Japan's borders were slightly different in 1750 than they are now.

Almost the entire population

lived on Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu, the three main islands. Although the northern island of
Hokkaido was officially under Japanese sovereignty, the majority of Japanese lived near the
island's southern point. They traded with the indigenous inhabitants of Hokkaido and fought with
them on occasion. The huge Chinese empire, administered by the Qing dynasty in Beijing, lay to
the west. Korea was sandwiched between China and Japan, with Russia controlling the north and
northwest.
The Tokugawa Shogunate
The Tokugawa family has controlled Japan since 1600. Japan had an emperor who resided in
Kyoto, but his military chief, the shogun, who was based in Edo, had actual power. The
Tokugawa shogun enacted laws, oversaw military affairs, and interacted with outsiders. Japan
was mainly at peace throughout this time, and there was also internal stability. Droughts and
famines prompted farmer uprisings, but the military quickly put an end to them. The rest of the
world was cut off from Japan. Since 1635, the Shogun has prohibited Japanese citizens from
leaving the country and has commanded that any Japanese who come home after residing abroad
be executed. The lone exception was a group of roughly 2000 Chinese traders who lived in
Nagasaki, in the south. The majority of Japanese people, including the rulers, were oblivious of
foreign achievements in science and technology.
Social organization
Japan was a feudal society called our society during the Tokugawa period, organized by a system
of obligations between the monarch, aristocrats, and common people. Everyone had a function to
perform in society, and everyone was expected to act appropriately for their social station.
Emperor, Shogun, Daimyo, Samurai, Peasants, Craftsman, and Merchants were the several
classes.
The emperor was a direct descendant of Amaterasu, the sun goddess. By 1715, the emperor had
devolved into little more than a symbolic figurehead with no real power, implying that he had
merely performed a ceremonial function. He held the title of head of state and had the authority
to bestow titles on the Tokugawa family, including the right to govern. In his Kyoto palace,
however, he lived in social seclusion, surrounded solely by his servants. Despite his enormous
prestige, him and his imperial court actually had very little to do with the government and the
Shogun in Edo.
The Shogun, or the Emperor's leading general, was Japan's true leader. He lived in Edo Castle,
where he and his counselors ruled Japan. He was especially interested in foreign relations since
he was expected to protect Japan against foreign meddling. They were extremely well-off. They
also preserved the significant domains close to the country's center, as well as along vital trade
routes, in order to maintain their dominance over competing noble families. 215 domains/large
regions were created in Japan. A daimyo/hereditary lord ruled each domain independently, with
their own laws and tax system. Because the Shogun saw daimyos with large areas and armies as
a potential threat, they actively sought ways to limit their power, such as requiring them to spend
large sums of money on public works (such as roads) or simply employing spies. They also
employ the open "sankin kotai" system, according to which all daimyo who served the shogun
were required to spend six months of each year in Edo, and all other daimyo were required to
visit Edo every other year and remain there for a year before returning to their realm.
Samurai made up around 6% of the overall population at this time. Each samurai carried a pair of
swords, one small and one long, as a status symbol. They shielded their daimyo with their
daimyo. Samurai had a set of values that they lived by. Loyalty to one's Lord, self-sacrifice,
courage, and honor were among them. They were expected to be extremely disciplined and
skilled with their weapons. A frequent adage at the period was that a good samurai "did not even
know the price of rice." Members of the lower classes were required to bow when a samurai
passed by, and if riding a horse, they were required to dismount. Anyone who failed to do so
risked death- samurai had to cut off their head on the spot by 1715, the samurai had not been
required to take part in any real fighting for 150 years. There were no wars, so they mostly
functioned as officials, accountants and policemen, wearing their swords for show. Some
samurai held important government positions with good salaries. But many lower ranking
samurai were very poor. Many borrowed from merchants, others took jobs secretly, teaching
swordsmanship or making small goods for sale. Peasants were the largest group in Japanese
society at this time, making up around 80% of the population. Most peasants were farmers but
the class also included woodcutters, fishermen and workers in minds. Even though the peasants
were not as revered as samurai, they were still treated with respect by the government because
they provided the food that all other classes relied on. The majority of farmers had to struggle
with poor living conditions, starvation, and disease due to excessive taxes. Peasants were not
allowed to enjoy the luxury of other classes, such as decorative dress and expensive cuisine,
according to laws. Peasants were shackled to their daimyo's service and required special
permission to travel. Peasants were prohibited from carrying weapons such as long swords, small
swords, bows, Spears, and muskets by the shogun. Nonetheless, during times of hunger, peasants
frequently rebelled, using farming equipment as weapons. The Craftsman was the next level
below the peasants. Craftsmen included blacksmiths, printers, and both builders and carpenters,
as well as people who created commodities and tools. Craftsman received less official respect
than peasants because, in theory, people could live without the goods day made. The merchants
were at the bottom of the social ladder. The merchants produced nothing useful and, unlike the
samurai, did not control or maintain order. Rather, they made a living through selling and
carrying things, as well as lending money and opening stores.
