Japan Returns to Isolation

Feudal Japan• 1467—a civil war ended the old feudal system (farming estates) and central rule.

• 1467 to 1568, a “warring states period”–Sengoku

Daimyo• Daimyo—warrior

chieftains– Became lords of

feudal estates.– Offered

protection of peasants for loyalty.

– Fought other Daimyo for land.

Oda Nobunaga• Warrior; seized

Kyoto in 1568.• Attempted to

eliminate all of his enemies and unify Japan under one ruler.

• Fails and commits a ritual suicide in 1582, when one of his generals turned on him.

Toyotomi Hideyoshi• Nobunaga’s best

general • By 1590,

controlled most of Japan

• Invades Korea, but dies in 1598

Tokugawa Ieyasu• 1600—completes

unification of Japan

• 1603—becomes sole ruler, or shogun –Moves capital

to Edo, a fishing village (Tokyo)

Tokugawa Ieyasu• Founded Tokugawa

Shogunate (1603-1867)– controls daimyo

by requiring them to spend every other year in Edo, and after returning home, leaving family behind as hostage.

Himeji Castle, near Edo

Life in Tokugawa Japan• Despite the wealth

gap between the merchants and peasants, everyone enjoyed a flourishing culture.

Societal Structure

Life in Tokugawa Japan• Original Confucian values

influenced ideas about society.–Ideal society depended on agriculture, not commerce.

–Farmers, although considered ideal citizens, paid the most in taxes.•Abandoned farming and moved to the growing cities to find better jobs.

Life in Tokugawa Japan

• Traditional culture thrived:–Dramas were attended by Samurai–Haiku poetry was popular

• 3 line poetry (5-7-5 syllable format)

• Often about the hardships of life–Kabuki—theatre—skits using

costume, dance, music, and mime about modern life

Life in Tokugawa Japan

• At first, the Japanese welcomed traders and missionaries from Europe. –Led by Portuguese who arrived in the region first.

–Brought clocks, eyeglasses, muskets, cannons.

Life in Tokugawa Japan

• Missionaries’ success eventually upset Tokugawa Ieyasu because it conflicted with theirs (Buddhism).– Led to the

persecution of Christians after an uprising in 1637 against the Shogunate.

Japan in Isolation• By 1639, Japan adopts a “closed country

policy.”• Only Nagasaki remained open for foreign

trade. – Dutch and Chinese were trading

partners (Spanish and Portuguese were kicked out of the region).

• Isolation lasted for 200 years.– Shogun prevented anyone from leaving

the country.– Wanted to limit foreign cultural

influence.