The Tokugawa Shoguns in Japan Explain how the Tokugawa Shoguns came to power Discuss why Japan’s rulers sought to isolate their nation from foreign influence Identify characteristics of society and culture under the Tokugawa Shogunate Describe how Japanese isolation was brought to an end

Founding the Tokugawa  1467 rival branches of the Ashikaga family in Japan became involved in a dispute over the next shogun  Sensing the division, local daimyo fought for control over the country  Three daimyo emerged victorious: Oda Nobunaga, Toyotmi Hideyoshi and Tokugawa leyasu

Founding the Tokugawa Shogunate  Oda Nobunaga  Began his rise to power as a minor daimyo  He conquered Kyoto through conquests and alliances  One of his local land holders attacked him and the wounded Nobunaga committed suicide

Founding the Tokugawa Shogunate  Toyotomi Hideyoshi  Succeeded Nobunaga  To keep power, Hideyoshi weakened rivals by reducing their territory  He invaded Korea in 1597  He had early success, but assistance from the Chinese army pushed Hideyoshi’s warriors to the coast  When Hideyoshi died in 1598, Japan left Korea and returned home

Founding the Tokugawa Shogunate  Tokugawa leyasu  Hideyoshi’s most powerful vassal succeeded him as overlord  Established the capital at Edo ( now Tokyo)  He crushed and defeated rivals  The Tokugawa family would keep the title of shogun for 250 years

Founding the Tokugawa Shogunate  Tokugawa Rule  Cross between feudalism and a central monarchy  Within each domain, a daimyo governed as absolute ruler  Japan remained politically and economically decentralized  To control the daimyo, Tokugawa forced them to live in Edo keeping their families hostage at home

Foreign Contact  The Portuguese (1550’s)  Brought two new items: muskets & Christianity  Samurai disapproved of muskets because it violated Samurai fighting ethics  The Jesuits were successful in converting over 300,000 Japanese to Christianity

Foreign Contact  Close the Country  Shoguns saw Christianity as a threat to their rule  Forced Portuguese traders and missionaries to leave the country  The Dutch agreed to trade restrictions; therefore, were the only country allowed to trade with Japan after the 1630’s

Policy of Isolation  Tokugawa enforced other strict rules to keep Japan isolated from foreign influences:  Banned most overseas trade  Banned ship building  Japanese people were prohibited from traveling abroad  Like China, Japan concentrated on domestic affairs and ignored the outside world

Why would a government limit its people’s trade and contact with other nations?

Life in Tokugawa Japan  Social Classes  The Tokugawa shoguns adopted the Confucian ideal of social classes with some changes:  Samurai (replace the scholar gentry)  Peasants  Artisans  Merchants

Feudal Japan Confucian Classes

Life in Tokugawa Japan  A persons class was determined by birth  Example: a samurai became an official by hereditary alone

Would you like to live in a society where one’s status is determined by heritage?

The End of Japanese Isolation  Japan’s government refused to give shelter to ships from other countries during storms  This policy angered Westerners  1853, U.S. President Millard Fillmore sent Commodore Matthew Perry to negotiate a treaty that would guarantee the safety of U.S. sailors and open Japanese ports to U.S. trade President Fillmore Commodore Perry

The End of Japan’s Isolation  Treaty of Kanagawa  Fearing United States military power, the Shogun signed the treaty  The Japanese opened two ports to let Americans obtain fuel, shelter and supplies  Trade was permitted between the two nations

The End of Japan’s Isolation  After the Treaty of Kanagawa  Japan signed similar treaties with Great Britain, Russia and the Netherlands  Foreign nations were allowed to establish consulates—diplomatic offices headed by consuls

The End of Japan’s Isolation  Anti-Tokugawa forces criticized the government’s weak stance on foreign nations and strict rules at home  1860’s civil war broke out  Anti Tokugawa forces overthrew the shogunate in 1867  Restored power to the emperor  Japan was more of a centralized government Emperor Meiji

Close  Did Japan’s policy of isolation help or hinder its development?  Should the Tokugawa Shogun’s have signed the treaty of Kanagawa?

Homework  Prepare for quiz.  You will be allowed one note sheet