EDO JAPAN: A CLOSED SOCIETY

1. EDO JAPAN: A CLOSED SOCIETY THREATS FROM THE WEST CHANGES WITHIN ISOLATION CRACKS IN THE FOUNDATION EXPANSIONIST THREAT FROM OUTSIDE

2. NEW WAYS OF BELIEF AND THOUGHT • By the late 1500s and early 1600s, the ruling shogun began to consider foreigners a threat • If the daimyo acquired European weapons they could challenge the shogun’s authority • By 1614 in response to rumours about takeover plots, all Christian missionaries were ordered to leave the country • Churches were destroyed and Japanese Christians who refused to give up their faith were executed • The persecution lasted until 1640, it is estimated thousands of Japanese Christians and 70 missionaries were put to death • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_09Ut6JOqM&

3. CUTTING OFF CONTACT • Missionaries continued to come to Japan, usually disguised as traders • As a result TokugamwaIemitsu passed isolation or exclusion laws, the penalty for violating any of these laws was death • All Christian missionaries and foreign traders were forced to leave. Newcomers were no longer allowed to enter • The Japanese were not allowed to go abroad • Ships large enough to make long voyages could no longer be built and existing ones were destroyed • Japanese who were out of the country were forbidden to return • Most foreign objects were forbidden. All books with a Christian message were banned, scientific books were forbidden

4. CUTTING OFF CONTACT • In addition the shogunate tightened control on movement within Japan • documents were required to travel from one domain to another • Curfews were instituted and wheeled transport was banned • In 1639, the shogun banned Portuguese ships in Japan and expelled all foreigners except Dutch, Korean and Chinese traders • The Dutch were only permitted in a small island in the harbour of Nagasaki • The shogun viewed these moves as essential for national security

5. ESTABLISHING CONTACT • WILLIAM ADAMS: from England to Japan • In 1598 Adams set sail from England for the Far east • By the time his ship anchored in Japan, only 24 of the original 110 crew were still alive • However, when he arrived in 1600, he was the first Englishman to arrive in Japan • They were first arrested as pirates and imprisoned • Eventually Adams became personal advisor to Ieyasu • Adams built Japan's first western style ship on commission

6. ESTABLISHING CONTACT • NAKAHAMA MANJIRO: From Japan to America • Became the first citizen of Japan to set foot in the United States • A 14 year old Manjiro was caught out in a fierce storm that took him far out to sea • Eventually they shipwrecked on a deserted desert island • In 1841 they were rescued by a whaling ship and taken to Hawaii • Manjiro accompanied the ships captain to Massachusetts to live • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGn1XgIhOMU • In 1849 he went to California to prospect for gold

7. ESTABLISHING CONTACT • After some success, he decided to return home to Japan • When he arrived he was imprisoned due to the exclusion laws • Despite several trials, he was not executed • The shogun found him valuable as he was fluent in English and knowledgeable about the west • When American Commodore Perry arrived in 1853, the shogunate sent for Manjiro • He was not able to translate, except for letters • He was awarded the rank of samurai and in 1860 was part of the staff of the Japanese embassy in the United States • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1RjObMJEb0&

8. EXCEPTIONS TO THE EXCLUSION LAWS • While all other Europeans were being expelled from Japan, a small number of Dutch traders were allowed to remain • They were viewed as less threatening because their interests were trade not religion • Once a year the Dutch were required to make an expensive trip to Edo to pay their respects to the shogun and stay there for three months • Shogun had a small number of Japanese scholars learn about Dutch medicine and the Dutch language • They were called the Dutch Scholars • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Ns4n5AEFRA&

9. EXCEPTIONS TO THE EXCLUSION LAWS • The sons of samurai were sent by their daimyo to study the Dutch language • Around 1720, importation of European books into Japan was allowed, except for books on Christianity • The shogun also encouraged the study of astronomy and had an observatory built in Edo in 1744

10. CHANGE WITHIN ISOLATION • Towards an ideal society • Peace, safety, security • Harmony, respect and a sense that everyone has his or her place • Leisure time and the opportunities for personal expression and enjoyment of the arts, sports, entertainment and crafts • The peace and security in Edo society came at a cost • People could not move beyond the social class of their birth • There was very little personal freedom, including freedom of expression

11. CHANGE WITHIN ISOLATION • Long periods of stability usually result in more wealth for a country • Some evidence that Edo had a booming economy • Farmers increased production by irrigating and growing two crops on the same piece of land during one growing season • Road improvements financed by the daimyo helped increase trade • Population increased in urban areas • Silver and gold coins were introduced as currency • On the other hand little foreign trade, the overtaxing of peasants and continued use of rice for payment held the economy back

12. A GOLDEN AGE OF CULTURE • As a result of the growth of prosperity, the arts and culture were able to flourish • Many of the arts associated with Japan developed during this period • Kabuki is a form of theatre • Male actors played both male and female roles

13. A GOLDEN AGE OF CULTURE • Sumo wrestling originated in ancient times as a religious performance • It became a popular form of entertainment in Edo Japan • Many ancient traditions have been preserved in sumo, and even today the sport includes many ritual elements, such as the use of salt purification, from the days when sumo was used in the Shinto religion. • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bBnJm2b9_g&

14. A GOLDEN AGE OF CULTURE • Other cultural arts of this period • HAIKU, a form of Japanese poetry with three lines • KENDO, a Japanese martial art that shifted from techniques to kill a person, to developing the person • BUNRAKU, use of large, life sized puppets to enact scenes of Japanese life • NOH, a musical dance drama where actors wore masks that symbolized character types and spiritual states • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6Q95IJxNH4&

15. A GOLDEN AGE OF CULTURE • Cultural activities like kabuki and noh, took place in areas called the floating world • The rules and controls of the Tokugawa society were relaxed • Merchants money began to count for more than a samurai’s rank or status • The shogun tried to stop kabuki theatre and discouraged samurai from wasting their time and money • Instead of closing the districts they were kept under heavy surveillance

16. CRACKS IN THE FOUNDATION • Towards the end of the Edo period, merchants gained wealth and power because more people needed their services • Peasants were highly taxed • Daimyo were near bankruptcy • there was little real work for the samurai and they were too proud to take other jobs • Some even married the daughters of merchants to survive, violating the strict social rules • The blame often was pointed at the shogun and his extravagant officials

17. CRACKS IN THE FOUNDATION • In the late 1700s and early 1800s, Japan was hit by a series of natural disasters that lost lives and produced famines • A third of the population died of starvation • Peasants deserted land as they fled into the cities, but were unable to find work • Rice was scare causing a steep price increase • Many felt that the shogun had failed to react effectively

18. THE EXPANSIONIST THREAT FROM OUTSIDE • By the early 1800s, Russia, England and the United States were requesting trade with Japan • As a minimum they wanted to get water and coal for their passing ships • In 1825, the shogunate created the No Second Thought Expulsion Order • “Whenever a foreign ship is sighted approaching any point on our coast, all persons on hand should fire on it and drive it off … if the foreigners force their way ashore, you may capture and incarcerate them and if their mother ship approaches, you may destroy it”

19. THE EXPANSIONIST THREAT FROM OUTSIDE • The reasons for the US interest in Japan were largely based on geography and economics