Chapter 13: Japan Under the Shogun

1. Chapter 13:Japan Under the Shogun Grade 8 Social Studies

2. Power and control Edo or Tokugawa period of Japan (1600-1868) Edo= present day Tokyo, Japan Tokugawa= shogun rulers (military rulers) Before the Edo period, Japan was locked in constant warfare Powerful landowners or nobles, known as daimyo competed amongst each other for territory and power What do you think was needed to end the chaos?

3. Unifying the Land Tokugawa Ieyasu became the most powerful man in Japan after he defeated the rival daimyo in a great battle Emperor made him shogun Even though the emperor technically ruled the land, the shogun held most of the power

4. Building a stable Japan The shogun’s plans were to create a strong, long lasting government that would bring stability to Japan His plans included: Alternate attendance Sharing power (bakuhan system) Strict laws Why do you think these laws were directed towards the daimyo’s?

5. Results of Shogun power Despite the efforts of the Shogun, there were many peasant disturbances and urban riots during the Edo period over taxes and food shortages Tokugawa shogun maintained control over Japan

6. A Feudal Society The rigid social structure was hereditary and you could NOT work your way up in ranking What worldview is this consistent with?

7. Samurai Much respected warrior class Lived in towns controlled by the shogun or daimyo they served Subdivisions in Samurai class- lowest were ronin, the samurai without masters Although they had high status, Samurai were forbidden to become involved in trade or business The samurai code of honour dictated that they live simple and thrifty lives

8. Peasants Farmers considered important in Edo Japan because they produced the food that sustained society Laws controlled every aspect of peasants life They needed permission to travel outside their district.

9. Artisans Craftspeople usually lived in towns or cities An artisans son was restricted not only to the class of his father, but also the particular craft that his father practiced Although Artisans were extremely skilled their status was lower than peasants. The reason for this is because they were not primary producers; their work required materials produced by others.

10. Merchants Merchants bought items from artisans to trade or sell to others Because rice was used as currency during most of the Edo period, merchants performed a function similar to bankers Since they didn’t produce anything, merchants were officially at the bottom of the social order.

11. Women in Edo Society In Edo Japan, the class that women were born into determined their responsibilities, as it did for the men Women in rural areas had more freedom than upper class women, because they were able to work in the fields, harvest crops etc. In the overall hierarchy in society, women were always considered lower than men

12. Outside of Edo Society- Outcasts Outcasts were people who were shunned or ignored by all the other classes because of their work. Usually they had occupations that involved death Under the Tokugawa shogun, outcasts had to live apart from the rest of society, not allowed to change their jobs, or be in the city after 8 pm

13. Outside of Edo Society-Ainu People Ainu people are also separate from the feudal hierarchy They were excluded from Japanese society In 1997 the Ainu people finally officially recognized by Japanese government as an Indigenous people Ainu do not feel this legislation goes far enough- still unsatisfied

14. Honour and Duty How important are ideas of “honour” and “duty” to your life? For example: do you think the actions of your family members affect the honour of your family as a whole? Do you ever find yourself thinking that other people’s behaviour dishonours you? Honour was very important in Edo society Ex: Story of the 47 ronin at the beginning of the chapter

15. Confucianism Teachings of Confucianism played an important role in Japanese acceptance of class distinctions. Confucius was a Chinese scholar whose teachings for moral, that is right living were brought over to Japan by Buddhist monks. Confucianism taught that everyone had a proper place in society If everyone accepted their duties and obligations there would be peace and order, if not there would be chaos and suffering.

16. First Contact with the West“The Southern Barbarians” Portuguese traders approached Japan from a southerly direction, the Portuguese became known as the “southern Barbarians.” Portuguese said they were here to exchange things they had with things they didn’t have. They were soon followed by Spanish, Dutch and British traders and by Christian missionaries

17. Portuguese and Japanese Relations Portuguese and Japanese were very different from one another. – Both cultural and religious Portuguese society had been influenced by renaissance values, favoured competition and the individual.

18. New Kind of Belief Francis Xavier, a Jesuit arrived in Japan in 1549 to start missions to convert the upper class (daimyo and samurai) to Christianity. The Portuguese also sent Franciscan priests to work with the lower classes There were some basic similarities between the beliefs of the Christians and Japanese values. Both had rules or ethical codes about right and wrong behaviour, however Christian idea of one god was new to the Japanese.