Japan 1450-1750/47 Ronin

1. Japan 1450-1750/47 Ronin By Alex Cerda Mr. Teymeyer, Period 3

2. Government History • During 16th century, after a few centuries of decentralized feudal order, Nobunaga (one of the first Daimyo to make an extensive use of firearms in Japan) rose among the contesting lords and deposed the last Ashikaga Shogun I 1573, and was later killed in 1582. • The general under Nobunaga, ToyotomoHideyoshi, became master of Japan in 1590, then launched two unsuccessful attacks on Korea and died soon after. • When searching for a new militaristic leader, Tokugawa Ieyasu was appointed shogun by the emporer, and he ruled at Edo. Ieyasu’s rule ended the civil wars and internal political turmoil with the establishment of the Tokugawa Shogunate. • Tokugawa was deemed the most powerful military ruler and brought political unity to Japan.

3. Government/Economy • Shogunates and Daimyos ruled the state, and the protecters and warriors of both were the Samurai. • Feudal system was the Tokugawa Shogunate, in which the Shogun ruled under the emporer, the Daimyo came next and were similar to European nobles, as they ruled the land, then were the samurai, the merchants, and finally the peasants. • Was considered a Feudal military dictatorship. • Relations between Shoguns and merchants allowed for a market-based economy, and all trade with foreign countries were cut off due to Japan’s newly established Isolationism.

4. Isolationism • From 1641-1853, the Tokugawa Shogunate enforced a policy called Kaikin, which prohibited foreign contact with most outside countries, tactically maintaining trade with just China, Korea, and the Netherlands. • Japan had the longest stretch of peace in its history due to its isolation. • All Christians and European merchants were either forced out of the country or killed, a total of around 300,000 people. • The economy of Japan was at it’s best during this period, with a great internal market.

5. The 47 Samurai Revolt • The Daimyo and samurai follow the code of Bushido, “the way of the warrior”. Two large demands of this code were loyalty to one’s master and fearlessness in the face of death. • In 1701 emperor Higashiyama sends imperial envoys from Kyoyo to a shogun court in Edo (present day Tokyo) • Athe high shogun official, KiraYoshinaka, served as the master of ceremonies and treated two young Daimyo, Asano Naganory and Kamei Sama, who were looking after the emperors envoys, with major disrespect and contempt. Kamei becomes angry at Kira and want to kill him, but Asano preaches peace, and in fear of their Daimyo, Kamei’s retainers pay Kira to be nicer to him. Asano’s torment continues, however, and at a meeting in the main hall he was verbally insulted by Kira. Asano pulled out his sword and gashed Kira’sforhead, but was restricted befor he could do any further damage. • It happened to be extremely forbidden to pull out a sword in the Edo castle, so Asano was ordered to commit sekkupu (a method of suicide in which you thrust a sword into your stomach while on your knees and drive it to the side to spill your guts).

6. Without their master, Asano’s samurai were left as ronin, or samurai without master, and instead of following the others, 47 of the 320 ronin decided to to commit sekkupu and stayed alive. They swore a secret revenge. • Led by Oishi Yoshio, these ronin swore an oath to kill Kira at any cost. The men spread out nice distances amongst the land and planned everything carefully. In December of 1702, the ronin surround Kira’s home with ladders and swords and kill the guards stealthily, and catch the samurai sleeping, who have to rush to the snowy battlefield barefoot. • All of the samurai were killed, and only a few ronin were minorly wounded. Oishi found Kira cowering in a shed, and offered him an honorable death, but Kira refused and Oishi beheaded him. • The Ronin walked through town to their masters grave and waited to be arrested. The code decided the fate of these samurai, but until then they were divided amongst four daimyo, who all hoped against the worst. The Ronin were ordered by the Shogunate to commit sekkupu, and were buried alongside their master.