ஜப்பானிய ஜாதிமுறை பற்றிய சிறுகுறிப்பு

ஜப்பானிய ஜாதிமுறை பற்றிய சிறுகுறிப்பு

The Japanese Caste System

Japan is theoretically ruled by a God Emperor who is the direct descendant of the Sun Goddess Amaterasu, the Great Kami of the Sun, the Queen of Heaven. The Emperor, along with hereditary nobles, make up the Royal Court. In actual fact, though, the Emperor and the nobles have no real power. Their position is ritualistic and symbolic. Within the Imperial Court, the ranks are the Emperor, the Dajo-ko (retired Emperors) or Dajo-hoo (retired Emperors who have become Priests), then come the Kuge (the Imperial family and Court Nobles.

The real rulers of Japan are the Buke, the Warrior Caste. These are the samurai castes led by their Daimyos and ruled by the Shogun. The Shogun has total power of Life and Death over all those who live within the islands of Japan, and all territories conquered by Japan.

The Shogunate comprises the Shogun, who is also sometimes called Kwampaku or Taiko; the Shogun's clan; Bugyo (Commisioners); Kairei (Deputies); and Metsuke (Censors).

The Buke:

The Daimyo have total power in their provinces, answering only to the Shogunate. There are three ranks of Daimyo. They are: Kokushu, with an income of 500,000+ koku per year; Ryoshu, with an income of 100,000+ koku per year; Joshu, with an income of 10,000+ koku per year.

The Samurai, according to their status within the hierarchy of each Daimyo, has total power over those under him. Anyone dealing with the Samurai is advised that they have the right of cut and walk, which means they can cut down anyone of lower station without fear of reprisal. In reality, though, there can be reprisals. If he strikes down another Samurai it can cause a clan war and end with many of the Samurai of both houses being killed. Samurai vendettas have been known to be carried on for centuries, being passed from generation to generation.

Hatamoto are clan elders, advisors and supervisors. The Hatamoto ranks are: Kodai-yoriai, Samurai with an income of 1,000 koku per year;Yoriai, Samurai with an income of 500 koku per year; Kofushin, Samurai with an income of 100 koku per year.
Gokenin: Gokenin are managers and senior members of the clan, with an income of 50 koku per year or more.
Samurai are retainers (members of the clan) who recieve a stippend and/or fife.

Ji-zamurai: These are land holding Samurai with no retainer affiliation to one certain Daimyo. They are accorded all the rights of Samurai.

Ronin are Samurai by birth and station, but they have no holdings or affiliation with a clan or Daimyo. They are homeless and masterless. They fight as mercenaries and hope to gain a permanent affiliation with a Daimyo.

The Priesthood: Members of the Clergy, no matter what their birth caste.

The Heimin:

Peasants: Hyakusho. Farmers, Woodsmen and Fishermen.
Artisans: Shokunin. Craftsmen, porters and manufacturers.
Merchants: Akindo. Tradesmen, peddlers, large merchants, etc.

The Yakuza: Japan Gangsters.

The Ninja:

Jonin: Clan Head, Elders and Advisors.
Chunin: Supervisors and managers.
Genin: Members and Senior Members
Unaffiliated Ninja: Regarded with deep suspicion by all, not considered to be trustworthy.

Eta (the Untouchables):

Denzaemon: Local headman of Eta village.
Honin: Handlers of dead animals (butchers, tanners, leatherworkers, etc.).
Hinin: Handlers of dead humans (undertakers, etc.).

Religion

The religion of Japan is Shinto, the Way of the Million Kami. They believe that all things have spirits and that there are gods for all aspects of life. There are Great Gods, the greatest of them is Amaterasu, the Great Kami of the Sun, Queen of Heaven.

The most popular God with the Buke is Hachiman, who is Amaterasu's son and the God of Warriors.

Inari is the Kami of Rice and Prosperity. Inari's messenger is the fox.

Uke-Mochi-No-Kami is the God of Wealth and Averice.

They also worship their ancestors and all homes will have a shrine to the honourable anscestor.

Bushido

Bushido is the Way of the Warrior, and dominates much of Japan society. The most important caste is the Warrior Caste, the Buke. Bushido is not just training with weapons, it is a whole way of life. Where in the western parts of the Old World someone might say the pen is more powerful than the sword, in Japan they say the pen and the sword brings power together.

The Buke or Samurai Warrior is required to be literate and proficient in the arts of war and the cultural arts. They are taught that there must be a balance of the arts to create the perfect man. The Samurai, because of their training, can analyze an enemy or tactical situation with the utmost speed. Their warfare methods are those of discipline, speed, and maneuverability. They are also trained to inprovise and to think during planning, but to use their natural abilities and instincts when the actual fighting starts, and they are also taught to follow the orders of their commanders and to maintain order in the ranks and to support each other at all times, as they are brothers in the Code of the Warrior, Bushido. This makes the Japanese army a formidable force to meet on the battlefield.

The Seven Principles of Bushido

1. Gi: the right decision, taken with equanimity, the right attitude, the truth. When we must die, we must die. Rectitude.

2. Yu: bravery tinged with heroism.

3. Jin: universal love, benevolence toward mankind; compassion.

4. Rei: right action--a most essential quality, courtesy.

5. Makoto: utter sincerity; truthfulness.

・ Melyo: honor and glory.