Tokugawa Many people in Japan belonged to groups other than the five designated classes.
Butchers, undertakers, executioners, and leatherworkers all had their own quarters in villages and
cities. They were prohibited from interacting with other classes, dressing like them, or accessing
their homes due to prohibitions. They were considered dirty by other Japanese. In Tokugawa
Japan, women were treated as second-class citizens. They were typically financially and socially
reliant on men. Kaibara Ekken, a Japanese philosopher, stated that women should accept and
respect men's advice in all circumstances. He suggested that women submit themselves to the “3
obedience's” during the span of their lives. First, and obedience to her father, and second, to her
husband, and third, to her son. Life was particularly hard for peasant woman. They often worked
in the fields alongside their fathers and husbands common, as well as carrying out domestic
chores such as cooking and cleaning. When times were very harsh, poorer peasant families might
sell their daughters to not starve.
Japanese culture: Beliefs and arts.
Different belief systems played an important role in shaping Japan during the Tokugawa. Two
half centuries of peace under the Tokugawa shogunate helped the Japanese arts to flourish.
Three main influences on Japanese society during this period were the Shinto and Buddhist
religions and Confucian philosophy. Shinto is the religion born in Japan. Shinto taught that many
features of the natural world, such as people, animals, trees, mountains, and rivers, are spirits.
Buddhism came to Japan in the 7th century. Over time, many Japanese came to follow Shinto
and Buddhist beliefs. Buddhism was transferred to the teachings of Gautama Buddha, who lived
in the 6th century BC. C. He was born in India. Buddha taught that life means suffering for all
people caught in a cycle of birth and rebirth or reincarnation. To escape this cycle, one had to
achieve enlightenment or free oneself from desire. A special part of Buddhism called Zen
appealed to samurai because it emphasized self-awareness and control. The other great influence
on Japanese society at the time was Confucianism. Confucius was a philosopher and teacher
who lived from 551 to 479 BC. C. he lived in eastern China. He argued that people should lead
virtuous lives. They must respect their elders and leaders and do their best to fulfill the roles
assigned to them in society. The Shogun adopted Confucian philosophy because he emphasized
social stability and loyalty to, in this case, rather the Shogun.
Art during Tokugawa. These include high arts such as theater and tea ceremonies, as well as
"lower arts" forms such as kabuki theater and puppet theatre. High or low, almost all art is
inspired by stories from the past. Prestigious entertainment for aristocratic and samurai families
included "high art", including Noh theater and tea ceremonies. In the 1750s, they both knew that
the ceremony was an ancient practice that was hundreds of years old. It was not a highly
ritualized form of theater in which the actors wore symbolic costumes and carved wooden masks
to communicate to the audience which character to show. The ceremony is another very formal
practice. During the ceremony, a guest prepares tea for one or more guests. Tradition dictates
every act of the tea ceremony with the precise act of the host pouring the tea from the side of the
cup that each guest will drink.
"Low art" is among the most popular forms of literature and theater. Each city has its own
entertainment district called Ukiyo (floating world), full of theaters, public baths, and drinking
establishments. Two of the most popular hockey shows are Kabuki theater and Boone Roku.
Presenting more stories about the scope of the Northern Theatre. It had a complicated plot and
needed more actors than noh. Raccoon Boone is a type of theater that uses puppets instead of
actors. The puppeteers manipulate the puppets in front of the audience
Artist captured life in the entertainment district in colorful woodblock prints known as Ukiyo – e
(pictures of the floating world). Woodblock printing was cheap and popular
Edo, with a population of over 1,000,000 people, was the world's largest city by 1715. Eddo had
been a considerably smaller fishing hamlet surrounded by wetlands about 150 years or so before
the first Tokugawa shogun chose Edo as his capital in 1603. The city flourished swiftly after the
first Tokugawa shogun chose Edo as his capital in 1603. The shogun lived and ruled from a
castle in the centre of the city. The villagers lived beyond the castle and the dwellings of the
minor daimyo. Traders, fishermen, and laborers were among them. They built buildings over
former swampland with rubble left over from the construction of the castle as the city grew.
