1. What were the characteristics & causes of Japanese feudalism?
Essential Question:
What were the characteristics & causes of Japanese feudalism?
Warm-Up Question:
What foreign group ruled China during the Qing Dynasty?
What two major challenges did China face during Kangxi’s reign as emperor of China?
40a - describe the policies of the Tokugawa and Qing rulers, to include Oda Nobunaga and Kangxi
42b - examine absolutism through a comparison of the reigns of Louis XIV, Czar Peter the Great, and Tokugawa Ieyasu

2. Geography of Japan
Japan is a series of islands off the coasts of Korea & China
Like Greece, Japan was divided by mountains & had few areas for farming
Before 400 A.D., Japan was not a unified nation but was ruled by hundreds of different family clans
The Growth of Japanese Civilization
Japan’s island location shaped the growth of its civilization. About 120 miles of water separates Japan from its closest neighbor, Korea, and 500 miles of water separates Japan from China. The Japanese were close enough to feel the civilizing effect of China. Yet they were far enough away to be reasonably safe from invasion.
The Geography of Japan
About 4,000 islands make up the Japanese archipelago (AHR•kuh•PEHL•uh•GOH), or island group, that extends in an arc more than 1,200 miles long. Historically, most Japanese people have lived on the four largest islands: Hokkaido (hah•KY•doh), Honshu (HAHN•shoo), Shikoku (shee•KAW•koo), and Kyushu (kee•OO•shoo). Japan’s geography has both advantages and disadvantages. Southern Japan enjoys a mild climate with plenty of rainfall. The country is so mountainous, however, that only about 12 percent of the land is suitable for farming. Natural resources such as coal, oil, and iron are in short supply. During the late summer and early fall, strong tropical storms called typhoons occur. Earthquakes and tidal waves are also threats.
Japan’s island location provided protection from Chinese & Mongol invasions…
…but Japan was close enough to borrow cultural ideas from China

3. Amaterasu: Sun Goddess
Japan’s isolation gave rise to a unique Japanese culture, most specifically the Shinto religion
Shinto is a polytheistic religion based on the respect of nature & ancestor worship
Shinto worshipers believed in divine spirits called kami that live in nature
Early Japan
The first historic mention of Japan comes from Chinese writings of the first century B.C. Japan at this time was not a united country. Instead, hundreds of clans controlled their own territories. Each clan worshiped its own nature gods and goddesses. In different parts of Japan, people honored thousands of local gods. Their varied customs and beliefs eventually combined to form Japan’s earliest religion. In later times, this religion was called Shinto (SHIHN•toh), meaning “way of the gods.” Shinto was based on respect for the forces of nature and on the worship of ancestors. Shinto worshipers believed in kami, divine spirits that dwelled in nature. Any unusual or especially beautiful tree, rock, waterfall, or mountain was considered the home of a kami.
The Yamato Emperors
By the A.D. 400s, the Yamato clan had established itself as the leading clan. The Yamato claimed to be descended from the sun goddess Amaterasu. By the seventh century, the Yamato chiefs called themselves the emperors of Japan. The early emperors did not control the entire country, or even much of it, but the Japanese gradually accepted the idea of an emperor. Although many of the Yamato rulers lacked real power, the dynasty was never overthrown. When rival clans fought for power, the winning clan claimed control of the emperor and then ruled in the emperor’s name. Japan had both an emperor who served as a figurehead and a ruling power who reigned behind the throne. This dual structure became an enduring characteristic of Japanese government.
Japanese Culture
During the 400s, the Japanese began to have more and more contact with mainland Asia. They soon came under the influence of Chinese ideas and customs, which they first learned about from Korean travelers.
Buddhism in Japan
One of the most important influences brought by Korean travelers was Buddhism. In the mid-700s, the Japanese imperial court officially accepted Buddhism in Japan. By the eighth or ninth century, Buddhist ideas and worship had spread through Japanese society. The Japanese, however, did not give up their Shinto beliefs. Some Buddhist rituals became Shinto rituals, and some Shinto gods and goddesses were worshiped in Buddhist temples.
Cultural Borrowing from China
Interest in Buddhist ideas at the Japanese court soon grew into an enthusiasm for all things Chinese. The most influential convert to Buddhism was Prince Shotoku (shoh•toh•ku), who served as regent for his aunt, the empress Suiko. (A regent is someone who rules when a monarch is absent, ill, or too young to rule.) In 607, Prince Shotoku sent the first of three missions to China. His people studied Chinese civilization firsthand. Over the next 200 years, the Japanese sent many such groups to learn about Chinese ways. The Japanese adopted the Chinese system of writing. Japanese artists painted landscapes in the Chinese manner. The Japanese also followed Chinese styles in the simple arts of everyday living, such as cooking, gardening, drinking tea, and hairdressing. For a time, Japan even modeled its government on China’s. Prince Shotoku planned a strong central government like that of the Tang rulers. He also tried to introduce China’s civil-service system. However, this attempt failed. In Japan, noble birth remained the key to winning a powerful position. Unlike China, Japan continued to be a country where a few great families held power. The Japanese adapted Chinese ways to suit their own needs. While they learned much, they still retained their own traditions. Eventually, the Japanese imperial court decided it had learned enough from Tang China. In the late ninth century, it ended formal missions to the Tang Empire, which had fallen into decline. Although Chinese cultural influence would remain strong in Japan, Japan’s own culture was about to bloom.
The most important of the Shinto gods is the sun goddess who gave light to the world
Amaterasu: Sun Goddess

