chapter 14

• locking out the world - religion

  • the shogun felt that loyalty to the renaissance ideas and a christian religion were threats to his authority
  • he soon ordered all christian missionaries to leave the country - churches were destroyed and christians that refused to give up their faith faced execution
  • When the shogun ordered his daimyo to give up their religion, most complied - however, ronin and lower class levels were more defiant as they found joy and a community in this religion
• • missionaries continued to come to japan disguised as traders, in turn, Shogun Tokugawa Iemitsu passed exclusion laws - if you broke a law, the penalty was death
• the exclusion laws

  1. all christian missionaries and foreign traders were forced to leave japan and no new incomers were allowed to enter
  2. the Japanese were not allowed to go abroad
  3. ships that were large enough to go on voyages were destroyed and no new ones were allowed to be built
  4. Japanese who were out of the country were not allowed to return
  5. most foreign objects were forbidden - christian books (bibles) were not allowed, neither were scientific books
• in addition to the exclusion laws, the shogun tightend controls on movement within japan,

  1. people needed special documents to move form one domain to another
  2. a curfew was enforced to keep people from moving around at night
  3. wheel travel was banned
• exceptions to the exclusion laws

  • the shogan banned almost all foriegn traders exept for the dutch, Chinese and korean traders
  • the dutch were only allowed in one specific island - this isolation was essential for national security and the japaneese culture from the shogan's point of view
• the dutch

  • the dutch were allowed to stay as they were only interested in trade and not religion
  • however, they still had to take a long and expensive trip to Edo to pay their respects to the shogun - they stayed for 3 months
• The dutch scholars

  • dutch traders that taught japanese scholars about the renaissance (the shogun was interested even though he did not allow his people to be - he feared these ideas might confuse them and forget their obedience to him)
• peace in edo during isolation

  • although it was peacful, the people lived under strict laws - could not move from the social class that they were born in - people were not encouraged to think for themselves
• Culture in edo period of isolation

  • as a result of the prosperity and peace in japan, arts and culture was able to flourish such as

  1. kabuki - theater
  2. tea ceremony
  3. sumo wrestling
  4. haiku
  5. woodblock
  6. kendo
  7. noh
  8. Bunraku - puppets
• the floating worlds

  • Cultural activities took place in areas called the floating worlds
  • There the rules and controls of Tokugawa society were relaxed, and once they had fulfilled their duties to their occupation and family men could temporarily unwind and enjoy themselves.
  • the shogun tried to suppress the floating worlds at first, but decided to keep these entertainment districts under surveillance instead. 
  • the floating worlds served as places to escape
• class system in upheaval

  • towards the end of the period, merchants became wealthy as everyone used their services - they leant money at a time when everyone needed it, and they stored rice and converted it into cash or credits, they made money in the floating worlds
  • peasants needed money to pay the high rents and taxes
  • samurai did not have real work but they were too proud to take other jobs, some began to marry merchant daughters - going against strict social rules
  • many daimyo were nearing bankrupcy
  • everyone was looking for someone to blame, and many blamed the shogun and emperor
• disasters and hard times

  • japan was struck by many natural disasters that led to famines
  • land was deserted as peasants fled to the towns- they could not find work
  • a third of the population died of starvation
  • rice was so scarce- prices rose steeply
  • city dwellers rioted and attacked homes of the wealthy
• the expansionist threat

  •  several nations were knocking on Japan’s door.
  • Russia, England and the United States, in particular, requested trade, or at the very least, water and coal for their passing ships. 
  • In 1825, the shogunate responded with the “No Second Thought 

  Expulsion Order”
• A Booming Economy:

  • Long periods of stability and peace did however result in a strong Japanese Economy.

  Pros:

  • Increased productivity of agriculture
  • Introduction of gold and silver as currency
  • Increased urban population

  But there were still some Cons of having an isolated economy:

  • Overtaxing of peasants
  • Continued use of rice as currency
  • No foreign trade
• isolation in japan - they wanted peace, safety, harmony and oppertinuties for personal enjoyment - controls in japan and risk of bad punishments and execution reduced crime rates
• the feudal system was established in a time of conflict and poverty. the shogun discouraged change but eveyone was unhappy with poverty that they were living in.