The Unification of Japan 19.2 | From Warring States to Centralization

Japanese Social Structure Emperors | Shoguns | Daimyo | Samurai

The Heian Period Japanese cultural awakening Social stability and the rise of the daimyo Much like European feudal lords Beginning in 1467, central authority in Japan collapsed 1467 – 1600 The Warring States Era (like in China) Regional power (daimyo) fought for control

The Rise of Japanese Feudal Society The importance of samurai (foot soldiers) grew during the WSE By the end c. 1600, Japanese society resembled European feudal society Japanese hegemony established by Hideyoshi Centralized Japanese state

The Portuguese 1543 | The Spanish 1587 | The Dutch and English c. 1600 The Coming of Europe The Portuguese 1543 | The Spanish 1587 | The Dutch and English c. 1600

Christianity Fails in Japan Initially, Christianity had great success – some 300,000 converts by 1600 Spanish boasting of trade and Christianity as the precursor to occupation however, frightened Japanese elite (according to the story) Persecutions began and continued until 1614, when Christianity was banished from Japan

Japanese Reengineering and Stabilizing The Tokugawa Era (1600-1868) Japanese Reengineering and Stabilizing

Centralization Under Hideyoshi, the Japanese government sought to de-militarize the population from the WSE “Sword Hunt” 1588 [meanwhile, the Spanish Armada sails to England] Peasant arms were confiscated Between the government and the samurai, 95% of the country’s weapons became monopolized Social classes were froze Peasants were barred from leaving land Samurai were required to continue to service their lord Land was surveyed, defined, and compartmentalized

Hideyoshi’s Death and Tokugawa Hideyoshi’s death in 1598 led to two divided camps Those that supported Hideyoshi Those that supported rival Tokugawa Ieyasu Tokugawa established a capital at Edo (Tokyo) Took the title of Shogun in 1603 Began conquering the daimyo and reorganizing them Strongest supporters near Edo Some 150 domains were conquered and 229 were transferred

Japanese Isolationism During the Tokugawa Era, Japan forbade foreign travel and restricted foreign imports Nagasaki was the only port open to foreigners (Chinese and Dutch) Cut off political contacts Internal focus on the state Resources no longer needed for war were allocated to agriculture and development Population 1600 c. 12 million Population 1700 c. 24 million National trade network established Lack of foreign imports increased local production and competition Tax system to benefit system as a whole

Bushido and what it means to be an honorable warrior Stories of the Samurai Bushido and what it means to be an honorable warrior

1701 A daimyo is insulted at Edo Castle, pulls his sword and injures the insulter Unsheathing your sword in court was a capital offense Harakiri – self-disembowelment He does it His samurai became masterless, known as ronin Free to do as they pleased, all 47 of them

1703 The ronin plotted to avenge their master Infiltrated the insulter’s estate and murdered him Their crime was punishable by harakiri, which all 47 of them promptly did – their master had been avenged Sense of duty, loyalty, and honor – bushido A certain code for warriors – like chivalry Also shows us the cultural adherence to the power of state law over everything