They eventually began to reclaim territory that had been encroached upon by the water. Edo had
several bridges and canals as a result of this. The Edo bridge, which spans the Nihonbashi River,
is the most well-known bridge.
Contact with the West
The Tokugawa shogunate's policy of isolation from the rest of the world lasted from 1641 to
1853. By the mid 19th century, Western powers such as Britain, Russia and EU S government
were pushing for Japan to open up the international trade and commerce. These countries wanted
to sell their goods in Japan and dock their ships in Japanese sports. They put pressure on the
Tokugawa shogunate to change their isolationist position.
The shogun forbade Spanish and Portuguese ships from entering Japanese waterways in the
1600s, believing they were trying to destabilize his position. Only the Dutch traders were
allowed to stay after the English ships left. They were forced to dwell on Dejima, a small man-
made island. This marked the beginning of the government's formal isolation strategy, which
lasted for the next 200 years. Only a few Japanese academics learn Dutch in order to study
foreign literature. Foreign knowledge was dubbed rangaku, and it included information from
western areas such as medicine and astronomy.
The prospect of Christianity spreading over Japan was the fundamental reason for Japan's
isolation of foreigners from its nation. The first Tokugawa shogun believed that Christian
missionaries would bring his opponents together against him. He also spread Christianity since it
encouraged people to be loyal to the Pope rather than the shogun. The Shimabara insurrection
occurred in southern Japan in 1637, when tens of thousands of Christians protesting tax increases
were massacred by a samurai army. Following this uprising, Christianity was declared outlawed.
Bibles and crucifixes were forbidden to Dutch traders. Every citizen in Japan was required to
attend their local Buddhist temple and walk on a crucifix or a picture of the Virgin Mary during
Fumi - e, a yearly tradition. If their trust in Christ was proven, anyone who refused to do so was
interrogated and eventually executed. In 1825, the shogun ordered Japanese ships to shoot on
foreign ships without hesitation after four ships attempted to break the limitations.
Derival of US Commodore Perry.
In 1853, 60-year-old US Commodore Matthew C Perry arrived in Japan with four warships of
the US Navy. Perry was there to deliver a letter from EU S president asking for establishment of
foreign trade between the USA and Japan. Realizing that their ships and weapons were no match
for Paris, the government unwillingly agreed. In Morrow 1854, the Japanese signed the Treaty of
Kanagawa granting limited trading rights to the US. They also allow the docking of the US ships
and the console of US in Shimoda.
The Meiji restoration
"The subjugation of the loathed foreigner is the greatest of patriotic responsibilities facing us,"
the emperor declared in 1863. Several domains, particularly the powerful Satsuma and Choshu
regions in the southwest, demanded that the Shogun quit. Satsuma and Choshu, the shogun's and
Tokugawa family's longstanding foes, advocated for a return to traditional Japanese values.
Emperor Komei died in 1867, and his son, who had moved to Heaton, was proclaimed Emperor
at the age of 17. The Satsuma and trust school daimyo rebelled against the shogun in January
1868, and were able to defeat him due to superior equipment and armaments. They took Edo and
renamed it Tokyo; the last Tokugawa Shogun resigned, and the Meiji restoration started. The
emperor reigned alongside his Satsuma and Choshu client advisors, who did not want Japan to be
unable to defend itself against European assault. The Meiji government knew that unless they
built up a modern army and navy, they would lose control of the country to Britain, Russia,
Germany, and France's powerful armies.
The Meiji reformers recognized that in order to modify portions of Japanese society, they needed
the respect of numerous powers. The Meiji emperor signed a "charter oath" defining the new
society's five principles in 1868. It promised that the new age would provide regular people more
personal freedom and a bigger say in politics. After their charter oath became eligible, the class
structure was abolished, and any man with the ability to lead might do so. In the end, the Meiji
created a constitution based on the German model, introducing a limited form of democracy.