4. As Japan had more contact with Asia, it adopted Chinese culture & ideas
Unlike China, Japanese emperors often did not have power over clan leaders; Japan often had an emperor figurehead & a clan ruler with true power
Japan adopted the Chinese idea of an emperor & rule by dynasties; The first Japanese emperor was said to have descended from the sun goddess
The Yamato Emperors
By the A.D. 400s, the Yamato clan had established itself as the leading clan. The Yamato claimed to be descended from the sun goddess Amaterasu. By the seventh century, the Yamato chiefs called themselves the emperors of Japan. The early emperors did not control the entire country, or even much of it, but the Japanese gradually accepted the idea of an emperor. Although many of the Yamato rulers lacked real power, the dynasty was never overthrown. When rival clans fought for power, the winning clan claimed control of the emperor and then ruled in the emperor’s name. Japan had both an emperor who served as a figurehead and a ruling power who reigned behind the throne. This dual structure became an enduring characteristic of Japanese government.
Japanese Culture
During the 400s, the Japanese began to have more and more contact with mainland Asia. They soon came under the influence of Chinese ideas and customs, which they first learned about from Korean travelers.
Buddhism in Japan
One of the most important influences brought by Korean travelers was Buddhism. In the mid-700s, the Japanese imperial court officially accepted Buddhism in Japan. By the eighth or ninth century, Buddhist ideas and worship had spread through Japanese society. The Japanese, however, did not give up their Shinto beliefs. Some Buddhist rituals became Shinto rituals, and some Shinto gods and goddesses were worshiped in Buddhist temples.
Cultural Borrowing from China
Interest in Buddhist ideas at the Japanese court soon grew into an enthusiasm for all things Chinese. The most influential convert to Buddhism was Prince Shotoku (shoh•toh•ku), who served as regent for his aunt, the empress Suiko. (A regent is someone who rules when a monarch is absent, ill, or too young to rule.) In 607, Prince Shotoku sent the first of three missions to China. His people studied Chinese civilization firsthand. Over the next 200 years, the Japanese sent many such groups to learn about Chinese ways. The Japanese adopted the Chinese system of writing. Japanese artists painted landscapes in the Chinese manner. The Japanese also followed Chinese styles in the simple arts of everyday living, such as cooking, gardening, drinking tea, and hairdressing. For a time, Japan even modeled its government on China’s. Prince Shotoku planned a strong central government like that of the Tang rulers. He also tried to introduce China’s civil-service system. However, this attempt failed. In Japan, noble birth remained the key to winning a powerful position. Unlike China, Japan continued to be a country where a few great families held power. The Japanese adapted Chinese ways to suit their own needs. While they learned much, they still retained their own traditions. Eventually, the Japanese imperial court decided it had learned enough from Tang China. In the late ninth century, it ended formal missions to the Tang Empire, which had fallen into decline. Although Chinese cultural influence would remain strong in Japan, Japan’s own culture was about to bloom.
Japan tried, but failed, to model the Chinese examination system for gov’t officials

