Research Paper on:
"Shogun" The Miniseries: Cultural Significance

Unformatted Sample Text from the Research Paper:
Clearly, the manner by which Richard Chamberlains character - John Blackthorne - is involuntarily thrust into the middle of a impassioned battle between two mighty opponents blatantly demonstrates just how  important omnipotent power was during feudal Japan (London PG). From 1603 to 1868 Japan was under a feudal dictatorship of the Tokugawa shogunate.  Feudalism existed as a medieval contractual alliance between and among the upper classes, whereas a lord exchanged land with his men in return for military service; however, there stood  to always be those who were not extended nearly the same benefits or pleasantries as were bestowed upon the privileged few. Additionally, it was the goal of feudalism to  confine political and economic power to the relatively few upper class autocrats, whose authority vastly extended from the power inherent to the dominating castle. Shogun illustrates how the pyramidal  hierarchy that was inevitably created as a result of such exclusion was meant to maintain complete control over all the respective districts political and economic decisions. Shogun is a classic  example of how violence has been employed as a means by which to address humanitys inherent conflicts (London PG). One can readily surmise that there was an intrinsic desire  for the Japanese to thrust their manhood into their enemys face in order to assert their inner strength and claim ultimate power. This point is extremely well documented in  the miniseries, as it clearly depicts how Toranaga and Ishido justify their warfare and brutality. Without question, modern depiction of such overwhelming cultural aggression and violence does not compare  to the unyielding emphasize placed upon individual power. In a very real sense, the aspect of power that Shogun so effectively demonstrates pays tribute to the cultural quest for power