1400 Week 17 Flashcards
(24 cards)
What is Bushido?
The way of the warrior; concept of unconditional loyalty to one’s lord as the key to survival
Fundamentals of Bushido:
Honour of names, family, Han, etc.
Symbols of the warrior:
Swords and armour
How did warriors receive their swords?
They were passed down by daimyo
Who could bear swords in Tokugawa Japan?
Only samurai/warriors
How was Bushido maintained in an era of peace?
As civil servants samurai maintained their heritage as servants to their lords
What made up the ethics of Tokugawa samurai?
Medieval Bushido and neo-confucianism
What is the main theme of the Tale of the 47 Ronin?
Bushido
Who is Asano Takuminosuki?
A modest-ranked Daimyo who is disrespected by Kira Kozuke,whom he later kills
Who is Oishi Kuranosuke?
The chief retainer of Lord Asano and the hero of the Tale of the 47 Ronin
Where did Kira and Asano’s conflict stem from?
Kira believed in the period of peace and rejected the ways of pre-Tokugawa warriors while Asano rejected the reshaping of Bushido
Why was Lord Asano executed?
He broke the law against spilling blood on castle grounds by killing Kira
Three major consequences of Asano’s crime:
- loss of Asano family heritage as Daimyo
- seppuku
- all samurai under Asano become ronin
Who wrote: “everyone misses the cherry blossom. . .”
Lord Asano
Why was the revenge of the 47 ronin so unheard of?
Most blood revenges relate to the death of a relative rather than a lord
Who had to accept The 47 ronin’s blood revenge?
The bakufu
Why were the 47 ronin moved by Sanpei?
He committed seppuku out of having to choose between filial piety and loyalty
How did the tale of the 47 ronin impact Confucianism?
It placed the role of loyalty between the samurai and their lord at the same level as filial piety
Which texts did Ogyu Sorai promote?
The Five Classics
Why did Japan take up Confucianism?
They believed China was unworthy after being taken over by barbarians
How does the Sun act in relation to Japan and China?
Rises in Japan and falls in China
What is the Battle of Coxinga?
A puppet play focused on the relationship between Japanese warrior Watonai and Chinese warrior Kanki
Who dies in the Battle of Coxinga?
Both Kanki’s wife Kinshojo and her Japanese step-mother commit suicide to bring Kanki and Watonai together
Who wrote the Battles of Coxinga?
Kokusenya Kassen