The government despatched a delegation of researchers on a two-year trip to the United States,
the United Kingdom, Egypt, China, and other regions of Europe in 1871. The mission's goal was
to observe various Western approaches and advocate for the abolition of unequal treaties. When
the team returned to Japan in 1873, they advocated a number of reforms, which resulted in the
judicial system being modeled after the French, the Navy being modeled after the British, and
school systems being modeled after the Prussian model. Over the next 40 years, western values
expanded across Japan's society. The legalization of Christianity occurs in 1871, and the imperial
court adopts western attire for formal occasions in 1869. The Japanese did not always appreciate
these Western practices.
The Meiji government put a lot of money into changing Japan's educational system. They hired
foreign professionals to come teach medicine and create universities, and a year after the
restoration, Tokyo University was established. The government also enlisted the expertise of
western experts to help establish a number of sectors, although it was careful not to repeat the
mistakes of other Asian countries.
The Meiji administration was adamant about creating a single modern conscript army, which
generated a stir due to the samurai's traditional beliefs. In 1873, the government made military
duty mandatory for all men reaching 21 years old, with the expectation that they would serve in
the armed forces for four years.
The Satsuma rebellion
In 1876 the government banned samurai from wearing the pair of long and short swords. The
samurai code. In 1877 the samurai rose up in revolt. They fiercely fought for eight months even
with half of the numbers of the unreplaceable conscripts. The Satsuma rebellion claimed 30,000
lives and it was the first major test of the new Japanese army.
A major world power
Japan continued to expand its army and navy in the 1880s and 1890s. Industrialization was also
pushed forward by the government. Because of the interconnection of railroads and roadways,
Tokyo and other cities flourished swiftly. Nationalism was the first concept to affect Japanese
thinking in the twentieth century. By 1900, ordinary people shared a single government and
could participate in it through elected representatives, resulting in a sense of national pride and a
mindset that was far more forward-thinking than it had been 150 years before, in 1750. Teachers
urged pupils to feel devotion to the nation and fight for its advancement through the educational
system. The second idea was imperialism, which grew Japan's power and territory through
gaining control of other countries. The Japanese realized that they needed to become imperialists
in order to be regarded seriously rather than be imperialized. They began expanding into
neighboring countries in the 1870s.
From 1871 to 1893 the Meiji appealed to the Western powers to end the unequal treaties. In 1894
the British were the first land. Other countries followed in 1897 the western powers promised
equal relations by 1911.
Japan at war
In 1874, and Japan fought China for the Ryukyus islands, Japan won and turned the islands in to
the Okinawa Prefecture. China and Japan flashed again but this time over Korea. In 1893
common the Korean asked the Chinese to help suppress local issue. In 1994 the quarrel over
troop numbers from Japan and China turned into the senior Japanese war.
Because of its military and territorial size, most global observers expected China to triumph.
Despite having a lesser army, Japan won practically every fight. Pyongyang (North Korea), the
Liadong Peninsula (China), and the Pescadores Islands were all taken over by them (Taiwan).
In 1895, the Chinese accepted defeat and on April 17th signed the Treaty of Shimonoseki with
Japan.
After being alarmed that Japan's easy victory, Russia persuaded Germany and France to order
Japan to return Leo Dong to China which Japan reluctantly agreed to. Over the next 10 years the
hostility with Russia continued to simmer and in 1904 it turned into war.
The Japanese Admiral Togo Heihachiro launched a surprise attack on Port Arthur in 1904,
following the collision in the second Japanese war. The Russian response was tardy because the
trans-Siberian railway could not accommodate a large number of troops. The Russians were
slowed by weeks of fighting when they arrived in Manchuria. The Russian fleets were sunk by
the Admirals in 1905, and the Russians surrendered. The Treaty of Portsmouth was arranged by
the United States. The tsar's authority was challenged by a Russian revolution, while a public in
Japan protested, believing that their success deserved additional land. The West was stunned yet
again by Japan's win.
Japan in World War One
Japan fought alongside the Allies during World War One. The Japanese industry sold weaponry
and other goods to the allies during the war. Many allies thought Japan was not contributing its
fair share and was pursuing a personal agenda. Japan punished China with the "21 demands,"
which were aimed to expand Japanese control of the Chinese economy, bolstered by its allied
power status. Japan won nothing in terms of a definitive settlement of its demands, as well as
last-minute prestige and faith in its allies, the United Kingdom and the United States.
