Japan Returns to Isolation How do native cultures, customs, and beliefs affect the relationship with colonizers from another place?
A New Feudalism Under Strong Leaders 1467-1568 “Warring States” Period of Japan Daimyo, or powerful Samurai controlled large estates Emperor was simply a figure head Rival Daimyo fought for land Was similar to European feudalism
Shogun!
New Leaders Restore Order Oda Nobunaga – Seized capital in 1568 Motto “Rule the Empire by Force” Could not unite all of Japan Committed Seppuku after betrayal by one of his own generals. Toyotomi Hideyoshi continued Nobunaga’s goal of unification
Tokugawa Shogunate Ieyasu Tokugawa completes unification in 1600 Local daimyos still run their lands Required to live one year in Edo then return home Family required to stay in Edo Was used to “tame” the daimyo from rebelling Tokugawa Shogunate would hold power until 1867
Life in Tokugawa Japan Tokugawa society was very structured Social Emperor – Figurehead Shogun – Military Leader Daimyo – Local Leaders Samurai Peasants Merchants Based on Confucian ideas Farmers made ideal citizens Farmers were most taxed and difficult Many fled to large cities
Life in Tokugawa Japan By the mid-1700’s life became more urban Edo, the capital, grew to have 1 million people Women were able to work in many fields Entertainment Textiles Publishing Most were still peasant wives Worked in fields Cared for children Managed the household
Culture of Tokugawa Shogunate Noh dramas – Tragic plays about warriors Hung paintings based on classical literature Haiku Poetry 5-7-5 Syllable Poetry 3 Lines Kabuki Theatre Elaborate costumes Plays about daily life
Haiku On a journey, ailing – Tabi ni Yande My dreams roam about Yume wa Kareno Over a withered moor. Kagemeguru Matuo Basho World History fun Cannot wait for more homework I hope it won’t end David McGregor
Contact Between Europe and Japan During the Warring States period traders welcomed Portugal traded first Brought weapons, technology, and goods to Japan Daimyo interested in guns, cannons, etc. Firearms changed traditional Japanese fighting styles Samurai would fade Cannons required more fortification for castles
Christian Missionaries in Japan Missionaries(Started 1549) accepted due to association with trade and muskets Early missionaries very successful and baptize over 300,000 people Missionaries: Scorned local beliefs Got involved in local politics Ieyasu upset by success Feared religious uprising Banned Christianity by 1612 Future uprisings would be blamed on Christianity
The Closed Country Policy Persecution of missionaries led to the closing of the ports Leaders did not like European religion and ideas spreading to people Port in Nagasaki remained open to Dutch and Chinese trade Shogun had monopoly on all foreign trade through Nagasaki Japanese forbidden from leaving Europeans look to the America’s for future trade