Edo period

physical characteristics, like hair color, can give reason for this baseless prejudice. In Japan, early records show evidence of an “untouchable” social class that occupied undesirable jobs like butchery and tending to the dead. Since the Japanese Edo Period from 1600 to 1867, there has existed a strict social hierarchy. Occupying the lowest rung of this hierarchy are burakumin, which translates to “village people”. The offensiveness of this designation is not apparent until it is known that the translation

Chapter Compelling Question(s): Was there really a European Miracle? Chapter Supporting Questions: What were the consequences of political and nationalistic revolutions? What factors contributed to the growth of nation-states and the rise of nationalism? How did the growth of nation-states in Europe differ from that in the rest of the world? How was China weakened by European influence? How did Japan build itself into a world power in a short time? Content Standards Addressed: Content Standards

Ukiyo-e and its Effects on Japanese and Western Culture Art is a very important aspect to Japanese culture. It is a visual expression of Japanese culture and history. Japanese art covers many subjects such as landscapes, historical and fictional stories, people, and architecture. Throughout Japanese history, one of the most popular genres of Japanese art were the Ukiyo-e, wood block prints. Many artists such as Katsushika Hokusai and Tsukioka Yoshitoshi became famous creating Ukiyo-e artwork. The

The Meiji Restoration brought enormous changes in Japan's structure. It eliminated the Tokugawa Shogunate, which allowed the emperor to regain full power, and transformed Japan from a feudal system to a modern state. The new era established the Meiji Constitution, which created a new structure for the government and laws, reformed the military and education system, experienced westernization and was the catalyst towards industrialization. However, it cannot be completely considered as a revolution

Five questions and answers from Fukuzawa Yukichi 1. How was the social class divided in the Tokugawa bakufu? And what was Fukuzawa’s status? → The samurai was the small group of the top level. The peasants who grow rice formed the second class since rice was so important to the survival of the society. The third class was composed of artisans who made every sort of product, such as farm tools, swords, and clothes, for samurai and peasants. The merchants made up the fourth class because handling

1. Why was the visit from Commodore Perry a turning point in Japanese history? Before 1853, Japan remained in isolation from the other Western powers, but the arrival of Commodore Matthew C. Perry influenced Japan to expand their trade. With the American fleet of warships led by Perry, it intimidated Japan to open their foreign interests in hope of arising trading opportunities from both sides. In a way, the U.S. military superiority spurred the Japanese to agree to the Treaty of Kanagawa. This treaty

enriching the culture and lifestyle that we associate with Japan today. Japan's isolation allowed them to develop their culture without the influence of other countries or religions. The economy of Japan also flourished during the Sakoku period. The long period of stability and peace was central to the economic boom. Moreover, the Japanese culture became richer because of the sakoku. Without foreign influence, they further developed their own unique culture. For example, traditional rituals and customs

As Japan exited the Tokugawa period and moved into the Meiji era in the in the mid-to-late-19th, the island nation experienced the immense changes associated with the movement of a state into modernity. From the establishment of new institutions to the centralization of state authority, life in Japan was forever altered, but perhaps nothing represented the shift more than the adoption of the Meiji Constitution. This document, heavily based off of its Western counterpart, truly codifies Japan’s shift

The Tokugawa period in Japan started in 1603 and ended in 1867 this was the final period of medieval japan. Tokugawa Shogunate lasted for more than 250 years and Medieval Japan changed dramatically from feudalism to a modernised society due to the Meiji restoration which also turned japan into a world of power. The three main focuses which will be discussed in this Essay are political, social and military which changed in the Meiji restoration. Education, social class, and women’s roles changed drastically

In his The Life of An Amorous Woman, Ihara Saikaku traces the demise of a woman whose thoughts and actions were controlled by insatiable lust and sexual desire. She begins as a wife and then progresses to a court lady-in-waiting, a concubine to a feudal lord, courtesan, priest’s mistress, brothel prostitute, and, finally a streetwalker. Though courtesans did not play a major role in ancient Japan, by the seventeenth century, the courtesan class was sanctioned by the government to the extent that