Japan

How did the Edo Era of Great Peace Begin?

• In the 16th century, Japan was divided into about 250 smaller regions

• The Emperor was the ruler of Japan.

• The capital (Government) located in Kyoto

• During the Edo period, government moved to Edo

• Edo (not the restaurant) = Tokyo

• The Daimyo was the commander of each region

Constantly at war with each other for more land and power

• The Shogun held the real power and authority, he was the leader of the military government

• Three Shogun are given credit for unifying Japan.– Oda Nobunaga– Toyotomi Hideyoshi– Tokugawa Ieyasu

Oda Nobunaga (1534-1585)• Reduced the influence of

Buddhist control over Japanese politics

• Built a series of castles to defend his lands

• Introduced new administrative practices to pave the way towards a unified Japan

Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1536-1598)

• Continued centralizing government

• Charged landowner koku instead of money for tax. The wealthier paid more.

• Created a formal class structure that included samurai, farmers, artisans, merchants

• People had to chose between farming or warrior, not both

• Tried expanding his land by attacking both Korea and China. He lost.

• Supported painters and new types of drama

Tokugawa Ieyasu(1542-1616)

• Established his government base in Edo

• Finalized the unification of Japan

• Isolationist – believed that Japan could advance on its own

Why Did Japan Isolate Itself from Much of the World

Foreign Influences• Japan was trading with European

merchants. (Portugal, Spain, England, Netherlands)

• Ieyasu did not want the Japanese to be exposed by western ideas.• Saw the Europeans setting up

colonies • Wanted ensure the safety and

sovereignty of the Japanese

The Spread of Christianity

• Most European ships had Catholic missionaries on them

• St. Francis Xavier converted 150,000 • Hideyoshi ordered the missionaries to

leave, and later 26 Franciscans were executed

• After Isyasu’s death the Bakufu worried about the people following otherspiritual views.

Introduced a bunch of Edicts

The National Seclusion

Policy:

The National Seclusion Policy developed over six years from 1633 to 1639. It set out controls on the interaction between Japanese and foreigners.

Closed Country Edict of 1635 Japanese ships are strictly

forbidden to travel to foreign countries

No Japanese is permitted to go abroad. Anyone who attempts to do so must be executed.

If any Japanese returns from overseas after residing there, he must be put to death.

If any southern barbarians (Westerners) teach Christianity or commit crimes, they may be put into prison.

No single trading city shall be permitted to purchase all the merchandise brought by foreign ships. Portuguese ships are banned

from Japanese ports. Any ship disobeying this order will be destroyed and its crew and passengers executed.

Basic Political Terms:

Edo:The old name for Tokyo. Edo literally means the mouth of bay.

Daimyo:

The lord of a local region or the head samurai of a local government

Shogun:

The head of a central military government.

Bakufu:The centralized military government

Han:A local government in each domain (province)

How Did the Political System During the Edo Period

Reflect their Worldview?• Hierarchical Political System• Every domain (province) was

controlled by a Daimyo• He controlled his lands how he

wanted, but had to swear allegiance to the Shogun

• Each of the Daimyo ruled over the local government, or Han • Even the shogun was in control of

one

Political Structure Samurai Order

Hatamoto Gokenin(advisors serving shogun)

Retainers(serving han)

Ruled by

Ruled by

Ruler of Japan

How did the Bakufu Control the Daimyo?

The daimyo were divided into three classes:

those most trusted and loyal

nobles of the Tokugawa family

those who had little standing because they may have opposed the shogun before he gained power.

The daimyo could never move out of their

class.

The Bakufu wanted to ensure that no daimyo could gain enough power and wealth to

overtake the shogun or gain power over the members of the Bakufu.

Every Diamyo must adhere to these rules:

• No unnecessary contact between DaimyosReport any suspicious activities,

don’t let traitors to the Shogun into their domain

• There can only be one castle per domainSupply detailed maps of landholding

to Bakufu• Daimyo must support public building

project

• Daimyo spent every second year in Edo

• All commoners must register at Buddhist temples

• Marriages of daimyo must get permission from Bakufu

• Travel and shipbuilding are restricted

The Bakufu controlled the Diamyo:

• Had the power to relocate them• Had the power to abolish them• Created laws that did not allow for

the daimyo to create alliances with each other

• Created laws that made it impossible to gain enough money to become a threat

Hierarchical Social Class System

• Edo Japan’s social structure during isolation was a hierarchical system. (like the feudal system – could not move out of the class they were born into)

6 Levels of the class system:

Shogun

Samurai

Farmers

Artisans

Merchants

Outcasts (Eta)

Non-Humans (Hinin)

Jigsaw Activity: Social Structure• Each group will be assigned a social

class /level• Group must make notes and present

notes to class.• Info to cover:

What was their job What was there place in the social

systemHow did things change during

isolation?In what ways were their lives better,

worse, the same.

