Middle Ages Japan
Government and Beliefs
Kyndall Roberts
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Government
- Government had ranks of importance such as emperors, advisors, and so forth.
- Emperors gave government jobs to nobles from powerful families.
- Once someone got a job as an official, he could pass on the job to his son, or other relatives.
- Government officials received estates, and farmers to work the land.
- Governments carried out a census to judge Japan's wealth.
- Regents mostly came from Fujiwara.
- Emperors later spent less time ruling and more time doing other things, like learning.
Emperors spent time learning.
Beliefs
- The basic religion during this time was called Shinto.
- The Shinto people believed that all natural things were alive.
- This was called Animism.
- They worshipped Kami, nature spirits, at shrines.
- Shinto means way of the spirits.
- Illness caused spiritual stains cleansed by bathing and other rituals before praying.
- Priests, musicians, and dancers did rituals for people asking favors.
- When people needed help, they asked the kami.
- The Shinto sought to protect nature.