The unification of japan
taylor dubey
The Tokugawa Shogunate
During the Tokugawa Period (c. 1603-1867 AD), a shogun, or a military governor, ruled over a feudalistic system in Japan, and acted as a stand-in for the emperor. During the 16th century, Japan was overrun by civil war between the shoguns and the feudal vassals. Tokugawa Ieyasa, who reigned from 1600-1616 AD, came into power after a series of states throughout Japan emerged, bringing peace. Ieyasa established the military government of bakufu, meaning "tent government." This form of government remained in place until the end of the Tokugawa Period.
One of the main responsibilities of the shoguns was to prevent war from returning to Japan. In order to maintain stability and peace, the shoguns had to control the daimyos, or "great names." Daimyos were powerful lords that owned vast parts of Japan, and most were allies with European mariners, gathering firearms that instigated conflict. The shoguns came up with the "alternate attendance" policy, in which the daimyo had to keep their families in Edo, as well as spend every other year in the Tokugawa court. This kept both the daimyos and their money focused on the government, and not on building up a resistance against it.
The shoguns also secured the policy of bakufu by severely limiting Japan's relations with Europe, in fear of being overthrown as the Philippines had been. The Japanese were not allowed to leave the country, and Europeans could not enter, with the exception of a small number of the Chinese and Dutch merchants who were permitted to trade at the Nagasaki port.
During the Tokugawa Period (c. 1603-1867 AD), a shogun, or a military governor, ruled over a feudalistic system in Japan, and acted as a stand-in for the emperor. During the 16th century, Japan was overrun by civil war between the shoguns and the feudal vassals. Tokugawa Ieyasa, who reigned from 1600-1616 AD, came into power after a series of states throughout Japan emerged, bringing peace. Ieyasa established the military government of bakufu, meaning "tent government." This form of government remained in place until the end of the Tokugawa Period.
One of the main responsibilities of the shoguns was to prevent war from returning to Japan. In order to maintain stability and peace, the shoguns had to control the daimyos, or "great names." Daimyos were powerful lords that owned vast parts of Japan, and most were allies with European mariners, gathering firearms that instigated conflict. The shoguns came up with the "alternate attendance" policy, in which the daimyo had to keep their families in Edo, as well as spend every other year in the Tokugawa court. This kept both the daimyos and their money focused on the government, and not on building up a resistance against it.
The shoguns also secured the policy of bakufu by severely limiting Japan's relations with Europe, in fear of being overthrown as the Philippines had been. The Japanese were not allowed to leave the country, and Europeans could not enter, with the exception of a small number of the Chinese and Dutch merchants who were permitted to trade at the Nagasaki port.
Economic and Social Change
With the peace and stability that came from ending the civil wars, the economy of Japan flourished. Within a hundred years, the Japanese agricultural production doubled, which also caused the population to skyrocket to twenty nine million people. As the population expanded rapidly however, many forms of birth control, contraception, and even infanticide were used to keep the country from running out of land and the resources necessary to support so many people.
When war was no longer necessary in a now-peaceful country, the warriors that once fought became administrators and scholars, causing many to fall into financial difficulty. Merchants, however, became more and more wealthy as trade became a more prominent source of income.
Neo-Confucianism and Floating Worlds
Neo-Confucianism became the official basis of ideals of bafuku, but was criticized by many of the natives that had grown up with the native religion of Japan, Shinto. This native learning helped Japan to keep a sense of identity, as Neo-Confucianism and many other of the new studies promoted by scholars came from China.
With many lower-class merchants and citizens becoming more wealthy, a middle class culture boomed in cities like Kyoto, the capital, Edo, the political hub, and Osaka, the commercial center of Japan. Entertainment centers located in these cities were known as ukiyo, or "floating worlds." Theater was especially popular amongst the middle class, specializing in the satirical style of kabuki and banraku puppetry.
Christianity and Dutch Learning
In the 16th century, Christian missionaries traveled to Japan and had much success, especially with daimyos who converted and forced their subjects to do the same. The shoguns prohibited Europeans from traveling to Japan in fear that powerful lords would adopt the religion and undermine bakufu, leading to more fighting within the country. Shoguns began to ban Christianity, and would execute those who refused to renounce their faith. Thousands were killed, but many still practiced secretly in rural parts of Japan.
The Japanese continued to learn about European culture through the Dutch merchants at the Nagasaki trading port. Scholars taught themselves Dutch, and began to learn from the merchants, calling it "Dutch Learning." The Japanese were finally exposed to the Western culture, and improved many old and outdated technologies based on European inventions.
With the peace and stability that came from ending the civil wars, the economy of Japan flourished. Within a hundred years, the Japanese agricultural production doubled, which also caused the population to skyrocket to twenty nine million people. As the population expanded rapidly however, many forms of birth control, contraception, and even infanticide were used to keep the country from running out of land and the resources necessary to support so many people.
When war was no longer necessary in a now-peaceful country, the warriors that once fought became administrators and scholars, causing many to fall into financial difficulty. Merchants, however, became more and more wealthy as trade became a more prominent source of income.
Neo-Confucianism and Floating Worlds
Neo-Confucianism became the official basis of ideals of bafuku, but was criticized by many of the natives that had grown up with the native religion of Japan, Shinto. This native learning helped Japan to keep a sense of identity, as Neo-Confucianism and many other of the new studies promoted by scholars came from China.
With many lower-class merchants and citizens becoming more wealthy, a middle class culture boomed in cities like Kyoto, the capital, Edo, the political hub, and Osaka, the commercial center of Japan. Entertainment centers located in these cities were known as ukiyo, or "floating worlds." Theater was especially popular amongst the middle class, specializing in the satirical style of kabuki and banraku puppetry.
Christianity and Dutch Learning
In the 16th century, Christian missionaries traveled to Japan and had much success, especially with daimyos who converted and forced their subjects to do the same. The shoguns prohibited Europeans from traveling to Japan in fear that powerful lords would adopt the religion and undermine bakufu, leading to more fighting within the country. Shoguns began to ban Christianity, and would execute those who refused to renounce their faith. Thousands were killed, but many still practiced secretly in rural parts of Japan.
The Japanese continued to learn about European culture through the Dutch merchants at the Nagasaki trading port. Scholars taught themselves Dutch, and began to learn from the merchants, calling it "Dutch Learning." The Japanese were finally exposed to the Western culture, and improved many old and outdated technologies based on European inventions.