The World of Kevin
 
 
Rise of the Warriors
 
Overview
Emerging signs of trouble
Multiplying lines of authority
Disorder in the capital
Pressure from the provinces
 
Rise of the warriors
Warrior ethos
Distinct Class?
Clan Identities?
 
Multiplying Lines of Authority
At the center: Parallel administrations with the Fujiwara and Cloistered Emperors
Outside the capital: Independent lines of loyalty and hierarchy emerge in the shôen estate system
 
Keeping Order in the Capital
 
Police and Crime in the Capital
Penal codes at height of Heian era relatively lenient
Kebiishi: extralegal metropolitan police bureau in 9th c.
By 11th c., kebiishi lost effectiveness
Warrior retainers gained in importance as pawns, then players, in court intrigues
 
Unruly Warrior Monks
Probably originated as guards to protect temple lands from local warriors
Armed bands called sôhei as early as 968; spoken of as a problem by 981
Key factor in military and political conflicts of 11-12th c.
 
Sacred v. Secular?
Temples made strategic alliances with court nobles and military clans
Inter-temple rivalry
 
Keeping Order Outside the Capital
Central military conscription of commoners instituted under Taihô code; abandoned in 792
Rebellions quelled with "imperial" armies made up of bands headed by local chieftains
Provincial governors began to see more benefits to staying outside capital
As central authority declined, shôen estate proprietors began to maintain own militias in order to protect property rights
From 10th c., increasingly professionalized groups of mounted warriors served in local areas as estate administrators, policemen and officials
 
Developing Warrior Value System
(Compare and Contrast with Courtier Values)
Loyalty (but when and to whom?)
Expectations of reward
Willingness to die with bravery
Hierarchy:  the search for a worthy opponent
Relation to religious systems?
 
Formal Battle Protocol
Agree on place and time
At agreed upon moment, emissaries exchange greetings or commanders present themselves
Battle begins by riding within range and shooting arrows
When out of arrows, use sword and spear
When outcome clear, winning commander gives cry of victory
 
Warrior Heroes
Seek only worthy opponents
Announcing names
Important to be first
Better to take own life than be taken
 
Distinct Warrior Class?  
Enforcement and regional rule in the name of capital interests
Military nobles as bridge figures (NOT local chieftains chafing under courtier dominance)
 
 
Friday, October 20, 2006
Lecture 10: Rise of Warrior Elites