5. Japanese landscape art Japanese architecture Japanese writing
Japan adopted Confucianism & blended Chinese styles of writing, architecture, & art
Chinese landscape art
The Yamato Emperors
By the A.D. 400s, the Yamato clan had established itself as the leading clan. The Yamato claimed to be descended from the sun goddess Amaterasu. By the seventh century, the Yamato chiefs called themselves the emperors of Japan. The early emperors did not control the entire country, or even much of it, but the Japanese gradually accepted the idea of an emperor. Although many of the Yamato rulers lacked real power, the dynasty was never overthrown. When rival clans fought for power, the winning clan claimed control of the emperor and then ruled in the emperor’s name. Japan had both an emperor who served as a figurehead and a ruling power who reigned behind the throne. This dual structure became an enduring characteristic of Japanese government.
Japanese Culture
During the 400s, the Japanese began to have more and more contact with mainland Asia. They soon came under the influence of Chinese ideas and customs, which they first learned about from Korean travelers.
Buddhism in Japan
One of the most important influences brought by Korean travelers was Buddhism. In the mid-700s, the Japanese imperial court officially accepted Buddhism in Japan. By the eighth or ninth century, Buddhist ideas and worship had spread through Japanese society. The Japanese, however, did not give up their Shinto beliefs. Some Buddhist rituals became Shinto rituals, and some Shinto gods and goddesses were worshiped in Buddhist temples.
Cultural Borrowing from China
Interest in Buddhist ideas at the Japanese court soon grew into an enthusiasm for all things Chinese. The most influential convert to Buddhism was Prince Shotoku (shoh•toh•ku), who served as regent for his aunt, the empress Suiko. (A regent is someone who rules when a monarch is absent, ill, or too young to rule.) In 607, Prince Shotoku sent the first of three missions to China. His people studied Chinese civilization firsthand. Over the next 200 years, the Japanese sent many such groups to learn about Chinese ways. The Japanese adopted the Chinese system of writing. Japanese artists painted landscapes in the Chinese manner. The Japanese also followed Chinese styles in the simple arts of everyday living, such as cooking, gardening, drinking tea, and hairdressing. For a time, Japan even modeled its government on China’s. Prince Shotoku planned a strong central government like that of the Tang rulers. He also tried to introduce China’s civil-service system. However, this attempt failed. In Japan, noble birth remained the key to winning a powerful position. Unlike China, Japan continued to be a country where a few great families held power. The Japanese adapted Chinese ways to suit their own needs. While they learned much, they still retained their own traditions. Eventually, the Japanese imperial court decided it had learned enough from Tang China. In the late ninth century, it ended formal missions to the Tang Empire, which had fallen into decline. Although Chinese cultural influence would remain strong in Japan, Japan’s own culture was about to bloom.
Chinese architecture
Chinese writing
Japanese landscape art
Japanese architecture
Japanese writing

6. In the mid-700s Buddhism was introduced in Japan from China & Korea
Buddhism was accepted by Japanese emperors, but in Japanese society, Buddhism & Shinto blended
An example of religious blending was Zen Buddhism
Japanese Culture
During the 400s, the Japanese began to have more and more contact with mainland Asia. They soon came under the influence of Chinese ideas and customs, which they first learned about from Korean travelers.
Buddhism in Japan
One of the most important influences brought by Korean travelers was Buddhism. In the mid-700s, the Japanese imperial court officially accepted Buddhism in Japan. By the eighth or ninth century, Buddhist ideas and worship had spread through Japanese society. The Japanese, however, did not give up their Shinto beliefs. Some Buddhist rituals became Shinto rituals, and some Shinto gods and goddesses were worshiped in Buddhist temples.
Cultural Borrowing from China
Interest in Buddhist ideas at the Japanese court soon grew into an enthusiasm for all things Chinese. The most influential convert to Buddhism was Prince Shotoku (shoh•toh•ku), who served as regent for his aunt, the empress Suiko. (A regent is someone who rules when a monarch is absent, ill, or too young to rule.) In 607, Prince Shotoku sent the first of three missions to China. His people studied Chinese civilization firsthand. Over the next 200 years, the Japanese sent many such groups to learn about Chinese ways. The Japanese adopted the Chinese system of writing. Japanese artists painted landscapes in the Chinese manner. The Japanese also followed Chinese styles in the simple arts of everyday living, such as cooking, gardening, drinking tea, and hairdressing. For a time, Japan even modeled its government on China’s. Prince Shotoku planned a strong central government like that of the Tang rulers. He also tried to introduce China’s civil-service system. However, this attempt failed. In Japan, noble birth remained the key to winning a powerful position. Unlike China, Japan continued to be a country where a few great families held power. The Japanese adapted Chinese ways to suit their own needs. While they learned much, they still retained their own traditions. Eventually, the Japanese imperial court decided it had learned enough from Tang China. In the late ninth century, it ended formal missions to the Tang Empire, which had fallen into decline. Although Chinese cultural influence would remain strong in Japan, Japan’s own culture was about to bloom.