The worldwide community established the League of Nations in 1919 with the goal of
safeguarding world peace. Japan proposed a racial equality clause in which all members,
regardless of color or nationality, would be treated similarly. Several countries vetoed the plan,
mostly due to the threat it posed to their own immigration rules and limits.
2nd PDF
Life before the shoguns
Humans first settled Japan roughly 30000 years ago, according to archaeologists. Groups of
settlers from the adjacent mainland continent began to arrive in Japan over time. Because Japan
is made up of several islands, each of which is heavily forested, many separate groups of settlers
founded isolated villages.
Japan is a chain of islands in the Pacific Ocean formed by the peaks of underwater mountain
ranges. Crops commonly grown were soya beans, wheat, barley, and Millet These crops form
the basis of the traditional Japanese diet. Archaeological evidence suggests that people traveled
to the Japanese islands around 30,000 BCE. These people were followed by a second group of
settlers in around 14,000 BCE.
On Japan's islands, small, independent communities and states arose over time. These states were
made up of many clans, which were groups of households tied by blood or marriage. Each clan
had its own set of gods that they worshipped. Each clan was commanded by a group of warrior
chiefs who, in exchange for a share of the crops collected each year, safeguarded the people.
The Rise of the Emperor
One Japanese clan, the Yamato clan, became more dominant than all others in the 5th century
CE. During this time, a way of societal organization was formed. A centralized government was
established, as well as a revenue system. The most significant alteration was the installation of an
emperor (a supreme ruler)
The Yamato rulers
The Yamato clan developed to govern much of southern Japan, as well as the central islands of
Honshu, during the 5th century. To preserve this region, they constructed formidable military
forces. The Yamato leaders' land was divided into provinces, each of which was governed by a
junior clan head. Despite the fact that warlords controlled Japan, a system arose that recognized
Yamato Chief as the highest authority. Clan heads all over Japan were compelled to
acknowledge the emperor's superiority and make payments to him to demonstrate their loyalty.
Centralized government
Prince Shotoku, a Yamato Prince who ruled from 593 to 621 was a key figure in establishing a
centralized government and strengthening the control of the Yamato clan. After him, in 646, the
emperor Kotoku introduced a series of reforms which further train did the centralized
government. In 710 the city of Nara was established as the first official capital of Japan and the
emperor's palace was built there.
That Heian period
In 794, emperor Kammu moved the capital from Nara to a new city Heian- Kyo, which remained
the Japanese capital for the next 1000 years. The Heian period was the time in which the emperor
began to lose control.
The imperial court
Although he was the supreme ruler, the emperor did not involve himself in the day to day
running of the country. During the he and period, the imperial court was dedicated to the finer
arts and their learning, both of which flourished. Men who belong to the court had little contact
with the outside world unless they were appointment as the governor of a province. Physical
activities included archery and kemari.
The emperor's power weakens
In 806, after the death of emperor Khamal a series of weaker emperors ruled over Japan. There
rain resulted in the central government being increasingly removed from the daily governing of
the provinces. Noble families who owned show in (large ruler estates) became increasingly
wealthy and powerful, and they collected taxes from peasants or living on the Shoen. They also
built private armies in order to protect their land, which were made up of samurai. Eventually the
emperor became dependent on private armies for support, which marked the beginning of
Shogun rule in Japan.
The city of Heian- Kyo
Heian- Kyo was a planned city established in 794 by emperor. Today it's known as Kyoto. It set
in a secluded valley surrounded by wooden hills. The city's southern gate Rashomon, marked the
entrance to the plant city. East and West markets concentrated all trade in two parts of the city
for ease of access and taxation. Nobles lived in large, Chinese- style homes with wooden walls,
polished wooden walls and tiled roofs. The imperial palace was made up of four large
rectangular walled enclosures. Within this enclosure was a separate walled compound where the
emperor lived, knows as the inner palace. He was often kept isolated and remained under
constant guard. He was kept entertained with poetry, music, rituals.
The shogunates
As the power of the emperor and the imperial court became the weekend, and the heads of
Japan's noble families became increasingly powerful people. By the middle of the 12th century,
two powerful clans controlled most of Japan; they were known as the Taira and Minamoto.
These two clients became particularly powerful by supporting factions at the emperor's court.
