From 1600 to 1868, Japan was under the rule of the Tokugawa shoguns, a dynasty of military leaders. The new regime was founded by Tokugawa Ieyasu, a member of the new class of landowning warriors called daimyo. Tokugawa triumphed over his key rivals at the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600 and then pressured the emperor, who was effectively powerless but was the official head of state, to appoint him as shogun (supreme military leader). During the following half-century, Tokugawa and his first two successors as shogun established the main features of the new system of rule.From their immense palace complex at Edo (present-day Tokyo), which Tokugawa Ieyasu established as the Tokugawa capital, the shoguns issued a steady stream of decrees designed to control the conduct of their subjects in the most thorough way. In order to make the system of controls effective, the shoguns adopted a policy of isolating Japan from foreign influences. They suppressed Christianity—which had spread widely in southern Japan since the 1550s—and also expelled European merchants, banned most overseas commerce, and prohibited Japanese who were living abroad from returning home. To obtain some knowledge of developments abroad, the shoguns allowed trade with China to continue and also permitted an annual visit to Nagasaki harbor by Dutch merchants. The overall effect of the policies of the policies of the shoguns was to isolate Japan from the wider world for about 250 years.
Within Japan, the shoguns balanced their harsh system of rules with a measure of genuine autonomy for the 250 or so daimyo whose large rice-producing domains (estates) were scattered throughout the Japanese countryside. The daimyo were feudal lords whose domains resembled small states. Each of the domains was strictly administered by thousands of sword-bearing samurai officials for whom, given the Tokugawa system, literacy and numeracy rather than military prowess were increasingly important.
The system of shared authority between the shoguns and the daimyo rested squarely on the strong backs of the Japanese peasants. The peasants produced all the rice, soybeans, cotton, hemp, and silk consumed in Japan during the Tokugawa period. About one-third of the peasants lived on lands directly administered by the shoguns. The rest of the cultivators resided on the domains of the daimyo.
Despite the policy of isolation and the extraordinarily strict laws to which the population was subjected, there was much vibrancy in Japanese economic, social, and cultural life during the Tokugawa period. Commerce flourished in rice, sake, soy sauce, silk, cotton, and tea. A prosperous merchant class developed, especially in the cities of Edo, Osaka, and Kyoto, all of which became major population centers by 1750. Performances of colorful kabuki plays before huge crowds of urban commoners and the production of beautiful woodblock prints of leading actors and geisha courtesans signaled the emergence of a lively popular culture. Schools that taught at least the basics of literacy were widespread. Indeed, recent research suggests that by 1800, literacy and certain aspects of material life in Japan (diet, housing, clothing, and standards of hygiene) were quite high by world standards.
I would like you to read a few documents (you can read them by clicking here) regarding shogun and daimyo policies during Tokugawa period Japan. How do the documents illustrate policies of the shoguns and the daimyo, and also hint at some of the dynamism in early modern Japan? How do the “laws for the warrior class” illustrate Tokugawa’s political goals? What problems was he trying to solve? What were his solutions? Was he a Confucian? What aspects of the peasants’ lives did the daimyo seek to control? How did they try to accomplish this? What do the documents suggest about the economic lives of the peasants? About gender relations? What specific goals did the shoguns have regarding the Buddhist temples? What do the regulations for temples suggest about the importance of Buddhism in Japan? Do you see any evidence of peasant protest in these documents? How does Matsui’s book provide us with evidence of the spread of commerce during the Tokugawa period? According to Matsui, why did merchant enterprises fail? What did Matsui think were the characteristics of a good merchant? Was Matsui a Confucian? Was he a Buddhist? Were his ideas compatible with the thinking of the shoguns and the daimyo? How might Matsui’s ideas compare with those of a merchant in England in 1700? What similarities and differences do you see between the Tokugawa shoguns and other rulers of the early modern period? Your thoughts…
10 comments:
The daimyo and had strange rules that seemed pointless but I guess it probably was good at the time. For instance, the weirdest rule I heard was the restriction on who could ride in palanquins. I dont really know what a palanquin is but by the way the described it, I'm guessing that it was probably almost like a horse and buggy but even if it wasnt, I know it was some form of transportation. Anyways, they didnt let a lot of people ride in them and guess this was to represent the classes of people by saying the higher and more important classes rode in them so if you saw them, you would know the people in the palaquin were of a higher class like a daimyo or shogun. I also thought the limit on their motes and towers was weird because I would have never thought that deep motes could lead to rebellion. But the rule that they couldnt get drunk and stuff along those lines did make since to me because they obvioulsy have to represent themselves well.
