Japan Learning Target: I will be able to explain the importance of the Tokugawa Era and its transition from isolationism to openness.

Essential Question EQ How did Society and economy of Japan change during the Tokugawa Era, and how did Japanese culture reflect those changes?

Japan Important Shogunates Kamakura Shogunate Ashikaga Shogunate 1200-1300 Kept Khubiliai Khan’s Yuan China from invading Japan Ashikaga Shogunate 1336-1573 Developed a strong sense of Japanese culture Painting, music, philosophy, landscaping Strong economic trade Zen Buddhism Tea Ceremony Lost power when it was unable to stop a series of civil wars Japan would be divided in civil wars from 1573 to the middle 1600’s

Japan in Chaos By the age of feudalism in 1338 the daimyo seemed to reject the ideas of peace of Zen Buddhist religion and began to warring among themselves. They soon destroyed the Ashikaga Shogunate, the city of Kyoto and the order and structure that once was Japan. The Emperor was seen as just a figurehead, a symbolic leader of the Shinto religion.

Japan in Chaos New warlord formed alliances with merchants who were bringing raw materials from China. Soon this influx of trade caused the competing warlords to war against each other. Soon this lead to a civil war. In the 1580’s one warlord Hideyoshi will gain control of Japan and attempt to spread beyond Japan into Korea, Manchuria and China.

Tokugawa-Edo Period When Hideyoshi dies in 1598 his successor withdraws from the Asian territories and begins to work on centralizing Japan. In 1603 Tokugawa Ieyasu will become Shogun and place the Tokugawa Shogunate in power of Japan until 19C.

Tokugawa The Tokugawa will allow the daimyo to still keep local power while the Tokugawa will retain central authority. They will establish Edo (Modern day Tokyo) as the capital. The Tokugawa will establish trade routes (Rice Routes) throughout Japan. By 1700 Edo will have 1 million people

Tokugawa There will be an economic boom in Japan. Major urban centers will grow all through Japan. Manufacturing such as steel making, pottery, lacquer and porcelain will develop. Trade with China will be curtailed. Piracy will be encouraged.

Tokugawa Isolation Trade with foreigners In 1543 Portuguese will arrive and will bring firearms to Japan By 1570’s the Japanese who took a great interest in the weapons had now made copies and were using them to fight in the civil wars. When the Tokugawa take control they will strictly control the trade with the Dutch, Spanish, Portuguese Porcelain was the chief export while the Japanese care little for the European goods.

Tokugawa Isolation The Dutch and Chinese were restricted to trade on the island of Deshima. Silver and copper were restricted. Western books were banned.

Tokugawa Isolation Christianity Japanese are going to learn of the new religion from Jesuit missionaries. The religion holds great interest in Japan and by the 1600’s about 300,000 convert The Tokugawa feared that the new religion would destabilize the country and by 1614 there was an edict forbidding the practice of Christianity. Punishment was crucifixion or beheading

Tokugawa Isolation Christianity By the late 1600’s the practice of Christianity was all but over. The government also forced the people to show proof of their attendance to their Buddhist temple and their obedience to the shougunate.

Tokugawa Isolation With the cutbacks in trade and the elimination of Christianity all Europeans were banned from Japan except for the Dutch. The Tokugawa also faced internal problems with the rapid population growth and how to balance economic problems with food supply and work. Lack of warfare also posed a problem Daimyo and the samurai had little function in society.

Tokugawa Isolation Japan was beginning to develop as a manufacturing society. The merchant class was ever growing and pushed Japan into a period of economic and social growth. Kabuki Theater Artistic expression Woodblock prints New shops and restaurants.

Tokugawa Isolation Merchants also controlled the money and started to develop lines of credit. Merchants gave credit to the daimyo and samurai whose income was based on rice trade. The rice trade declined due to the lack of farmers and the difficulty in producing rice. Merchants also disregarded the laws and would raise and lower the price of rice to suit their needs and not the needs of the samurai. Now the daimyo and samurai were financially under the control of the merchant class.

Tokugawa Isolation Confucian Ideas Like China, Korea and Vietnam Japan also accepted the idea that agriculture should be the basis of state wealth. Merchants were seen as morally corrupt. However the decentralized government of Japan could not regulate all merchant activities and the merchant class began to dictate society. Merchants enjoyed freedoms and influence.

Tokugawa Isolation The Tokugawa While the government remained very traditional the society around them was becoming very commercial and progressive. Old traditional ways were being cast aside and a more modern Japan was developing while the Tokugawa shogun was still living in the past. During the late period the Tokugawa also had to deal with a series of natural disasters which further drained the economy.

Tokugawa Isolation In 1854 The United States would arrive on the shores of Japan and with the U.S.’s new military might would force the Tokugawa to make a decision to open up trade and ports. The Tokugawa would have no alternative and opened up trade to the U.S. It would be the end for Japanese isolationism and the beginning of a new and modern Japan.