7. Classical Japan during the Heian Period
From , Japan entered a classical era during the Heian Period ?
During this time, the imperial gov’t was strong & Japan experienced an era of peace and prosperity
Japan developed a “golden age” in poetry, art, & literature
Life in the Heian Period
In the late 700s, the imperial court moved its capital from Nara to Heian, the modern Kyoto. Many of Japan’s noble families also moved to Heian. Among the upper class in Heian, a highly refined court society arose. This era in Japanese history, from 794 to 1185, is called the Heian period. Gentlemen and ladies of the court filled their days with elaborate ritual and artistic pursuits. Rules dictated every aspect of court life—the length of swords, the color of official robes, forms of address, even the number of skirts a woman wore. Etiquette was also extremely important. Laughing aloud in public, for example, was frowned upon. And everyone at court was expected to write poetry and to paint. The best accounts of Heian society come from the diaries, essays, and novels written by the women of the court. One of the finest writers of the period was Lady Murasaki Shikibu. Lady Murasaki’s 11th-century masterpiece, The Tale of Genji, is an account of the life of a prince in the imperial court. This long prose narrative is considered the world’s first novel.

8. Outlaws attacked farmers & pirates attacked the coast
Japanese Feudalism
By the mid-1000s, the imperial gov’t grew weak, regional landowners gained power, & Japan became lawless & dangerous ?
Outlaws attacked farmers & pirates attacked the coast
Feudalism Erodes Imperial Authority
During the Heian period, Japan’s central government was relatively strong. However, this strength was soon to be challenged by great landowners and clan chiefs who acted more and more as independent local rulers.
Decline of Central Power
For most of the Heian period, the rich Fujiwara family held the real power in Japan. By about the middle of the 11th century, however, the power of the central government and the Fujiwaras began to slip. Large landowners living away from the capital set up private armies. The countryside became lawless and dangerous. Armed soldiers on horseback preyed on farmers and travelers, and pirates took control of the seas. For safety, farmers and small landowners traded parts of their land to strong warlords in exchange for protection. With more land, the lords gained more power. This marked the beginning of a feudal system of localized rule like that of ancient China and medieval Europe.
Samurai Warriors
Since wars between rival lords were commonplace, each lord surrounded himself with a bodyguard of loyal warriors called samurai (SAM•uh•RY). (Samurai means “one who serves.”) Samurai lived according to a demanding code of behavior called Bushido (BUSH•ih•DOH), or “the way of the warrior.” A samurai was expected to show reckless courage, reverence for the gods, fairness, and generosity toward those weaker than himself. Dying an honorable death was judged more important than living a long life.
The Kamakura Shogunate
During the late 1100s, Japan’s two most powerful clans fought for power. After almost 30 years of war, the Minamoto family emerged victorious. In 1192, the emperor gave a Minamoto leader named Yoritomo the title of shogun, or “supreme general of the emperor’s army.” In effect, the shogun had the powers of a military dictator. Following tradition, the emperor still reigned from Kyoto. (Kyoto was rebuilt on the ruins of Heian, which had been destroyed in war.) However, the real center of power was at the shogun’s military headquarters at Kamakura (KAHM•uh•KUR•uh). The 1200s are known in Japanese history as the Kamakura shogunate. The pattern of government in which shoguns ruled through puppet emperors lasted in Japan until The Kamakura shoguns were strong enough to turn back the two naval invasions sent by the great Mongol ruler Kublai Khan in 1274 and However, the Japanese victory over the Mongols drained the shoguns’ treasury. Loyal samurai were bitter when the government failed to pay them. The Kamakura shoguns lost prestige and power. Samurai attached themselves more closely to their local lords, who soon fought one another as fiercely as they had fought the Mongols.
Rival clans competed for power & threw Japan into a series of civil wars

9. Quick Class Discussion: Based on these images, how were Japanese & European feudal systems similar?

10. Japanese Feudalism As a result, Japan developed a feudal system
Farmers traded land to strong warlords called daimyo who offered protection
Daimyo were served by loyal warriors called samurai
For safety, farmers and small landowners traded parts of their land to strong warlords in exchange for protection. With more land, the lords gained more power. This marked the beginning of a feudal system of localized rule like that of ancient China and medieval Europe.
Samurai Warriors
Since wars between rival lords were commonplace, each lord surrounded himself with a bodyguard of loyal warriors called samurai (SAM•uh•RY). (Samurai means “one who serves.”) Samurai lived according to a demanding code of behavior called Bushido (BUSH•ih•DOH), or “the way of the warrior.” A samurai was expected to show reckless courage, reverence for the gods, fairness, and generosity toward those weaker than himself. Dying an honorable death was judged more important than living a long life.
The Kamakura Shogunate
During the late 1100s, Japan’s two most powerful clans fought for power. After almost 30 years of war, the Minamoto family emerged victorious. In 1192, the emperor gave a Minamoto leader named Yoritomo the title of shogun, or “supreme general of the emperor’s army.” In effect, the shogun had the powers of a military dictator. Following tradition, the emperor still reigned from Kyoto. (Kyoto was rebuilt on the ruins of Heian, which had been destroyed in war.) However, the real center of power was at the shogun’s military headquarters at Kamakura (KAHM•uh•KUR•uh). The 1200s are known in Japanese history as the Kamakura shogunate. The pattern of government in which shoguns ruled through puppet emperors lasted in Japan until The Kamakura shoguns were strong enough to turn back the two naval invasions sent by the great Mongol ruler Kublai Khan in 1274 and However, the Japanese victory over the Mongols drained the shoguns’ treasury. Loyal samurai were bitter when the government failed to pay them. The Kamakura shoguns lost prestige and power. Samurai attached themselves more closely to their local lords, who soon fought one another as fiercely as they had fought the Mongols.
The emperor had little power