Refer to p. 141 - 145

Social Structure: Samurai What was their job

What was there place in the social system

How did things change during isolation?

In what ways were their lives better, worse, the same.

Social Structure: Farmers What was their job

What was there place in the social system

How did things change during isolation?

In what ways were their lives better, worse, the same.

Social Structure: Artisans What was their job

What was there place in the social system

How did things change during isolation?

In what ways were their lives better, worse, the same.

Social Structure: Merchants What was their job

What was there place in the social system

How did things change during isolation?

In what ways were their lives better, worse, the same.

Social Structure: Outcasts What was their job

What was there place in the social system

How did things change during isolation?

In what ways were their lives better, worse, the same.

Social Structure: Non-humans What was their job

What was there place in the social system

How did things change during isolation?

In what ways were their lives better, worse, the same.

How did Communities Change During

Isolation?• The shogun created, and maintained five major

roadways for the diamyo’s annual pilgrimages to Edo

• The regular movement of people had an effect on the economies of the domains of the nation• Economies of the rural and urban areas

became intertwined.• As the diamyo and their

entourages traveled, the need for services on the route grew

• Accommodations• Food• Etc.

• With all the visitors going to Edo, artisans and merchants started to settle in areas on the main roadways.• This provided the travelers with goods and

services • Cities could not be self-sufficient, so rural and

urban areas became intertwined.• Eventually, castle towns grew because of the

influx of artisans and merchants• Edo, Kyoto, Osaka grew to over 1,000,000• The change to an urban society helped the

later transitions Japanese society would undergo in the Meiji period.

Japan’s Three Metropolises

Edo• Present day Tokyo and was the largest city

and the center of government• Ieyasu chose this site for the easy to defend

port and waterways.• Sometimes they had 250 daimyo and their

families in the city• To sustain the the city’s growth and economy

merchant were encouraged to develop large businesses.

• By the 18th century, the city grew to over

1 000 000 people, making it one

of the largest cities in the world

Kyoto• Was the capital before Edo• The city was chosen because it had easy

river access to the sea.• City was also surrounded by mountains

which provided good defense• Known for beautiful luxuries like silk

brocades, fine lacquer, and metal work• Center of publishing and known

for its woodblock printing

Osaka• Around a protected harbour• It had hundreds of warehouses along

the waterfront and good were moved by river access to the inland cities (Kyoto)

• Famous castle (Buddhist temple) and the 150 bridges

• Known as the “Kitchen of Japan”• Good farmland• Surplus rice was sent to sell

How Did The Popular Culture Of Japan Change During

Isolation?• Just as the arts flourished in the city-states

of the Renaissance, the popular culture of Japan began to change • Cities grew and the merchant class

became more wealthy• The daimyo became patrons of the arts

and supported artists, sculptors, painters etc.

Kabuki Theatre• Featured lively action and was a mirror of Japanese life• Depicted moral dilemmas • Great kabuki actors were so popular, they were treated

like the movie stars of today

Banraku Theater• Banraku was a name for a puppet theater which was for

adults

Geishas• Women trained in dancing, singing and they were

expected to demonstrate all the correct forms of etiquette

Woodlock Images• Were prints of original paintings which often depicted

scenes of nature and the lives of commoners in thier daily activities

Books and Literature• By the mid-17th century, printing houses apeared in

Osaka• Basho Matsuo developed a new poetic form called Haiku

How Did Foreign Influence Change Japan Despote Policies Of Isolation?

• Depsite it’s policies, Japan was not totally isolated

• The Chinese and the Koreans were permitted limited access to the country to meet with Japanese traders ad officials

• Chinese influence on Japanese learning increased during isolation as their goods and ideas were actually allowed into Japan

• The Dutch eventually had an impact on Japan in the area of medicine

• In the 1720’s the shogun himself became interested in Western books and ideas and as a result relaxed restrictions on importing books

Chapter 5

What Factors Influenced Change in Meiji Japan?

Russian Influence

• They started trading along the Pacific Coast and established the Russian-American Company.

• The czar gave the company permission to trade with the Ainu.

• Russia stopped trading when they became involved with wars in Europe.

