AP World History
Japan Background
By end of 1400s,
centralized government
(Shogunate) was falling
apart.
 Fighting between
Daimyo (heads of noble
families)

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https://jspivey.wikispaces.com/file/vi
ew/sengoku_daimyo_tohoku_sm.gif&imgrefurl=https://jspivey.wikispaces.com/
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Logo of the Shoguns
Different Diamyo
Courtesy of www.saruDama.com
Japanese Unification
Unification began late 16th century
(1500s)
 Three political figures:

 Oda Nabunaga
 Toyotomi Hideyoshi
 Tokugawa Ieyasu
Oda Nobunaga



Captures the royal
capital, Kyoto
Centralized power
in surrounding
area
Image courtesy of Jpellegn on
flickr
Toyotomi Hideyoshi



Farmer turned
military commander
Takes control and
moves capital to
Osaka
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://upload.wikim
edia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4e/Toyotomi_Hideyoshi_on_
his_horse.jpg&imgrefurl=http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/
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Image courtesy of http://www.lonelyplanet.com/maps/asia/japan/
Tokugawa Ieyasu






Daimyo of Edo
(Modern Tokyo)
Took control of Japan
after Toyotomi’s death
Restores centralized
power
Moves capital to Edo
“Great Peace”
http://uk.encarta.msn.com/media_121637
196/Japan_Under_Tokugawa_Rule.html
Europeans come to Japan

First Portuguese
traders
 Welcomed, traded
openly
 Weapons, tobacco,
clocks and glasses
from Europe

http://rezanov.krasu.ru/eng/epoch/i
mg/japan4l.jpg
Europeans get kicked out

Next Jesuit Missionaries
 At first converted many
Daimyo
 But, Jesuits destroyed
shrines resulting in
Hideyoshi prohibiting
Christian activities in his
land
 Missionaries expelled
 Traders also removed
○ Only 1 Dutch group
remained w/ restrictions
http://www.artsales.com/ARTistory/Xavier/Xavier_1.html
16th Century Japanese
Nanban screen showing the
arrival of Jesuits in Japan
Circa 1549
http://web000.greece.k12.ny.us/SocialStudiesResources/Social_Studies_Resources/GHG_Documents/T
okugawa%20Laws%20of%20Japan%20Passage%2001.02.jpg
Tokugawa Rule



Wanted to control the
feudal system in Japan
Land was divided into
hans (domains), which
were ruled by daimyo
Could be independent,
but shogunate ruled by
hostage system
http://roninsushiandbar.com/history.aspx
Hostage system



Each daimyo has 2
houses.
1 in Edo; 1 on their han
When daimyo isn’t in
Edo, his family must stay
there (like hostages) so
the daimyo don’t rebel
http://www.nakasendoway.com/images/29-1.jpg
Economic Changes


Trade and Industry grew
Cities grew
 Edo +1 Million pop.



Banking grew, paper
money became the
standard
Merchant class grew
Taxes increased
 Peasants suffered, some
revolted
http://w00.middlebury.edu/ID085A/Edo/index2.html
Coins from the Edo period
Social Changes

Strict class distinctions
 Emperor and imperial court
 Warriors
 Peasants/farmers
 Artisans
 Merchants
 Eta (outcasts)

Laws separating them
 No intermarriage
http://www.flickr.com/photos/24443965@N08/
2862111344/
Eta skinning deer
Role of women

Restricted, especially in
warrior class
 Influenced by Confucianism

Rules:
 Parents determined
marriage
 Men could divorce women
who don’t fulfill their duties.
 Men controlled property.
 Were valued as mothers
http://www.flickr.com/photos/24443965
@N08/3492944934/in/set72157617576425408/
Cultural Changes

Literature
 Popular in cities
 Lighthearted, for fun

Ihara Saikaku
 “Five Women who Loved
Love”

Poetry
From all directions
Winds bring petals of
cherry
Into the grebe
lake.
 More serious
 Haiku (5,7,5; about nature)
○ Ex. Matsuo Basho
http://www.big.or.jp/~loupe/li
nks/ehisto/ebasho.shtml
Theater
 Kabuki (link)
 No women
performers
 Emphasizes action,
music and gestures
http://www.traveltokyo.info/kabuki1.jpg
Art and Architecture

Need for homes in Edo
caused nobles to
compete for ‘best’ homes
 Used gold foil to reflect light
in dark castles
 Also used height for
defense
http://www.sfusd.k12.ca.us/schwww/sch618/japa
n/Architecture/Architecture2.html
Hirosaki Castle
Decline of Tokugawa Dynasty
(link)