Medieval Society, Medieval Society, Economy and CultureEconomy and Culture

Retreat of Epidemic

disease

Demographic base of medieval agricultural revolution

Population growth

LandClearance Compact

Settlements

Diffusion ofTechnology

Medieval agricultural revolution:

Clearing fields

Medieval agricultural revolution: plowing, planting

•Water wheels•Metal tools•Double cropping•Fertilizer•Population rises -> 6 to 12 million, from about 1200-1600

•Greater productivity-> greater specialization•At first, under patronage of temples or nobles; a sort of “estate”, generating shiki or shares

•Artisan colonies become independent of estate owners

•Pay dues to a lord in exch. for protection•Markets emerge

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MedievalKyoto,femalemoneylender

Medieval Kyoto commercial district

Medieval Kyoto street life

New Economic Context for New Economic Context for Cultural LifeCultural Life

Economic developments > social changesEconomic developments > social changes Increased stratification in peasants Increased stratification in peasants

communitiescommunities New class of merchants and artisans in New class of merchants and artisans in

citiescities Enables new support for culture, religionEnables new support for culture, religion

New BuddhistNew Buddhist SectsSects Kyoto and Nara Buddhism too exclusive Kyoto and Nara Buddhism too exclusive

& complicated (ritualistic) for new & complicated (ritualistic) for new classesclasses

Salvation ideas within Tendai became Salvation ideas within Tendai became popular from late Heian periodpopular from late Heian period

Amida would save humans in age of declineAmida would save humans in age of decline Rebirth in Pure Land (Paradise) stop-over to Rebirth in Pure Land (Paradise) stop-over to

NirvanaNirvana

Genshin’s “Essentials of Genshin’s “Essentials of Salvation”Salvation”

Imported from ChinaImported from China Depicted paradise and hell for the first timeDepicted paradise and hell for the first time Easy to understand also for commonersEasy to understand also for commoners

Amida Buddhism: 2 versionsAmida Buddhism: 2 versions HHōōnennen (1133-1212): Pure Land(1133-1212): Pure Land Invocation of Amida Invocation of Amida superiorsuperior to other methods to other methods Repeated recitation of Repeated recitation of NembutsuNembutsu (Praise Amida) (Praise Amida)

(2) (2) JJōōdo Shinshdo Shinshū: True Pure Landū: True Pure Land

ShinranShinran (1173-1262)(1173-1262) Brought Amidism to Brought Amidism to

its logical conclusionits logical conclusion One sincere thought One sincere thought

enoughenough

Popular among lower Popular among lower classes and warriorsclasses and warriors

Nichiren (1222-1282)Nichiren (1222-1282) All secrets can be found All secrets can be found

in the Lotus Sutrain the Lotus Sutra Uncompromising and Uncompromising and

nationalisticnationalistic Japan would reinvigorate Japan would reinvigorate

BuddhismBuddhism But only if Nichiren's But only if Nichiren's

Buddhism was followedBuddhism was followed Predicted Mongol Predicted Mongol

invasionsinvasions Nichiren/Lotus SectNichiren/Lotus Sect

Tariki (strength of others) vs. Tariki (strength of others) vs. Jiriki (strength of selfJiriki (strength of self

Belief that individuals’ Belief that individuals’ actions cannot bring actions cannot bring them to nirvanathem to nirvana

Reliance on othersReliance on others Pure LandPure Land True Pure LandTrue Pure Land

Belief that true Belief that true understanding can understanding can only come from withinonly come from within

Reliance on selfReliance on self ZenZen

Zen Buddhismfounders

Eisai (1141-1215) (at left)

and

Dōgen (1200-1253)(not pictured

Ashikaga Yoshimitsu

GoldPavilion

Ryōanji rock garden

Tea Ceremony implements

Medieval Noh performance

Noh PerformersNoh Performers

ConclusionsConclusions

Economic vitality despite (or because of) Economic vitality despite (or because of) political disunitypolitical disunity

Religious vitality and diversity, linked to more Religious vitality and diversity, linked to more complex society and economycomplex society and economy

Draws on cultural flows from Asian continentDraws on cultural flows from Asian continent