• Japanese realized that the Bakufu were too concerned with internal affairs and should prepare for trouble that might come from the outside world.

Japan’s Response• Captured a commander and pushed Russians off

the northern Islands

European Influence• Dutch East India Company had all their ships

fly Dutch flags and hide any bibles and weapons.

• Japanese high level official believed they should start learning about the west and had books brought in. • They learned about history, the sciences

and institutions.• Thought Europe was a superpower because

they all dressed the same unlike Asian countries.

Japan’s Response • Closed the doors tighter, and asked for

documentation from ships that would dock.

Chinese Influence

• China was forced to sign a treaty that gave control of their ports to Britain.

Japan’s Response• Since they saw China as a powerful

nation, they realized the strength of the British Navy.

• Abandoned some edicts that might cause Western countries, like Britain, want to invade Japan if they don’t start negotiating.

United States Influence• Commodore Matthew Perry negotiated;

• Get supplies and coal from Japan• To protect sailors and American ships that

might need help• To enter into an official trade agreement

• Townsend Harris negotiated• Opened five ports for the Americans• Allowed Americans to live in Edo and

Osaka• Supplied Japan with ships, arms, and

technicians

United States Influence Con’t

Japan’s Response• Intellectuals in the larger domains found

the treaties favorable• Others felt that they were unequal treaties• Japan was pressured to sign treaties with

Russia, Britain, France and the Netherlands. (also considered unequal)

• Japan leaders felt they must compete with the West to meet foreign challenges and protect Japan’s Sovereignty

Who/What was…

The Ainu:

Dutch East India Company

Commodore Perry

How did Japan respond to the crisis?

• Only a matter of time before Japan was forced to trade with Western nations

• Japan would not be able to remain isolated • Japan did not want to be colonized or over

thrown by another country• Japan needed Western technologies to

remain powerful and independent

Different Points of View: caused a lot of internal conflict

One group believed:

Another group believed:

• Japan should remain isolated and declare war on Western countries

• All foreigners should be killed• “barbarians” would expose the

common Japanese (peasants, merchants, artisans) to a different way of life, thus, undermining their social structure/class system

Civil UnrestCause• Bad weather caused poor

crops• Japanese began questioning

taxes they were forced to pay• Japanese blamed the

government for the unrest because they could not overcome their difficulties

• Citizens were asking questions about all the changes government was making

• Samurai began to support the emperor/stronger loyalty to him

• Samurai were upset with the Harris Treaty

Effect• Farmers and peasants

were starving• Support for the Bakafu

weakened• Support for the Bakafu

weakened

• Support for the Bakafu weakened

• Support for the Bakafu weakened

• Support for the Bakafu weakened

Leaders of the above domains:• secretly traveled to England• did not actually fear the presence of the foreigners• used the issue of foreign influence to create dislike for

the Bakufu

• Samurai were especially strong in Choshu, Satsuma, Tosa, and Saga – these domains never really supported the shogun.

Critiques of the shogun:• wanted to create a new government

headed by the emperor• increased military armaments

purchased weapons and ships from the West

women broke tradition and began fighting against shogun troops

In 1867…• Samurai from Tosa convinced the shogun to

resign and take a leading role in the new government

• military forces from Satsuma and Choshu intervened

• Meiji was the new emperor• Tokugawa shogun surrendered their ancestral

lands to the Meiji• Shogun responded with military attack• Military forces were defeated in 1869• Emperor moved to Edo and renamed the capital

Tokyo

The Modernization of Japan

• Meiji period: 1868 to 1912

• Led the restoration of imperial rule

Origin of the Emperors of Japan

How did the political system change?• Political leaders used the creation

story to their advantage (pg 180)• They declared the emperor sacred

and inviolable• Tried to appeal to the Japanese

traditionalists• Tried to build loyalty to government • Used the young emperor as a symbol

of unity

The Charter Oath• Wanted the samurai to know that they

are this new government was not the same as the old Bakufu

• Future policies would be based on a consensus

• Made many drafts• Final form satisfied all the points of

views expressed by all who worked on it

• Showed change in all three elements of worldview: political and economic systems, social systems and culture

• Unity of Rites and RulesPg 182

How did Japan reshape its worldview and begin to modernize?• New Leadership• Emperor – official head of the government,

but did not directly rule• An oligarchy was formed• Promoted economic growth and

industrialization• Samurai were the leaders – average age

of 30 – military skills, studied in the west

• Two goals:

(1) to modernize Japan and make the economy grow

(2) to renegotiate the unequal treaties• Wanted to be competitive in the

modern world, yet continue to be Japanese

• The samurai looked to Europe and North America for models or a modern system

• Japan’s worldview changed drastically! Foreigner use to be despised, but now they were welcomed.

