate was a military government ruled by a powerful military commander called the shogun. The shogun held real political power and controlled the military forces. They had control over the samurai warriors who were a dominant military class in feudal Japan.
Now, let's address the samurai warriors and Zen beliefs:
- Samurai Warriors: Samurai played a crucial role in feudal Japan. They were skilled warriors who pledged loyalty to their daimyo, or feudal lord. While samurai were part of the shogun's military structure, they were not a separate power structure in conflict with the imperial court.
- Zen Beliefs: Zen Buddhism did have a significant influence on samurai culture and their code of conduct, known as bushido. Zen teachings emphasized discipline, meditation, and self-control. However, Zen believers were not a distinct power structure conflicting with the imperial court or shogunate.
To summarize, while the samurai warriors and Zen beliefs were influential elements in feudal Japan, the main conflicting power structures were the imperial court and the shogunate.