1. Tokugawa Japan

2. Warring States, 1400s and 1500s Feudalistic society
Politically fragmented
Daimyos constantly warring and self-interested

3. Peasants, Merchants, etc.
Japanese Feudalism
Samurai – lived by Bushido, the “way of the warrior” (chivalric code)
Ronin – those samurai without masters
Shogun
Ninja – a warrior trained to use unorthodox fighting methods (assassination, espionage, martial arts)
Daimyo
Samurai
Peasants, Merchants, etc.

4. European Merchants and Missionaries
1543: arrival of first Dutch
Japanese want clocks, spectacles, tobacco, and firearms
Jesuit missionaries– Francis Xavier

5. The Unifiers Oda Nabunaga Toyotomi Hideyoshi Tokugawa Ieyasu
1600 Battle of Sekigahara: Ieyasu defeats his rivals to unify Japan under his rule

6. Tokugawa Ieyasu New capital at Edo (Tokyo) Emperor remains in Kyoto
Daimyo forced to keep two residences– home and Edo
Tokugawa rule from 1603 to 1868

7. Dealing with Europeans
Europeans less welcomed
Christianity seen as a threat growing restrictions
1635 National Seclusion Policy
Japanese cannot travel abroad (death)
Only Chinese and Dutch merchants allowed
Dutch community near Nagasaki– did not force Christian conversion and once a year allowed ships into ports
200 years of isolation

8. Isolation Did isolation stagnation? NO! Great cultural awakening
“Japanese Renaissance”

9. Social Impact
Merchants grow wealthier– enjoy leisure; emulate the samurai
Breakdown in social barrier as classes start mixing
All participate in arts and entertainment
Kabuki Theatre
Romantic and heroic tales
Reflected values and ideals of Japanese society

10. “Pop” culture 85% of males in Edo were literate
Ukiyo-e wood block printing