Japan and Western Europe are two countries on opposite sides of the earth, yet both had a time period known as the feudal period. Japan's feudal age (12^th century to the = 15^th century) is comparable in many ways to Europe's feudal age (9^th century through the 15^th century, also known as the Middle Ages.) Three specific areas that share differences and similarities between these two ages are art, architecture, and the mascots of their respective countries: the Samurai and the Knight.

An area in which the West and Japan are as different as their locations on the globe is their architecture. Just looking through a book of medieval castles one sees the exquisiteness of arches and frills adorning buildings that seem to sail to the sky. The architecture of the Middle Ages can be classified in two major periods: Romanesque and Gothic. The Romanesque period began with the end of the Roman Empire and lasted until 1000 AD and was characterized with buildings growing taller and arches becoming more prevalent in architecture. The west concentrated on making their buildings exquisite and gorgeous with every little trimming they could manage. This led gradually into the gothic period, ranging from 1150 to 1400. This period just enhanced what its predecessor had already done, with buildings growing taller and arches gaining a pointed tip. During this time stained glass became commonplace and the typical medieval castles and cathedral that may come to one's mind became the norm. Japanese architecture was significantly different and is best summed up by George Constable "For the Japanese, nuance is all." The Japanese style of art is much more concentrated on the perfection of simplicity. It is made up of only vital construction and sparsely ornamented. Made with thin woodwork, interior columns and plaster walls, these buildings communicate vitality and grace. The clearest difference between the feudal architecture of Japan and Europe is the idea behind it. The European desire to make their castles and cathedrals exquisitely detailed makes for a sharp contrast with the simplistic way that most Japanese architecture is "characterized by gravity."⁴

Another distinct style that could define either culture during its feudal period is its visual art. This factor differs from architecture in that though the art that came out of Europe and Japan were quite different, the ideas behind them where the same. European feudal art can also be classified into Romanesque and Gothic, the time periods being the same as in architecture. The art that came out of Medieval Europe was very much based in the common religion, Christianity. Combining religious demand and Europe's typical desire to make everything frilly and flashy, many religiously based pieces came out of the Middle Ages'2 artists. Such pieces include altars, altar vessels, crosses, candlesticks, reliquaries (containers for holy relics), and clerical robes. Along with those came copies of sacred texts and portrayals of Jesus and other Religious figures; and all, of course, were designed exquisitelyin the typical European fashion. Japanese art is very comparable to European art on the grounds that it also stemmed from the common religion, Buddhism. Many Japanese artists drew mandalas, cosmic diagrams of the universe. Mandalas were used to display all different gods and deities in schematic order, as well as communicating the interrelationships between gods. Many other forms of paintings existed in Japanese art, including portraits of people the held power. These paintings mainly focused on naturalism and realism, but the most common driving force between paintings was religion. "Paintings assisted all forms of Buddhism, not seen as works of art, but as visible manifestations of belief." ⁵ Both Japan and Europe clearly used their art as vehicles for their religion in very similar ways, and that demonstrates a clear connection between they're very different forms of visual art.

A third aspect in which Japan and Europe's feudalistic times also shared many similarities and differences is the dominant soldier of the culture. The Samurai and the English knight both serve as a sort of mascot for their respective cultures, and they have much in common. The Samurais wore protective helmets and armor and fought with two curved swords. Samurais, who came into power from 1000 to 1200, put a great deal of value on honor and discipline. They honored skills such as horsemanship and the ability to fight with a bow and arrow, but their value was placed on a much higher level, dealing with strong, self-discipline, bravery, and total obedience and honor towards their lords. It was an unspoken standard that if a Samurai were disgraced they would ritualistically kill themselves in repentance. Knights, and the idea of chivalry, where based on the same concept but it had several differences as well. The knight wore a helmet and an outfit of interlaced metal rings called a mail that was eventually replaced with plated armor. A knight's typical weapons were lances, swards, maces and battle-axes, and like the Samurai they rode on horseback. The code of chivalry, the code intended to keep the same honor in Knighthood as there was among the Samurai, stated that a knight must protect women and the feeble, fighting against injustice and evil, along with a sworn faith and deep love for the Christian faith. On face value this shared much in common with Samurai, however the Knights were not as dedicated or as disciplined as the samurai. The code was broken regularly and greed was as prevalent as honor. Though many details were different, and though the Samurai were more successful, Knighthood and the Samurai and the same ideals in mind, demonstrating that many of the ideals behind the two feudal governments may have been similar as well.

In their respective feudal time periods, Western Europe and Japan had their share of differences and similarities. Both cultures, however, have been in positions to lead the world and have had downfalls just as exaggerated. However, anyone who looks at the art, architecture or soldier of the feudal times of either country, can see clearly a distinguished and unique culture that has, literally, a world of experience.