My favorite rule was the first one. It only made sense to me. Those were times of trouble and fighting right? So you have to know how to fight.
It seems to me that the Tokugawa wished to continue ruling even after death. By establishing all these rules and laws for future rulers he is technically attempting to control the people even after he is gone. All of the rules seem very strict and specific as well. He also seems like an extreme traditionalist. Tokugawa mentioned several times that the reason for change and unruliness was due to the fact that Japan was changing from their old ways.
By keeping the people under control and following laws, his nation will remain stable. Tolerance is a key. No can be extra-ordinary. People cannot get in a disagreement with others and marriages must be known and have permission beforehand by the superior. People cannot dress to finely. The rich cannot display their wealth. The domain must have good men ruling. I like how he relates his systems to nature and philosophies... Ah, but still patriarchial. I hate that. He really gets into their personal lives and things that each must do. He definitely does not like secrets and wants to know everything that is occurring so he can keep a watchful eye on things, which can be good and bad. People are placed in groups. They have to tell of anyone is doing something they shouldn't, who is to strong, who helps someone, all must be reported. I understand him wanting to watch people, but gz! Make them afraid of each other or else they will become brothers and keep secrets...in which case he could be creating his own rebellions.
He does not like change and disorder. But he must not realise that his nation will not grow without adapting to change. He is very specific about temples and other religious instutions. I thought religion was supposed to be more personal..whereas it seems he is creating his own personal little world with people playing games in it. I like very much what he was saying about the 3rd generation of families. That seems to be pretty true most of the time across the board. And it is very interesting that he was trying to change and effect that. He understands well the way a family business grows and prospers and gives good advice on how to keep it running. Also, on how to spend money affectively. Wow, yeah. It would be much nicer to have peace in the end, rather than having all your problems crash down on you in the end. Hm, I like this guy. I didn't in the beginning, but his philosophies are good in the end.
The shoguns and daimyo wanted to show their authority over the people. Some of the rules were pretty fair concerning the nobility and the peasants. For instance, if you had money, don't try to flaunt it too much, making the peasants jealous which can lead to rebellion. But on the other hand, the rule about those who are and aren't eligible to ride on palanquins was contradictory to the idea of not showing a clear distinction of social classes. The laws for the warrior classes showed that not only did these men have to be learned in military skills, but also in literature. It seemed like the shoguns were fine with the practice of Buddhism as long as they followed the rules of course. They just had to teach what they preached and not any false doctrines. Also, if they were to build a temple, it couldn't be 'flashy', that would go against their morals and beliefs. These decrees made by the shoguns and daimyo showed a tight government with strong rule.
The Japanese could have been seen as cowards if this was shown at that time. But it was all like insurance, Ieyasu did his homework, and knew how kingdoms fell, he studied all that tediously. He was serious with his work and drew heavy lines to how things were to be. This made him be able to do things the past daimyos weren't able to.
Laws and regulations are key to a stable government. It was good that he was firm and direct, but still i think some were pointless and over the top.
The daimyo used these rules to show that they ruled and they had control over everybody below them. some of the rules are seem pointless but it showed that the daimyo were in control.
The daimyo were basically the lesser lords in JApan and they used these rules to show as a sort of symbol that the ruled the peasants and other people.
these re some of the weirdest rules... if we had them here i wouldnt take them seriously and i would just break them for fun.. especially the one that kailey mentioned about riding a palanquin.. psh if we had that rule i would go and find whatever the heck that is and ride it non stop and see what would happen..
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