11. Japanese Feudalism
Samurai warriors were usually relatives or dependents of daimyo, although some were hired warriors called Ronin
Samurai warriors lived by a code of Bushido which demanded courage, loyalty, deity, fairness, & honor
Samurai Warriors
Since wars between rival lords were commonplace, each lord surrounded himself with a bodyguard of loyal warriors called samurai (SAM•uh•RY). (Samurai means “one who serves.”) Samurai lived according to a demanding code of behavior called Bushido (BUSH•ih•DOH), or “the way of the warrior.” A samurai was expected to show reckless courage, reverence for the gods, fairness, and generosity toward those weaker than himself. Dying an honorable death was judged more important than living a long life.
Samurai were skilled swordsmen, but also used horses & guns (after the arrival of Europeans)

12. In 1192, the first shogun was named by the emperor
Japanese Feudalism
In 1192, the first shogun was named by the emperor
Text
The emperor remained in place, but the shogun held real power & ruled as military dictators
Shoguns’ power varied over time, but the pattern of gov’t controlled by a shogun lasted until 1867
The Kamakura Shogunate
During the late 1100s, Japan’s two most powerful clans fought for power. After almost 30 years of war, the Minamoto family emerged victorious. In 1192, the emperor gave a Minamoto leader named Yoritomo the title of shogun, or “supreme general of the emperor’s army.” In effect, the shogun had the powers of a military dictator. Following tradition, the emperor still reigned from Kyoto. (Kyoto was rebuilt on the ruins of Heian, which had been destroyed in war.) However, the real center of power was at the shogun’s military headquarters at Kamakura (KAHM•uh•KUR•uh). The 1200s are known in Japanese history as the Kamakura shogunate. The pattern of government in which shoguns ruled through puppet emperors lasted in Japan until The Kamakura shoguns were strong enough to turn back the two naval invasions sent by the great Mongol ruler Kublai Khan in 1274 and However, the Japanese victory over the Mongols drained the shoguns’ treasury. Loyal samurai were bitter when the government failed to pay them. The Kamakura shoguns lost prestige and power. Samurai attached themselves more closely to their local lords, who soon fought one another as fiercely as they had fought the Mongols
A New Feudalism Under Strong Leaders
In 1467, civil war shattered Japan’s old feudal system. The country collapsed into chaos. Centralized rule ended. Power drained away from the shogun to territorial lords in hundreds of separate domains.
Local Lords Rule
A violent era of disorder followed. This time in Japanese history, which lasted from 1467 to 1568, is known as the Sengoku, or “Warring States,” period. Powerful samurai seized control of old feudal estates. They offered peasants and others protection in return for their loyalty. These warrior chieftains, called daimyo (DYE•mee•oh), became lords in a new kind of Japanese feudalism. Daimyo meant “great name.” Under this system, security came from this group of powerful warlords. The emperor at Kyoto became a figurehead, having a leadership title but no actual power. The new Japanese feudalism resembled European feudalism in many ways. The daimyo built fortified castles and created small armies of samurai on horses. Later they added foot soldiers with muskets (guns) to their ranks. Rival daimyo often fought each other for territory. This led to disorder throughout the land.

13. Closure Activity
Who were the military leaders, landowners, & warriors in medieval Europe & feudal Japan?
How were they alike?
How were they different?

