Early Modern Japan

WHAT WAS LIFE LIKE IN JAPAN BEFORE THE PROCESS OF UNIFICATION BEGAN IN THE LATE 16TH CENTURY?

Life was very violent and uncertain: there was no strong central government.

Peasants sought refuge in castles, forests, and other isolated places

Who were the Three Unifiers?

• Oda Nobunaga

• Toyotomi Hideyoshi

• Tokugawa Ieyasu

Oda Nobunaga (1534 – 1582)

- Cruel and ruthless daimyo

-first to realize potential of firearms (see e.g. Battle of Nagashino in 1575)

-persecuted Buddhist monks, welcomed Christianity as a counterweight to their power

-started the process of uniting much of Japan

-began a policy of territorial redistribution

-betrayed by a subordinate, he died in a fire at a Buddhist temple

Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1537-1598)

-peasant origins; so obscure that he had no family name at first

-Extremely shrewd and capable, he succeeded in uniting most of Japan

-continued Nobunaga’s confiscation of peasant weapons nationwide (the so-called “Sword Hunt” (katanagari)) in 1588

-He also revived and extended the practice of collective punishments

-harbored imperial ambitions; attempted invasion of Korea twice - failed

Tokugawa Ieyasu (1543-1616)

-Took over from Toyotomi

-Crafty and cunning

-Along with four other powerful daimyo, pledged loyalty to Toyotomi’s young heir Hideyori on Toyotomi’s deathbed; later, Ieyasuignored this pledge

-After victory at the battle of Sekigahara in 1600, completed the subjugation of competing daimyo

-Banned Christianity in 1614

-Named shogun in 1603, he imposed a lasting settlement that produced peace and prosperity in Japan for approx. 250 years

Among other changes, Christians were persecuted

What did Tokugawa’s policy of “alternative attendance” (sankin kotai) require feudal lords (or daimyo) to do?

• Each year half of the 300 independent feudal lords were required to go to Edo with many of their retainers

• What was the purpose of this policy?

• To control the daimyo.

What were the feudal classes under the Tokugawa?

1. The Daimyo and

other Samurai;

2. The farmers;

3. The artisans; and

4. The merchants

What groups were outside this class system?

• Eta (the ritually unclean)

• Geishas and other entertainers

• Doctors and other professionals

The Tokugawa also pursued a policy of isolationism. What is isolationism?

Isolationism is when a country chooses to cut itself off from other countries; it generally is isolating itself .

In what ways did the Tokugawa Shogunate isolate Japan from the rest of the world?

• Only the Dutch could trade with Japan

• Any Japanese citizen who traveled abroad would be killed if he or she returned

• No large ships could be built

• Children of mixed marriages were deported

What is bushido?• Bushido, “the Way

of the Warrior,” is a code of conduct for samurai. It emphasizes the following values: honor, courage, discipline, and fidelity to one’s lord

What are some of the differences between Japanese samurai and European knights?

• 1. Cult of chivalry towards women did not exist for samurai.

• 2. The fervent religious beliefs of some knights were not shared by most samurai

• 3. Duty of the vassal in Japan was absolute and unconditional (in theory, anyway) whereas in Europe it was mostly contractual

• 4. Samurai were expected to seek death before surrender or dishonor; a knight, in comparison, was encouraged to show mercy

Zen Buddhism is also important

Japan fell back upon itself during this period of isolation and cultivated its own traditions

-The Tea Ceremony, for example, became very popular

- Magnificent gardens and villas are constructed and developed by the well-to-do

- Painting and poetry are cultivated too

Haiku by Matsuo Basho (1644-1694) esp. are worthy of note; see the following two samples

On the Road to Nara

Oh, these spring days!

A nameless little mountain,

Wrapped in morning hazel

The Frog

Into the ancient pond

A frog jumps

Water’s sound!