Edo Period (1600-1868)

• Tokugawa clan holds office of shogun for 15 generations

• territories are controlled by Daimyo

• Marked by the closing off of Japan to foreign influence after the Shimabara Uprising of 1636

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• The solidification of social class

• A flourishing in the arts

• Kabuki

  Bunraku

  Shakuhachi

  Koto

• Many measures to make people responsible for others

  imposition of sumptuary laws

  The Tokugawa Shogunate rules the country.

Hideyoshi

• After unifying Japan, Hideyoshi tries to extend Japanese rule to Korea and China with no success.
• He stratified Japanese society: Samurai, farmers, artisans, merchants, untouchables (The Burakumin)
• Only samurai were allowed to carry swords.

Ieyasu

• Tokugawa Ieyasu goes one step further, eliminates all rivals for control after Hideyoshi’s death, is named shogun, and moves the capital of power to Edo (Tokyo) 
• Redistibutes wealth among the Loyalists that helped him, giving the most to those who were of greatest help. 
• Makes the Daimyo (feudal lords) spend every other year in Edo to keep them from rebelling.
• He also promotes foreign trade while trying to keep Christian missionaries out of Japan, but warlords are interested in Christianity because they want to trade with the west.
• Forces 1st son to commit suicide and wife is executed for treachery

The Edo Period

• The Tokugawa Shoguns rule Japan for 250 years of peace.
• Neo-confucianism: Stressed the importance of morals, education, and hierarchical order in government and society.

Samurai

• With no more fighting to be done, Samurai begin to educate themselves in the cultural arts as well as the martial arts.

The Closing of Japan

• Shogun Iemitsu decides to cut off all outside influence in 1639.
• He forbids trade with all but China and Netherlands, and even forbids foreign books.

The Decline of the Tokugawa clan

• Declining finances
• Natural disasters
• Social Hierarchy breakdown (rise of merchant claass and subsequent dependence of Samurai class.

The Black Ships

• At the end of the 18th c., the pressure to open their gates becomes too great and in 1853 Commodore Perry and his “Black Ships” barrel into Japan.

Meiji Restoration (1868-1912)

• Emperor Meiji takes over in 1868 and moves his residence to Edo, the capital
• Democratic State
• Breakdown of social classes
• Human rights
• Emperor reclaims all Daimyo land
• Country divided into prefectures
• Education reformed on French and German models.
• Employed 3000 "foreign experts" and sent many Japanese students overseas.
• The Daimyo became governors
• Rebellions abound in the samurai "class"
• While emperor is in charge, again it is mostly symbolic and he takes direction from a cabinet of old samurai and businessmen
• The zaibutsu rise in power and influence.

By the End of the Meiji Era, Japan had:

• a highly centralized, bureaucratic government
• a constitution establishing an elected parliament
• a well-developed transport and communication system
• a highly educated population free of feudal class restrictions
• an established and rapidly growing industrial sector based on the latest technology
• a powerful army and navy 

Backlash to Westernism

• Shinto once again emphasized as an integral part of Japanese essence (Kokutai)
• divinity of emperor a focus
• State-supported schools
• Military reformed (universal conscription)
• Increased Nationalism 

Sino-Japanese War (1894-1895)

• Japan moves to control Korea
• China also wants control of the peninsula
• In Korea, the Donghak Peasant Rebellion Starts
• Japan and China send forces in to “suppress the rebellion.”
• China loses Korea, Eastern Mongolia, and Taiwan, but is forced to return most of it by external powers - Russia, England and France
• Meiji reforms key in Japan’s win

Natsume Soseki (1867-1916)

• Born into a samurai-class family at the beginning of the Meiji Era.
• At the age of 2 he was adopted by a former household servant
• Studied Chinese and English at Tokyo University in 1890
• After graduating, he taught middle school in a rural area
• Received a gov’t scholarship and went to england for 3 years starting in 1901
• One of his central themes was the conflict between individual needs and the demands of society.

General Nogi

• Born in 1849
• Was a major in the army against the Satsuma Rebellion
• In a fierce battle at that time, he lost the 14th Infantry Regiment’s regimental banner to the enemy, which was considered an extreme disgrace.
• In the first Sino-Japanese war he occupied Port Arthur and invaded Taiwan
• During the Russo-Japanese war he lost many men at the battle of Port Arthur
• Even though he was going to be relieved of duty, the Emperor publicly defended him
• Even though Nogi asked to be allowed to commit suicide, the Emperor told him he had to stay alive until he himself died.

Outside Links:

Virtual Tour of Edo

Picture representing the Black Ships incident

Black Ships Scroll

A Scholar's Tour of the Scroll

Social Structure Pre-Meiji

Storyboard of Meiji Life

Page of Pictures from Meiji Era Japan

More Photographs