14. Name three ways Japanese feudalism was similar to European feudalism.
Essential Question:
What roles did Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, & Tokugawa Ieyasu, play in unifying Japan?
Warm-Up Question:
Name three ways Japanese feudalism was similar to European feudalism.
40a - describe the policies of the Tokugawa and Qing rulers, to include Oda Nobunaga and Kangxi
42b - examine absolutism through a comparison of the reigns of Louis XIV, Czar Peter the Great, and Tokugawa Ieyasu

15. From 1560 to 1600 , three powerful daimyo, known as the three unifiers, began to restore order & unify Japan
Oda Nobunaga
Toyotomi Hideyoshi
Tokugawa Ieyasu
New Leaders Restore Order
A number of ambitious daimyo hoped to gather enough power to take control of the entire country. One, the brutal and ambitious (oh•dah noh•boo•nah•gah), defeated his rivals and seized the imperial capital Kyoto in Following his own motto “Rule the empire by force,” Nobunaga sought to eliminate his remaining enemies. These included rival daimyo as well as wealthy Buddhist monasteries aligned with them. In 1575, Nobunaga’s 3,000 soldiers armed with muskets crushed an enemy force of samurai cavalry. This was the first time firearms had been used effectively in battle in Japan. However, Nobunaga was not able to unify Japan. He committed seppuku, the ritual suicide of a samurai, in 1582, when one of his own generals turned on him.

16. By the time of his death in 1582, Japan was not unified
From 1560 to 1600 , three powerful daimyo, known as the three unifiers, began to restore order & unify Japan
Oda Nobunaga
Toyotomi Hideyoshi
Tokugawa Ieyasu
In 1568, a brutal daimyo named Oda Nobunaga conquered the Japanese capital of Kyoto
Oda seized power by force, was the first to use guns effectively, & eliminated Buddhist rivals that refused to accept rule by the emperor
New Leaders Restore Order
A number of ambitious daimyo hoped to gather enough power to take control of the entire country. One, the brutal and ambitious (oh•dah noh•boo•nah•gah), defeated his rivals and seized the imperial capital Kyoto in Following his own motto “Rule the empire by force,” Nobunaga sought to eliminate his remaining enemies. These included rival daimyo as well as wealthy Buddhist monasteries aligned with them. In 1575, Nobunaga’s 3,000 soldiers armed with muskets crushed an enemy force of samurai cavalry. This was the first time firearms had been used effectively in battle in Japan. However, Nobunaga was not able to unify Japan. He committed seppuku, the ritual suicide of a samurai, in 1582, when one of his own generals turned on him.
The first of the unifiers, Oda Nobunaga, came from obscurity and gained fame by conquering his neighbors and making clever alliances. By 1568, Nobunaga conquered the capital of Kyoto, posing as the protector of the emperor and champion of Ashikaga Yoshiaki, who claimed to be the rightful shogun. Nobunaga placed him as shogun, but gave him strict orders to only follow his command. He then left the city and continued to conquer territory and consolidate his power as much as possible. However, Nobunaga was assassinated at age 49 before accomplishing his goal of unifying Japan. His main contribution to the unification of Japan were his attacks on the Buddhist opposition, ending their independence from the government, seizing their land (and weapons) and placing government agents in charge of them.
By the time of his death in 1582, Japan was not unified

17. From 1560 to 1600 , three powerful daimyo, known as the three unifiers, began to restore order & unify Japan
Oda Nobunaga
Toyotomi Hideyoshi
Tokugawa Ieyasu
Oda Nobunaga’s best general was Toyotomi Hideyoshi who took over after Oda’s death
Toyotomi was resourceful & not ruthless like Oda; He used political alliances, adoption, & marriage to gain power over the daimyo
Nobunaga’s best general, Toyotomi Hideyoshi (toh•you•toh•mee hee•deh•yoh• shee), continued his fallen leader’s mission. Hideyoshi set out to destroy the daimyo that remained hostile. By 1590, by combining brute force with shrewd political alliances, he controlled most of the country. Hideyoshi did not stop with Japan. With the idea of eventually conquering China, he invaded Korea in 1592 and began a long campaign against the Koreans and their Ming Chinese allies. When Hideyoshi died in 1598, his troops withdrew from Korea.
Toyotomi Hideyoshi was known for his resourcefulness, rather than ruthlessness. After Nobunaga’s death, his young grandson was named heir, with four regents ruling until the boy was old enough to rule. Hideyoshi was one of Nobunaga’s trusted generals, rising from little renoun to ruling Kyoto. Within three years of being named regent, Hideyoshi controlled the regiion and the Oda family. He also began the tradition of daimyo sending their families to the court to serve as both noble attendants and hostages. Despite his success, Oda Nobunaga’s remaining son remained suspicious of Hideyoshi and allied himself with Tokgawa Ieyasu. The two sides were equally matched in battle, keeping a stalemate. Eventually, Hideyoshi sent Tokugawa Ieyasu his mother and sister as hostages, making peace with him and securing him as a vassal. Of the three unifiers, Toyotomi Hideyoshi used feudal ties, adoption and marriage to help him maintain control of Japan.
By 1590, Toyotomi Hideyoshi controlled most of Japan & tried unsuccessfully to conquer Korea

