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Feudal Frontiers: Japan Vs Europe

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Feudal Frontiers: Japan vs Europe
The Juxtaposition of Medieval Europe and Japan

In the span of history, two distinct feudal systems emerged in foreign lands, shaping the political and social landscapes of their respective regions. Feudalism is a government form where instead of one all-powerful leader, people were traded land and protection by those in a higher rank in return for their service. During medieval times, both Japan and Europe were under the power of feudalism, which was a major factor in shaping the regions’ history. The feudal systems of medieval Japan and Europe, although geographically separated, bore intriguing resemblances to each other and compare very similarly.
Although Japan and Europe were not in contact with each other …show more content…

Both warriors followed strict regulations that dictated their lives; the samurai believed in the Bushido Code and the knights followed the chivalry. Either code governed the fighters’ lives, heavily enforcing generosity, honor, and loyalty. Loyalty was by far the most meaningful aspect of their lives, dedicating themselves to their lord and vowing to guard them, even if it meant sacrificing their life. In most cases, in return for the land and manor or castle, the knights and samurai would fight for their master’s lord or shogun if they were in a war and would kill them if they betrayed their master. This was displayed in a popular film by Akira Kurosawa, The Forty-Seven Ronin, where 47 samurai seek revenge on the shogun that betrayed their master, and in real events in medieval Europe, vassals that were betrayed by their lord would stage a rebellion against them, and the knights sworn to loyalty would defend him to their last breath. The two types of warriors also believed in the same principles that allowed them to fight without fear of their impending demise, as they both believed in the idea that you should battle with your only purpose being to kill your opponent for the protection of your master or those weaker than you. As emphasized by Nagahama Inosuke in Hagakure,

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