FUEDAl JAPAN
History-Social Studies Content Standards for California Public Schools
7.5 Students analyze the geographic, political, economic, religious, and social structures of the civilizations of Medieval Japan.
1. Describe the significance of Japan’s proximity to China and Korea and the intellectual, linguistic, religious, and philosophical influence of those countries on Japan.
2. Discuss the reign of Prince Shotoku of Japan and the characteristics of Japanese society and family life during his reign.
3. Describe the values, social customs, and traditions prescribed by the lord-vassal system consisting of shogun, daimyo, and samurai and the lasting influence of the warrior code in the twentieth century.
4. Trace the development of distinctive forms of Japanese Buddhism.
5. Study the ninth and tenth centuries’ golden age of literature, art, and drama and its lasting effects on culture today, including Murasaki Shikibu’s Tale of Genji.
6. Analyze the rise of a military society in the late twelfth century and the role of the samurai in that society.
USAGI YOJIMBO TEN THOUSAND PLUMS
Murder and arson are plaguing the valley of ten thousand plums. The trees within the valley of ten thousand plums are beautiful to behold. But the umeboshi, or pickled plums, made in the local village are renowned for their strong medicinal properties, and a favorite of the Shogun. As a series of deadly events grip the valley with fear, the Shogun's samurai strongman is immediately suspicious when Usagi, Yukichi, and Gen are found wandering among the prized foliage... Can their appearance be a mere coincidence?
USAGI YOJIMBO THE CROW
Finally making it out of the frozen mountains, Usagi and Yukichi come across a merchant being attacked by four brigands. They rescue the supposed merchant only to discover much later that he is really a criminal with a huge bounty on his head! Of course, wherever there is a huge reward you will find bounty hunters Gen and Stray Dog...and other unscrupulous trackers!
USAGI YOJIMBO ICE AND SNOW
Usagi and his cousin Yukichi are still in the snowy mountaintops of Northern Japan. They are led to the hut of a strange woman hermit who allows them to spend the night. Meanwhile, the maniacal Jei and his familiar, Keiko, are on Usagi’s trail, and they stumble upon a bandit lair and subdue the band of cutthroats and thieves.
Our journey through Feudal Japan will take many paths. Below you will find informative articles that provide a good overview of history and culture in feudal Japan. I'm also providing reading notes and an important vocabulary list for this unit.
We will use the stories of Usagi Yojimbo to learn about the Edo Period in Japan. This includes learning about the traditions, social customs and values (warrior code) of the lord-vassal system, consisting of shogun, daimyo, and samurai.
Students will also learn about three forms of ancient Japanese poetry: haiku, tanka and renga. After reading and analyzing exemplars, students will compose and illustrate their own verses. Some will have the opportunity to submit their work for publication or enter into contests with cash prizes!
Lastly, students will connect their new knowledge with modern history, as we watch the film Grave of the Fireflies, directed and animated by Isao Takahata (Studio Ghibli). We will also learn about Japanese internment in the United States during WWII. They Called us Enemy (George Takai) will be made available for independent reading.
Adult and mature teen connections: Silence (novel by Shusaku Endo and film directed by Martin Scorsese), The Last Samurai Film by Edward Zwick).
