1. Social Studies 8 Unit C - From Isolation to Adaption: Japan Part 2: The Tokugawa Shogunate/ Edo Period

2. From 1467-1603, Japan was engulfed in violence and warfare between competing Daimyo. The Emperor and his Shogun was powerless. Eventually, a series of powerful Daimyo consolidated power and territory with Tokugawa Ieyasu finally eliminating all competitors and becoming Shogun in 1603. Japan was exhausted from the warfare much like Europe will be exhausted from the Wars of Religion around the same time. Stability and peace were wanted.

3. Effects of Isolation on Japan Japan became a feudal, fascist state: Society was frozen in place for the next 250 years. Serving the Emperor and Japan was the only goal. Social classes were rigid and static. There was no mobility. There were exceptions of Sakoku: European scientific, calendar, and technological knowledge was welcomed by the Shogunate.

4. Traditional Religions Were Upheld and Enforced Shintoism: The oldest religion in Japan, dating from 1000 B.C. Followers believe that spiritual powers, or kami, exist in the natural world. The focus of Shintoism is on ritual practices. Buddhism: Introduced to Japan 500 A.D. from China. Originated in India 2500 years ago. Confucianism: Again brought to Japan from China. A philosophy that focused on roles in society and family and the ‘correct’ way to behave twoards others to achieve a harmonious society.

5. Honour and Shame With knowledge of your role, how to play your role, the concept of honour was woven into Japanese culture. You were dishonouring yourself, your ancestors, and your family if you failed to act correctly. Because the misdeeds of someone would spread shame and punishment to a larger group, Japanese people kept each other in check

6. Positive Consequences of Isolationism To ensure peace, public safety, harmony and order, the Tokugawa Shogunate enforced strict laws regulating all aspects of life. Conformity was valued and dissent punished as illustrated by the following proverb: “The nail that sticks out gets hammered down” A positive effect of this enforced isolation was independence, peace and prosperity during the Shogunate. Japan became self reliant using its limited natural resources in a sustainable way.

7. Many of the unique features we see in Japan today arose during the Edo Period/Tokugawa Shogunate:

8. The Tokugawa Economy 250 years of peace and stability resulted in a boom period for Japan. Notably: Farmers used irrigation to increase crop yields Road networks between towns improved trade Population boom in the cities, esp. Tokyo: 1 million Silver and gold currency (coins) were introduced On down side, Japan was still backwards in some ways: the continued use of rice as a barter currency, peasantry still overtaxed by daimyo (lords), and little trade outside of Japan Contrast this with Europe of same period

9. The Floating Worlds Cultural activities were allowed by the Shogunate in specified areas as ways to have Japanese men with money or status to blow off steam, much like the Gladiator fights in Rome, theatre in Greece and England, and Las Vegas today. These areas were called the ‘Floating World’

10. High Culture in Tokugawa Japan Kabuki Theatre: classical Japanese drama known for the stylization of its drama and elaborate make-up of its performers

11. Noh is based on traditional literature with a supernatural being transformed into human form as a hero narrating a story. Noh integrates masks, costumes and props in a dance-based performance, requiring highly trained actors and musicians.

12. Sumo ( 相撲 ) literally means ‘striking together’: competitive full- contact wrestling sport where a wrestler attempts to force another wrestler out of a circular ring or touch the ground with anything besides the soles for the feet.

13. Areas of Art and Culture in Edo Japan Haiku – Japanese poetry consisting of three lines of 5-7-5 syllables. This was chosen as Japanese does not have many rhyming words Kendo – Japanese martial arts and developing the person. Calligraphy – Writing of Japanese characters

14. Beginning of the End Merchant class became richer as they continued to lend out money, store rice, and change money. They made money on money, interest, etc. much like a bank does today. Meanwhile, the peasants were being crushed under high taxation. The Daimyo were becoming impoverished from paying the merchants and losing money on building projects. This of course led to poverty for the samurai who had no masters who could pay them for their services.

15. The End Cont’d Legitimacy of the Shogunate: As quality of life declined in Japan, many peasants and daimyo began to resent the Shogun. Many felt his rule was illegitimate and the Emperor was the natural ruler of Japan. Remember, the Emperor was believed to be descended from the sun god. Natural Disasters: Like the potato famine of Ireland, Japan was rocked by famines, disasters. Remember, Japan is located on plate boundary. These disasters drove up food prices and caused poverty. Civil unrest began… Against this background, Admiral Perry of the USA sailed into Tokyo.