The Influence Of The Tokugawa Period In Japan

Japan first started out as an isolated nation, but soon it would become one of the most powerful countries during WWII. But before Japan was a powerful Nation, it needed to modernize. According to document 1, Japan was isolated from 1635-1853.1853 to 1854.This was when US Commodore Perry visited Japan and forced them to open their ports(document 1, N.d, timeline. As a result of this, the Japanese create the Meiji Restoration. According to document 5, the emperor is given the power to command the Army and the Navy end to rule over Japan, but the citizens too have a house of representatives( Alfred Stead,1904, Doc 5).

He founded a dynasty of military rulers called the Tokugawa Shoguns. This began a time of peace and isolation in Japan lasting from 1603 to 1867 (Japan and the West Slideshow). After the Tokugawa shoguns gained power, they reimposed centralized feudalism, closed Japan to foreigners, and forbade Japanese to travel overseas (Japan Modernizes). From then on for more than 200 years, Japan developed in isolation. By the 1800s, discontent was felt all throughout Japan.

The Feudal Period in Japan ended in a decline of central power, which led to the centralized feudal system of government in the Tokugawa Period in late 1500. There were three main leaders who helped reunite Japan including Oda Nobunaga, Hideyoshi, and Tokugawa Ieyasu. Oda Nobunaga was successful to an extent, but was not successful in uniting the entire country. After the country once again became reunited from Tokugawa Ieyasu, a second wave of cultural diffusion occurred from the Europeans. They introduced guns and Christianity in early 1600.

The occupations were ranked by how essential they were to Tokugawa Japan. Ieyasu created hereditary classes based on occupation. The samurai were the most essential to the shogun because the warriors protected the land of the daimyos, who were hand picked by the shogun and made sure taxes were paid for the land they owned. The peasants, making up most of the population, were farmers and fishermen. They were necessary to work the daimyos land and yield food for the nation. Artisans were less essential because they were more mobile, not owning land. Merchants, similar to artisans, did not own land and were even less valuable because Ieyasu did not view the salespeople as directly benefiting

The Tokugawa period or otherwise known as the Edo period has been recognised as an extremely significant aspect of Japanese history and left history changing effects on the country. In this essay, five primary aspects of the Edo period, which has helped produce present day Japan and had greatly impacted on the nation during this period will be addressed:

The ‘Sengoku period’ or the ‘warring states period’ is known as the period of time before Japan’s unification. Once unified, the government was known as the Tokugawa Shogunate which continued from 1603 to 1867. Unknown author of popular Japanese website, Nakasendoway

From 1450 to 1750, both Russia and Tokugawa Japan faced incoming influence from western Europe. They handled this in both similar and different ways in the aspects of culture, government, and global interaction.

It was during the Edo period, also known as the Tokugawa period (1600 - 1868) when Japan made the decision to isolate itself from the rest of the world. The Japanese believed any contact with the outside world would contaminate and disrupt their strictly organized society, which was why they limited their contact with other civilizations. This period of isolation led to many factors such as, no warfare or exchange with other countries. This also meant that there was not any influence from different cultures, knowledge, or economy. For most of the Edo period, Japan was a peaceful place with happy people.

The Tokugawa period, also called the Edo period was the time when Japan was when the formation of Japan's religion and religious practices became framed as the structure it exists today. At the time, the Tokugawa Bakufu took control of everything that existed in the country, including the religions (Williams, 188). The shogun, who was the most powerful leader suppressed the religious freedom of the citizens and worked on exterminating any religions that the shogun (or the Bakufu) rationalized to be a threat to the stability of its power and authority. During this time, there were many religions that were practiced by the people both openly and covertly based on their faiths. From the environment that the believers were placed in, several variations

The Meiji Restoration played a significant role in the modernisation of Japan. The Meiji period was a time of political and social revolution. It brought momentous social, political and economic changes to Japan, and these changes became the foundation of the Japan we know today. Prior to the 1868 Restoration, Japan was a militarily weak country with a feudal agricultural society, and was controlled by feudal lords. When the Meiji period ended with the Emperor's death in 1912, Japan was a well-developed nation with a constitutional monarchy, an elected government, a strong economy, a powerful military and a well educated population.

By the 900’s, the Japanese government began losing control over rural areas due to its weak ruler and the samurai warrior class stepped in to take control. This was due to a civil war called the “Hogen Rebellion” in 1156. This rebellion was due to conflicts regarding Imperial Japanese succession and unexpectedly laid the groundwork for the samurai clans to gain dominance. With both “would-be emperors” losing the Hogen Rebellion, the imperial government of Japan lost all of its remaining power. This led to the Heiji Rebellion in 1160 which was fought between two samurai clans, the Minamoto and Taira. With the victory of the Taira clan, the first samurai-led government (Shogunate) was formed. This type of government was controlled by the samurai clans, and the Emperor of Japan was only used as a figurehead to the government.

The death of emperor Hideyoshi and subsequent ascension to the throne of Hideyori in 1598 set into motion events that would alter the political landscape in Japan for the next two hundred and fifty years. Tokugawa Ieyasu, in his quest to become absolute ruler of Japan defeated Hideyori loyalists in the battle of Sekigahara and was appointed Shogun by Hideyori in 1603. This military “coup d’état” effectively gave Tokugawa complete control of Japan and reduced the emperor to little more than a figurehead in the governing of Japan. As history would show, the feudal system of government that Tokugawa created ultimately led to

The Tokugawa regime controlled Japan by means of strict power and influence for an extended period of time. Following the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600, Ieyasu is named shogun which marks the official start of Tokugawa rule. The Tokugawa regime would last until 1868 and exercised its control in both an authoritative and idealogical manner. The regime was strict and orderly relying heavily on Shi-no-ko-sho (social hierarchy). At the top of the social order were the lords and samurai’s, which would be followed by peasants, artisans, and merchants (SPAM).

Between 1968 and 1912, Japan was going through a reformation called Meiji Restoration in order make the country strong as western countries. It had caused changes in many parts of Japan such as society, government, military, etc. Some of these changes still can be seen in the Japanese society today such as emperors are honored by Japanese citizens and seen as a special figure. Since this reformation had a great impact on development of Japan, it can be consider as a very important part of Japanese history.This study will seek to answer the question: To what extent did the Meiji Restoration succeeded to reform and strengthen Japan? In order to answer the question, the investigation will analyze military reform and economic reform caused by

Also as this major change takes place, the lifestyles of many are either improved or destroyed. Therefore the culture of the Meiji Era during the years of 1868 to 1912 was shaped by its bureaucratic government while the literature of Mori Ogai evinces its cultural connection. During the Meiji Era, to show Western powers their strength and independence, Japan underwent many changes, one