18. From 1560 to 1600 , three powerful daimyo, known as the three unifiers, began to restore order & unify Japan
Oda Nobunaga
Toyotomi Hideyoshi
Tokugawa Ieyasu
After Toyotomi ‘s death in 1598, one of his daimyo allies named Tokugawa Ieyasu completed the unification of Japan in 1600
In 1603, Tokugawa became shogun of Japan, moved to capital to Edo (later called Tokyo), & restored gov’t & order to Japan
Tokugawa Shogunate Unites Japan
One of Hideyoshi’s strongest daimyo allies, Tokugawa Ieyasu (toh•koo•gah•wah ee•yeh•yah•soo), completed the unification of Japan. In 1600, Ieyasu defeated his rivals at the Battle of Sekigahara. His victory earned him the loyalty of daimyo throughout Japan. Three years later, Ieyasu became the sole ruler, or shogun. He then moved Japan’s capital to his power base at Edo, a small fishing village that would later become the city of Tokyo. Japan was unified, but the daimyo still governed at the local level. To keep them from rebelling, Ieyasu required that they spend every other year in the capital. Even when they returned to their lands, they had to leave their families behind as hostages in Edo. Through this “alternate attendance policy” and other restrictions, Ieyasu tamed the daimyo. This was a major step toward restoring centralized government to Japan. As a result, the rule of law overcame the rule of the sword. Ieyasu founded the Tokugawa Shogunate, which would hold power until On his deathbed in 1616, Ieyasu advised his son, Hidetada, “Take care of the people. Strive to be virtuous. Never neglect to protect the country.” Most Tokugawa shoguns followed that advice. Their rule brought a welcome order to Japan.
The final unifier of Japan, Tokugawa Ieyasu, unlike the previous unifiers, was eventually named shogun and truly ruled Japan. He gained power after being named as a regent for Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s five-year old son. The next year, the most respected of the regents died and Ieyasu marched against the child heir at Osaka Castle. Eventually, Tokugawa Ieyasu, won control of Japan at the Battle of Sekigahara, which he killed or captured all of his opposition. He was named shogun in 1603 and ruled Japan until 1615 when he retired. In 1614, Tokugawa finally marched against the heir of Toyotomi Hideoyoshi, now twenty years old, at Osaka Castle. The seige lasted a year, resulting in the total destruction of the entire Toyotomi family.
Tokugawa ruled until 1615, but he created a line of succession called the Tokugawa Shogunate that ruled Japan until 1867

19. For more than 250 years, Tokugawa’s successors ruled Japan as shoguns
Tokugawa Shogunate
During this time, Japan benefited from peace; The economy boomed & became more commercial
For more than 250 years, Tokugawa’s successors ruled Japan as shoguns
Life in Tokugawa Japan
Japan enjoyed more than two and a half centuries of stability, prosperity, and isolation under the Tokugawa shoguns. Farmers produced more food, and the population rose. Still, the vast majority of peasants, weighed down by heavy taxes, led lives filled with misery. The people who prospered in Tokugawa society were the merchant class and the wealthy. However, everyone, rich and poor alike, benefited from a flowering of Japanese culture during this era.
Society in Tokugawa Japan
Tokugawa society was very structured. (See Feudalism feature on page 361.) The emperor had the top rank but was just a figurehead. The actual ruler was the shogun, who was the supreme military commander. Below him were the daimyo, the powerful landholding samurai. Samurai warriors came next. The peasants and artisans followed them. Peasants made up about four-fifths of the population. Merchants were at the bottom, but they gradually became more important as the Japanese economy expanded. In Japan, as in China, Confucian values influenced ideas about society. According to Confucius, the ideal society depended on agriculture, not commerce. Farmers, not merchants, made ideal citizens. In the real world of Tokugawa Japan, however, peasant farmers bore the main tax burden and faced more difficulties than any other class. Many of them abandoned farm life and headed for the expanding towns and cities. There, they mixed with samurai, artisans, and merchants. By the mid-1700s, Japan began to shift from a rural to an urban society. Edo had grown from a small village in 1600 to perhaps the largest city in the world. Its population was more than one million. The rise of large commercial centers also increased employment opportunities for women. Women found jobs in entertainment, textile manufacturing, and publishing. Still, the majority of Japanese women led sheltered and restricted lives as peasant wives. They worked in the fields, managed the household, cared for the children, and obeyed their husband without question.

