Tokugawa Leyasu's Impact On Japan

Japan’s Tokugawa (or Edo) period, lasted from 1603 to 1867. This was the final era of the traditional Japanese government before the modern era. The Qin dynasty lasted from 221-206BC. Thought it was brief, it was very important in Chinese history. The main weakness of the Tokugawa was an internal crisis and Western intrusion. However, the Tokugawa had a great economy, commerce and manufacturing industry. The strengths of the Qing Dynasty were the ability to improve methods of irrigation, which increased farm production. However, the military was still not strong enough to protect against few invasions. In addition, the population was increasing rapidly, and the government was too weak to police and protect all of the people.

Imperialism in Japan Background: Japan prior to the Meiji restoration was ruled in a hierarchy very similar to other European countries. The hierarchy was that of lords, samurai and then peasants. The Japanese equivalent to a king at the time was a military dictator called a shogun. During this time the capital was Kyoto and the shogun was part of the Tokugawa clan. That is why this period is referred to as the Tokugawa Shogunate.

Youssef Marakby ID:900130817 Instructor: Richard Byford Rhet 1020 The Samurai’s affect on Japan’s culture For many years, the legendary Japanese samurai warriors showed that they are the most well known class of ancient Japan and also known with their supremacy of honor, service, and duty which the Japanese society still have today. The samurai helped lay the foundations of Japan 's culture.

Japan’s rich history of power, wealth, and influence had many remarkable eras. One of the more notable periods in Japanese history was that of the Tokugawa Period (1600-1868). The Tokugawa Period was talked about in Musui’s Story, an autobiographical book, written by Kokichi Katsu. (Katsu ix) Katsu wrote Musui’s Story for three main reasons: to share how he had transformed from a low-ranking samurai to a well-known hero, to show his sense of self, and to serve as a cautionary tale for his descendants. He showed his sense of self when he became his own person with spirits, shrewdness, and imagination. (xviii) His transformation was proven in his journey of risk taking, danger, family, and friendships that can be told the next generation as well

During the Tokugawa Shogunate, did the emperor have any power? If so, what? When the emperor Tokugawa Shogunate came into power he continued with, and made bigger changes to what Hideyoshi had started. He disarmed peasants, removed a lot of the source of rebellion that seemed to haunt Japan.

Tokugawa Iemitsu was the third shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate. He was the eldest child of Tokugawa Hidetada, and the grandson of Tokugawa Ieyasu. In 1633, after his sibling's passing, he released the Daimyo his pre-disessor had left in control and supplanted them with his youth companions. This made him disagreeable with numerous daimyo, yet Iemitsu essentially uprooted his rivals. He is credited with setting up the other participation framework which constrained daimyo to live in Edo (medieval Tokyo) in rotating grouping, investing a sure measure of energy in Edo, and a sure measure of time in their home territories. It is said that one of the key objectives of this approach was to keep the daimyo from picking up an excessive amount of riches or influence by forcing so as to isolate them from their homes, and them to consistently commit a vast entirety to financing the enormous travel costs to and from Edo. The framework likewise included the daimyo's wives and beneficiaries staying in Edo, detached from their master and from their home region, serving basically as prisoners who may be hurt or slaughtered if the daimyo were to plot defiance to the shogunate.

Feudalism was a key component of life for those in both Western Europe and Japan. The two systems developed independently from each other yet still held a multitude of similarities. However, their many differences out shadow the unique parallels they shared. The major discrepancies between the two are found in each’s code, structure and regulations.

Warfare affected the development of the medieval Japanese state by creating and sustaining a hierarchy of powerful elites that would later form the basis of medieval Japanese statehood which was largely based on relationship to the top of the hierarchy, preservation of peace, loyalty and defence against external aggressors. The existing, more stable formation was more open to foreign ideas and also fought wars in defence of the medieval Japanese population. Chronic warfare led to the ruling elite factions realizing that much more needed to be done to ensure a stable society and also to protect their interests. With establishment of armed forces fighting for the imperial court such as the Samurai, a new consciousness emerged with warriors at the centre of it, leading to some nationalist pride and patriotism that led to the formation of the mediaeval Japanese

Samurai were warrior class who lived by an unwritten code called “Bushido.” They fought for the large landowners called Daimyo, they worked for the Daimyo’s protection and against other powerful landowners. The Samurai was taught the values and traditions, and had to be educated in literature and writing. Therefor samurai were also trained in meditation and fighting techniques such as archery, swordsmanship, and martial arts.

Social order was officially ceased and mobility between the farmers, warriors, artisans, and merchants was prohibited. This was part of the systematic plan to maintain stability. The fifteen Tokugawa shoguns made their foremost goals political stability and complete isolationism. The stability gained by isolation and strict class control caused feudal Japan to double in population going from fifteen million to thirty million. They also increased in urbanization and the influence of the merchant class.

Toyotomi Hideyoshi impacted Japanese government in many ways. He acknowledged that an unstable peace and constant uncertainly had led to the practice of samurai farming and peasants to take up arms. To combat this, he issued decrees that defined the social status and duties of all Japanese. He banned everyone from having weapons besides samurai. Samurai were ordered back to towns.

Both the governments of Mughal in India and Tokugawa in Japan seem important in their own right. Mughal in India began to embrace Christianity under the rule of Akbar. India allowed the visitation of Europeans. Europeans could come and learn without any opposition. This was a new beginning for both civilizations.

Tokugawa Japan + Medieval Europe Medieval Europe and Tokugawa Japan lived in seclusion to each other, and yet there were many uncanny similarities between Tokugawa Japan and Medieval Europe. In Medieval Europe there were many key features of the social system that were introduced at the time. The social system of Medieval Europe was called Feudalism. Feudalism puts the King in charge of everything and everyone, with barons and nobles underneath him. The nobles provide loyalty and knights to the king in return for land to control.

Lastly, the increase in manufacturing in Japan led to the first railway of Japan, further decreasing the cost of production and transportation and allowing mass produced goods to cost less for the working class. However Count Okuma Shigenobu’s positive statement is not surprising as he advocated to fair treaties with western countries and only makes sense that he would try to flaunt Japan's economic prosperity as a result. During

From the Kamakura Period of the late twelfth century to the Meiji Restoration in the nineteenth century, the samurai have held prominent positions as noble warriors in Japanese society. They have come to be famous in modern, Western pop culture as the fierce, stoic guards of feudal Japan, but their practices and rituals extended beyond wielding katanas and donning impressive armor. Samurai practices were rich and complex, with strict codes, ritual suicide, and a history of influencing culture and politics (“Samurai”).