Japan Feudalism and Tokugawa

Rise of Feudalism

Land became consolidated into Shoens - controlled by a few powerful families

Decentralization of government - emperor becomes figurehead

Military leaders (Shoguns) hold real power

Samurai emerged Bushido code

Rise of Feudalism

Power shifted into the hands of those in charge of the shoens—the daimyo

Daimyo fight for dominance. independence

Control local justice, taxes

Rise of Feudalism

FRANCEFRANCE

H.R. EMPIREH.R. EMPIRE

Economic Development

Tax burden on the peasants

Trade Economic

advancements Merchants considered

lowest class

Europeans Reach Japan

Portuguese traders arrived in 1543

As the Portuguese began to trade regularly, Jesuit priests also arrived to spread Christianity in 1549

Daimyo of Edo; proclaimed shogun in 1603

Installed his son as shogun in order to strengthen Tokugawa control and eliminate problems of succession

Political unity

Tokugawa Ieyasu

The Tokugawa Shogunate

1603–1869 Relied on the feudal

system Appointed daimyo

leaders to help administer governmental duties

Emphasized maintaining order and control

Maintained both a public and secret police

Social Class During the Tokugawa Shogunate

Warrior-administrators

Peasants

Craftsmen

Merchants

The Samurai During the Tokugawa Shogunate

Samurai began to follow the bushido code

In charge of Japan’s military

Gradually shifted to governmental and administrative roles

Christianity and the Tokugawa Catholic missionaries

attempted to convert the elites, but had little success

More success in the countryside

Shimabara Rebellion Persecution of

Japanese Christians, expulsion of missionaries

The Closing of Japan Shimabara Rebellion

heightened fear of foreign influences

Tokugawa “closed” Japan beginning in 1649

Allowed limited contact with the Dutch, Chinese, Koreans

Trade significantly limited and controlled

Some daimyos ignored the closing

Less need for warriors

The samurai slowly lost power, status

The warrior ethic seemed to lose its relevance

Decline of the Samurai