7. Chugo: devotion, loyalty.

These are the seven principles underlying the spirit of Bushido, Bu--martial arts; shi--warrior; do--the way.

Giri

Giri refers to the web of obligations and duties owed by each person to those around him: parents, family and friends, as well as fuedal superiors and inferiors.

If one were to say in a word what the condition of being a samurai is, its basis lies first in seriously devoting one's body and soul to his master. And if one is asked what to do beyond this, it would be to fit oneself inwardly with intellegence, humanity and courage. The combining of these three virtues may seem unobtainable to the ordinary person, but it is easy. Intellegence is nothing more than discussing things with others. Limitless wisdom comes from this. Humanity is something done for the sake of others, simply comparing oneself with them and putting them in the fore. Courage is gritting one's teeth; it is simply doing that and pushing ahead, paying no attention to the circumstances. Anything that seems above these three is not necessary to be known.
As for outward aspects there are personal apprearance, one's way of speaking, and caligraphy. And as all of these are daily matters, they improve by constant practice. Basically, one should percieve their nature to be one of quiet strength. If one has accomplished all these things, then he should have a knowledge of our area's history and customs. After that he may study the various arts as recreation, If you think it over, being a retainer is simple. And these days, if you observe people who are even a bit useful, you will see that they have accomplished these three outward aspects.
(Hagakure of Yamamoto Tsunetomo)





Timeline of Japanese History
Note: Many dates are approximate. Some developments emerged over a period of years, and precise dates for events before A.D. 600 have not been determined. Notice how long the prehistorical era was compared to other periods.

JOMON (10,000 - 300 B.C.) Prehistoric period of tribal/clan organization. Stone Age hunters and gatherers who make jomon (rope-patterned) pottery inhabit Japan. 660 B.C. Mythological Jimmu ("Divine Warrior"), descendant of sun goddess Amaterasu Omikami, founds empire.

YAYOI (300 B.C. - A.D. 300) Rice cultivation, metalworking, and the potter's wheel are introduced from China and Korea. Era named "Yayoi" after the place in Tokyo where wheel-turned pottery was found. In Shinto, Japan's oldest religion, people identify kami (divine forces) in nature and in such human virtues as loyalty and wisdom. 100-300: Local clans form small political units.

KOFUN (YAMATO) (300 - 645) Unified state begins with emergence of powerful clan rulers; Japan establishes close contacts with mainland Asia. Clan rulers are buried in kofun (large tomb mounds), surrounded by haniwa (clay sculptures). Yamato clan rulers, claiming descent from Amaterasu Omikami, begin the imperial dynasty that continues to occupy the throne today. Japan adopts Chinese written characters. Shotoku Taishi (574-622) begins to shape Japanese society and government more after the pattern of China. He seeks centralization of government and a bureaucracy of merit. He also calls for reverence for Buddhism and the Confucian virtues.

ASUKA (645 -710) A great wave of reforms called the Taika no Kaishin (Taika Reforms) aims to strengthen the emperor's power. New aristocratic families are created. Especially powerful is that of Fujiwara no Kamatari, who helped push the reforms.

NARA (710 - 794) Imperial court builds new capital, modeled upon Chang-an in China, at Nara. Though emperors are Shinto chiefs, they patronize Buddhism in the belief that its teachings will bring about a peaceful society and protect the state. Legends surrounding the founding of Japan are compiled as history in the Kojiki (Record of Ancient Matters) and the Nihon shoki (Chronicle of Japan). With the adoption of Buddhism as the state religion, its monasteries gain political power.

HEIAN (794-1185) Imperial court moves to Heiankyo (now Kyoto) to escape domination of Nara's Buddhist establishment. Official contacts with China stop in 838. Buddhism, in combination with native Shinto beliefs, continues to flourish. Flowering of classical Japanese culture aided by invention of kana (syllabary for writing Japanese language). Court women produce the best of era's literature. Murasaki Shikibu's Tale of Genji (ca. 1002) is the world's first novel. Court undergoes decline of power with rise of provincial bushi (warrior class).

KAMAKURA (185-1333) Military government established in Kamakura by Minamoto no Yoritomo. Emperor, as figurehead, remains in Kyoto with the court aristocracy.

1192: Imperial court confers on Yoritomo the title of seii taishogun ("barbarian-subduing generalissimo"). Bushi become new ruling class.

1274, 1281: Kublai Khan's Mongol invasions are repelled with help of kamikaze ("divine winds," or storms). Defense against these invasions weakens structure of the military government at Kamakura.

MUROMACHI (1333 -1568) Muromachi district of Kyoto becomes base for Shogun Ashikaga Takauji's new military government. Takauji and his successors become patrons of Zen and spontaneity in ink painting, garden design, and the chanoyu (tea ceremony).

1467-1568: The 10 year-long Onin no Ran (Onin War) brings disintegration of central government, followed by the Sengoku Jidai (Era of the Country at War). Firearms introduced by shipwrecked Portuguese soldiers (1543),Christianity by Francis Xavier (1549).

AZUCHIMOMOYA MA (1568 -1600) Oda Nobunaga starts process of reunifying Japan after a century of civil war; he is followed by Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1536-1598). Foundation of modern Japan is laid. Hideyoshi's ambition to conquer Korea and China is thwarted by local resistance. Arts such as painting, monumental decorative designs, and the tea ceremony continue to flourish.