Over the next 25 years, the Taira and Minamoto clans fought for control over Kyoto and the
emperor. By 1185, the Minamoto clan had captured go to and defeated the Terra. After the
defeat, the leader of Minamoto clan, Minamoto no Yoritomo, allowed the emperor to retain his
title, but stripped him of any authority to rule over the people of Japan.
The ruling families of Japan during the Shogun era of the
Kamakura shogunate Was from 1185 ( 1192 )- 1333 their capital city was Kamakura and their
period was Kamakura.
The imperial family was from 1333 up until 1336 and their capital city was Kyoto and their
period was called the Kenmu restoration.
The Ashikaga shogunate was from 1336 up until 1573 and their capital city was also Kyoto and
their period was called Muromadi
The Nobunaga shogun was ruling from 1573 up until 1582 and his capital city was Azuchi and
his Period was called Azuchi- Momoyama
The Hideyoshi shogun ruled from 1582 up until 1589 his capital city was Kyoto and his period
Was also called Azuchi- Momoyama
And the Tokugawa shogunate ruled from 1603 up until 1868 their capital city was Tokyo and
their period was called Tokugawa (Edo)
Kamakura shogunate
In 1185, Minamoto no Yoritomo formed the military government at its base in the city of
Kamakura. In 1192, the emperor died, giving Yoritomo another chance to increase control of
him. He forced the imperial court to recognize his position within the title of Seii Tai Shogun.
The deal meant that while Yoritomo would retain his symbolic position and receive some
protection, Yoritomo would rule on his behalf. The Minamoto no Eureka moment introduces the
feudal system throughout Japan, which is similar to one in much of medieval Europe. For the
next 700 years, various shoguns of various principals ruled Japan, while the emperor and his
court remained isolated with no royal power.
One of the most significant event during the Kamakura shogunate was Kublai Khan's attempted
conquest of Japan. From the beginning of the 13th century the size of the Mongol empire in
Central Asia grew dramatically having already conquered China and Korea. The Mongol leader
Kublai Khan (the son of Genghis Khan) planned an invasion of Japan. Kublai Khan wanted to
bring Japan under his control in order to expand his empire and increase his power. He was also
eager to collect taxes from the Japanese people and plunder their treasures. In 1274, the Mongol
army totaling 40,000 men set sail from Korea in nearly 900 ships bound for Japan. The Mongol
army far outnumbered the Japanese samurai. As the Mongol soldiers rested on their ships that
night, a storm hit, sinking around 200 ships and drowning about 13,000 men. Seven years later in
1281 they returned for a second time and the same fate hit them. The Japanese believed that their
gods protected them from the Mongols and the scent Buddhism became very popular. The
Japanese called the two storms kamikaze meaning divine wind.
Kenmu restoration
Prior to the planned Mongol invasion, victorious samurai were rewarded with valuables for their
service in battle. In 1333, the common emperor was able to rally his disgruntled samurai troops,
who believed that their seniors had not been properly compensated. The rehabilitation, however,
was only temporary. Ashikaga Takauji seized control and established his own shogunate in 1336.
Ashikaga shogunate
The new shogunate Ashikaga Takauji re-established Kyoto as the capital and constructed a new
palace in the Muromachi neighborhood. This is why the Muromachi period in Japanese history is
referred to as such. Local daimyos' influence was expanded under the Ashikaga shogunate's
control. The Ashikaga shogunate lost authority as weaker leaders rose to power. Japan was in a
perpetual state of civil war from 1467 until 1573. Some historians refer to this time as the
Warring States Period.
The warrior order Nobunaga took control of Kyoto and became the new shogun in 1573, after a
century of civil war with daimyo killing each other across Japan and poor leadership from the
Ashikaga. Until 1582, he ruled. Nobunaga re-centralized political control in Kyoto and expelled
any daimyos he suspected of betraying him. His army proved to be an unstoppable force against
more traditional samurai armies, and his battles helped him take control of a third of Japan. After
his generals revolted against him, he committed seppuku in 1582, when he was on the edge of
defeat.
One of Nobunaga's primary commanders, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, became the new shogun in 1582.
In Japan, he resumed his reunification efforts, seizing control of the islands of Shikoku and
Kyushu. In 1603 during an unsuccessful invasion of Korea, he or she was murdered. The Azuchi
Momoyama period gets its name from combining the names of two castles: Azuchi and
Momoyama.
