Unit 2 - East meets West: Japan Part one: Tokugawa era 1603-1868

Objective Today we’re going to discover how the Japanese Tokugawa clan created a system that maintained peace for over 250 years – the “Greater Peace” The period is also called the Edo Period

Before tokugawa Civil war “Warring states”

Tokugawa – the era of the greater peace 1603 Ieyasu Tokugawa took power Power shifted to Edo (Tokyo), the home of the Tokugawa family Tokugawa leader is the Shogun Shogun is supreme warlord Shogun became a hereditary position controlled by the Tokugawa family, based on one of the largest hans on Honshu island. Previously the position of shogun went to the dominant Daimyo. What are the advantages of making it a hereditary position?

Seclusion policy Sakoku (locked or chained country) 1633- 1853 Japanese forbidden to leave: death penalty! Foreigners banned Dutch and Chinese traded at Nagasaki Christianity banned Long term impact – only 1% Christians in Japan today Compared with…Korea 50%, Philippines 90% Trade with Chinese and Dutch traders in Nagasaki took place on an island called Dejima, separated away from the city by a small strait; foreigners could not enter Japan from Dejima, nor could Japanese enter Dejima, without special permissions or authority. Finally, in 1635 an edict prohibited any Japanese from traveling outside Japan or, if someone left, from ever returning. In 1636 the Portuguese were restricted to Dejima, a man-made islet--and thus, not true Japanese soil--in Nagasaki's harbor.

Political control The Emperor      - figurehead ruler      - safely hidden in Kyoto The bakufu = Japan’s system of government during the Tokugawa period, - based on a military leader, the Shogun - controlled foreign policy Tokugawa leader is the Shogun      - this clan owned 20% of Japan      - lived in Edo      - had the power to reassign Daimyo

Political control continued Baku-Han = the division of power between the Shogun and the Daimyo Daimyo = feudal lord. He ruled an region or han of Japan There were about 260 Daimyo by the end of the feudal era. Each Daimyo controlled a broad area of land, and had an army of samurai. Although the Shoguns ran the show, they ruled in the name of the Emperor. The Emperor and his family had little power, but they were still above the four tier system. The Emperor served as a figurehead for the Shogun, and as the religious leader of Japan

Political control continued Daimyo lords ruled over 250 regions (han) They had great autonomy; however… Alternate attendance: the system of compulsory residence by the Daimyo in Edo during alternate years.

Japanese feudalism Personal loyalty to emperor, daimyo, family Four class system – samurai, farmers, craftsmen, merchants 1.9 million Samurai Strict rules for each class Define Feudalism:

Four tiers Color in the Samurai and higher tiers in one color, and lower tiers than Samurai in another color Confucian ideals emphasized the importance of productive members of society, so farmers and fishermen had higher status than shop-keepers in Japan. Although artisans produced many beautiful and necessary goods, such as clothes, cooking utensils, and woodblock prints, they were considered less important than the farmers. Even skilled samurai sword makers belonged to this third tier of society in feudal Japan.

Imperial capital kyoto Who was based in Kyoto?

The gate at Edo, centre of Tokugowa rule Who was based in Edo (Tokyo)?

The ruling class When a samurai passed, members of the lower classes were required to bow and show respect. If a farmer or artisan refused to bow, the samurai was legally entitled to chop off the recalcitrant’s head.

Talking point: Does your country have a ruling class? What do they look like? How do they dress? What are their jobs? What power do they have?

Role of Samurai Duty to one’s Daimyo Virtue: reckless bravery fierce clan pride looked forward to a glorious death “There is no nation in the world which fears death less." – Francis Xavier "The pen and the sword in accord." (harmony of fighting and learning) Higher literacy rate than Europe by end of Edo period

Samurai in the edo period a period of peace became administrators and bureaucrats still had right to cut down any commoner for offending their honour unemployed ronin – a social problem bushido- culturally important All classes tended to look up to the Samurai and aspire to follow their lead – the Bushido code was influential at every level

Review: How did the Tokugawa create the greater peace? Baku-han- shogun has national authority, daimyo have regional authority Four class system    Samurai loyalty to Daimyo Seclusion Policy

Similarities and differences? Go to the ‘T’ Chart document: Similarities and Differences between Japan and China – and make notes for yourself…