The Iwakura Mission• 50 officials and 50

students sent on a 22-month world trip of 12 countries

• Purpose: find the best ideas and bring them back to Japan

Iwakura Tomomi led the mission

Ideas that were gathered from the West

• Ways to modernize Japan• To develop a nation competitive in

the modern world• Education• A form of participatory government• Capitalism• Religious freedom• Maintain national sovereignty

Chapter 6

How Did Rapid Change During the Meiji Period Affect Japan’s Worldview?

• At the beginning of the Meiji Period, there were two things that Japan wanted to become.• A military Power

• Economically Self-sufficient

How to Implement the Change?

• Some of the Western ideologies that the Japanese borrowed and adapted were• Aspects of democracy, such as

elected representatives• Public education, to help adjust to

an industrialized nation• Embraced new Technologies, like

steam powered machinery• No other country has adapted so

quickly or successfully

How Did Modernizing the Japanese Political System Reflect a New Worldview?

• The Japanese believed in implementing an Oligarchy government, and slowly move towards a Constitutional government.

• For this new government to work, the emperor needed to unify the country• Domains were replayed by

prefecture system• Used himself as a symbol to

develop strong nationalistic feelings

• Two main groups developed after looking at the different governments in the west

• the Japanese finally agreed on a

strong cabinet and limited powers of parliament, called a Dajoken.

• This new government put an end to the feudal class system and left the Japanese with one obligation – be loyal to the emperor and the state.

Liberal Conservative

Supported French and American ideas of Human Rights

Supported the German model of centralized control

• The new government wanted to make a constitution because• Most strong European countries had

constitutions• Western countries would regard

Japan as a stronger nation if it had western-style constitution

• A constitution would unify Japan• After the constitution was written, (pg

197), there were political debates, some lead to violent revolts, and a call for a representative government.

How Did Japan Change Its Economic

System?• Industrialization

• New factories like munitions, gunpowder, silk and textile, glass, and chemical plants

• The government funded and owned businesses and handed them over to private owners within 10 years

• They also increased import tariffs to make domestic products cheaper

• Pg 202

• Capitalism• To help the Japanese government,

the Minister of Finance did three things• Saw the need to renegotiate

unequal treaties – adapted economic polices that would protect Japan

• Encourage more private business• Imposed new taxes and lowered

the value of printed money• This caused the national income to

increase

• Five of the ways in which Japan industrialized.

• New railroads• Deep water harbors• Telephone systems• New technology and industries• Money was lent to start new

businesses

How Did Japan Change Its Military System to Meet

Political Needs?• In Western countries, the military was part of

the political and economical systems. Japan too wanted this because;• They wanted obedient and disciplined

soldiers• Japan did not want to be seen as a weak

military nation in comparison to Western powers

• Wanted to become a colonial power• Wanted to ensure they could meet their

military goals

Japan modeled

the German army

and the British Navy

How Did Japan’s New Worldview Change Its Social

System?• No feudal system• Individuals could achieve better

status, change occupations, move around the country, and obtain an education.

The Education system changed

Edo Period Meiji Period

People learned practical knowledge

Standardized curriculum

Schools mainly for samurai children

Elementary schools for everyone

The Worldview of the Japanese changed and the national military broke down the classes and regional differences• Peasants received educational

training

• Peasants returned home and shared what they had learned with their families and they had developed a sense of loyalty to the emperor (nationalism)

• Before the peasants left

home they were illiterate

when they returned they

could read

Three main goals were achieved by the military.

• Changed the influence and power it had with other nations

• Helped to keep the nation united• Protected its

independence

How did Japan's Culture Change?Religion• Oligarchy wanted to make Shinto the

national religion.• But the schools were still teaching

Confucianism, and the military was still teaching bushido.

• Eventually allowed freedom of religion

Attitudes• Pushed for individual success

• ‘Civilization and Enlightenment’ (bunmei kaika)

• In the old ways people worked in harmony with each other.• ‘For the sake of the country’ (kuni

no tame)• After failing to renegotiate treaties,

writers started pushing the importance of retaining Japanese traditional values

Citizenship and Participation• Peasants no longer were just

exposed to the day to day concerns of life

• They started to write letters and form lobby groups to let the government know if they were unhappy

How Did Japan’s Changes in the Edo period differ from those in the Meiji period?

• See chart on page 218 – 219 of your text book.