Minamoto no Yoritomo
During the late 11th and early 12th century warlords from the Minamoto and Taira clans began
to participate more and more in the politics of the imperial court stop after two conflicts in 1156
and 1159 in Kyoto, the Taira succeeded in replacing the Fujiwara as the most powerful clan in
Japan. In 1180 Minamoto no Yoritomo and other Minamoto clan leaders decided to rise up
against the Tirah clan in Kyoto. The war lasted five years and the Minamoto clan won.
Even in his own group, Yoritomo had always desired power and was jealous, skeptical, and cold-
hearted. He assassinated several members of his family whom he perceived as possible threats,
but once in power, he proved to be a superb leader. In exchange for their allegiance and Army
service, he established a feudal system with his supporters, providing them with safety and land.
The imperial court granted him power to designate his adherents to administer the provinces after
1185. As a result, each province's Lords wielded significant military power. They were dubbed
daimyo. Minamoto ruled from 1192 to 1199 before succumbing to a terrible illness, yet the
feudal system of government he founded lasted for seven centuries.
The life of a samurai
The rituals and training began at age 5, they learned special techniques for fighting, reading,
writing and much more. By the age of 15 they finished their training which was recognized at a
formal ceremony.
The Bushuido code, which was focused on honor, loyalty, respect, and discipline, was followed
by Samurai. If a samurai was defeated in battle or dishonored in any other way, he was
compelled by the code to execute seppuku, or ritual suicide. Benevolence (showing kindness),
preparation (mental and physical health), organization (efficiency), respect for others and their
friends were all part of the Bushuido code (always doing the right thing).
Armor was created by lacing together pieces of leather and iron using silk thread, and it weighed
less than 10 kilograms. Helmets often carried horns to scare opponents an identify a member of a
particular clan. Samurai had long and short cowards, which became a symbol of status. Most
samurai also carried bows and arrows, and by 1500s they also carried guns.
Warfare took place in the open with strict rules on fighting. Each samurai had to cut off the,
carry them back to camp and give them to their daimyo. Later they simply collected noses for
more ease. Most towns built across Japan during the role of the shoguns were made from wood.
By 1615 over 200 castles had been built all over Japan by daimyo who were eager to display
their wealth.
Comparing samurai to European Knights
In many aspects, samurai were identical to medieval European knights. Nights functioned within
the feudal system, swearing loyalty and duty to Lord. They provide the horses and armor, as well
as the weaponry. They were schooled from the age of seven until they were eighteen, when they
vowed loyalty to a Lord or a Lady. Nights followed a chivalric code that was nearly identical to
the Bushuido code.
Changes to cities
Other changes that took place in Japan under the shoguns relocated to the construction of cities,
common development of agricultural and environmental policies
From 1603, canals were built in order to deliver clean water and the drain marshland. Extensive
road networks were built for Damian. By 1721 the feudal town of Edo had become the largest
city in the world with over a million residents
Small farming groups were guaranteed land to cultivate and daimyo looked at methods to
increase productivity on their land. These methods included the increase use of fertilizers and
helps listing crops twice a year. These improvements enable the rice production to move from
small levels to commercial levels.
Japan developed an advanced forest management policy during the Edo period. In Japan, wood
has traditionally been a key building material as well as a primary source of energy. The demand
for timber increased as cities grew, resulting in widespread deforestation, flooding, and soil
erosion. Individual ownership of forested land was prohibited under Tokugawa. Timber
harvesting had dropped by 60% by 1724 and remained low for the next 30 years.
Changes in arts and culture
During Edo period there was also great cultural growth in Japan. The arts were seen as
expressions of learning and education. During the Kamakura. When Zen Buddhism was
spreading into Japan, members of the imperial court and students of Buddhism who traveled to
China returned with souvenir plants known as penjing. In fact, the bonsai remains popular to this
day. The roots and branches of bonsai trees are continually trimmed to make them look as
natural as possible.
The Japanese created distinctive forms of poetry to capture the beauty of nature, and the joy and
sadness of life. One of the oldest forms of Japanese poetry is the unrhymed poetry called a
tanaka. From Tonka they developed reuja and haiku.
Japanese word origami is made up of two smaller words ori (to fold) and kami (paper). It began
in the 6th century when monks started carrying paper from China to Japan.
Martial arts
Zen Buddhism, Samurai believed, would help them strengthen their intellect and body so that
they could work together when needed. Martial arts or combat sports are used by Zen Buddhists
to learn to regulate their bodies.