Japan Limits Contact with Europeans Chapter 19 Section 3

The Sengoku 1300's was a century of peace and stability within Japan A single Emperor ruled with the support of the Shogun In 1467 Civil War breaks out starting the time period of “Warring States” The Japanese word for “Warring States” is Sengoku Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu Shogun is the title given to powerful military general of Japan

Japanese Feudalism Shogun leaders lost power to powerful Samurais who formed their own kingdoms   *The powerful Samaria became large landowners called Daimyo *The Daimyo offered protection to other samurai who promised loyalty to the Daimyo *The Emperor is a figure head only. He has no real power (Shogun was actual ruler)

Japanese Feudalism Much like European feudalism, The Daimyo build fortified castles and formed small armies of samurai on horses Peasants lived and worked for the Daimyo’s Japanese castles (城, shiro?) were fortresses composed primarily of wood and stone. They evolved from the wooden stockades of earlier centuries, and came into their best-known form in the 16th century. Castles in Japan were built to guard important or strategic sites, such as ports, river crossings, or crossroads, and almost always incorporated the landscape into their defense. Though they were built to last and used more stone in their construction than most Japanese buildings, castles were still constructed primarily of wood, and many were destroyed over the years. This was especially true during the Sengoku ('Warring States') period (1467–1603), when many of these castles were first built. However, many were rebuilt, either later in the Sengoku period, in the Edo period (1603–1867) that followed, or more recently, as national heritage sites or museums. Today, there are more than one hundred castles extant, or partially extant, in Japan; it is estimated that once there were five thousand.[1] Himeji Castle of Japan. This is the home of the Daimyo

Restoring Centralized Government Over time some ambitious daimyos will gain power They will conquer weaker daimyos to control Japan Samurais fighting along the castle walls

Tokugawa Shogunate- 1600 Tokugawa defeats all his rivals at the battle of Sekigahara He become the sole military king known as a Shogun He moved his capital to a small fishing village- This village will later become the city of Tokyo *The Tokugawa Shogunate brought the longest period of stability, prosperity and isolationism to Japan Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu

Tokugawa Shogunate Alternating Attendance Policy Tokugawa required the daimyos to live every other year at the capital This way Tokugawa could watch the daimyos and their family The alternating attendance policy weakened the power of the daimyo's *Major effect of the policy helps to restore centralized government

The Portuguese The Portuguese were the first Europeans to trade with the Japanese-1543 At first the Japanese welcome the trade The Portuguese brought new technology to Japan including clocks, eyeglasses and firearms. Portuguese merchants arrive in Japan

The Last Samurai *Portuguese muskets and cannons will change the role of the Samurai which relied on the sword. The musket would kill samurais by piercing their armor. Can you see the Muskets in this scene?

Japan Closes the Door to European Trade Over time the Japanese begin to distrust the Europeans The Japanese turn towards isolationism Sakoku Policy- (Act of Seclusion) 1639-1853 Forbade any Japanese to leave the country and stated “All Japanese residing abroad shall be put to death when they return home” *Main reason for the Act was an increasing fear that outside contact would destroy Japanese culture Sakoku (鎖国?, "locked country") was the foreign relations policy of Japan under which no foreigner could enter nor could any Japanese leave the country on penalty of death. The policy was enacted by the Tokugawa shogunate under Tokugawa Iemitsu through a number of edicts and policies from 1633–39 and remained in effect until 1853 with the arrival of Commodore Matthew Perry and the opening of Japan. It was still illegal to leave Japan until the Meiji Restoration (1868) After the Closed Door policy, The only trading port in Japan was Nanking