20. Tokugawa Shogunate
European merchants & missionaries first arrived in Japan in the mid-1500s
Tokugawa enjoyed trade with Europeans & was fascinated to learn about their military, new technologies, & ideas
Contact Between Europe and Japan
Europeans began coming to Japan in the 16th century, during the Warring States period. Despite the severe disorder in the country, the Japanese welcomed traders and missionaries, from Portugal and, later, other European countries. These newcomers introduced fascinating new technologies and ideas. Within a century, however, the aggressive Europeans had worn out their welcome.
Portugal Sends Ships, Merchants, and Technology to Japan
The Japanese first encountered Europeans in 1543, when shipwrecked Portuguese sailors washed up on the shores of southern Japan. Portuguese merchants soon followed. They hoped to involve themselves in Japan’s trade with China and Southeast Asia. The Portuguese brought clocks, eyeglasses, tobacco, firearms, and other unfamiliar items from Europe. Japanese merchants, eager to expand their markets, were happy to receive the newcomers and their goods. The daimyo, too, welcomed the strangers. They were particularly interested in the Portuguese muskets and cannons, because every daimyo sought an advantage over his rivals. The Japanese purchased weapons from the Portuguese and soon began their own production. Firearms forever changed the time-honored tradition of the Japanese warrior, whose principal weapon had been the sword. Some daimyo recruited and trained corps of peasants to use muskets. Many samurai, who retained the sword as their principal weapon, would lose their lives to musket fire in future combat. The cannon also had a huge impact on warfare and life in Japan. Daimyo had to build fortified castles to withstand the destructive force of cannonballs. (See the photograph of Himeji Castle on page 543.) The castles attracted merchants, artisans, and others to surrounding lands. Many of these lands were to grow into the towns and cities of modern Japan, including Edo (Tokyo), Osaka, Himeji, and Nagoya.
Christian Missionaries in Japan
In 1549, Christian missionaries began arriving in Japan. The Japanese accepted the missionaries in part because they associated them with the muskets and other European goods that they wanted to purchase. However, the religious orders of Jesuits, Franciscans, and Dominicans came to convert the Japanese. Francis Xavier, a Jesuit, led the first mission to Japan. He wrote that the Japanese were “very sociable. . . and much concerned with their honor, which they prize above everything else.” Francis Xavier baptized about a hundred converts before he left Japan. By the year 1600, other European missionaries had converted about 300,000 Japanese to Christianity. The success of the missionaries upset Tokugawa Ieyasu. He found aspects of the Christian invasion troublesome. Missionaries, actively seeking converts, scorned traditional Japanese beliefs and sometimes involved themselves in local politics. At first, Ieyasu did not take any action. He feared driving off the Portuguese, English, Spanish, and Dutch traders who spurred Japan’s economy. By 1612, however, the shogun had come to fear religious uprisings more. He banned Christianity and focused on ridding his country of all Christians. Ieyasu died in 1616, but repression of Christianity continued off and on for the next two decades under his successors. In 1637, the issue came to a head. An uprising in southern Japan of some 30,000 peasants, led by dissatisfied samurai, shook the Tokugawa shogunate. Because so many of the rebels were Christian, the shogun decided that Christianity was at the root of the rebellion. After that, the shoguns ruthlessly persecuted Christians. European missionaries were killed or driven out of Japan. All Japanese were forced to demonstrate faithfulness to some branch of Buddhism. These policies eventually eliminated Christianity in Japan and led to the formation of an exclusion policy.
The Closed Country Policy
The persecution of Christians was part of an attempt to control foreign ideas. When Europeans first arrived, no central authority existed to contain them. The strong leaders who later took power did not like the introduction of European ideas and ways, but they valued European trade. As time passed, the Tokugawa shoguns realized that they could safely exclude both the missionaries and the merchants. By 1639, they had sealed Japan’s borders and instituted a “closed country policy.”
Japan in Isolation
Most commercial contacts with Europeans ended. One port, Nagasaki, remained open to foreign traders. But only Dutch and Chinese merchants were allowed into the port. Earlier, the English had left Japan voluntarily; the Spanish and the Portuguese had been expelled. Since the Tokugawa shoguns controlled Nagasaki, they now had a monopoly on foreign trade, which continued to be profitable. For more than 200 years, Japan remained basically closed to Europeans. In addition, the Japanese were forbidden to leave, so as not to bring back foreign ideas. Japan would continue to develop, but as a self-sufficient country, free from European attempts to colonize or to establish their Presence. Europeans had met with much resistance in their efforts to open the East to trade. But expansion to the West, in the Americas, as you will learn in Chapter 20, would prove much more successful for European traders, missionaries, and colonizers.

21. Tokugawa Shogunate
Between1549 & 1600, European missionaries had converted 300,000 Japanese to Christianity
This upset Tokugawa because the missionaries ignored Japanese cultural beliefs & laws
In 1612, Tokugawa banned Christianity & began ruthlessly persecuting Christians
Christian Missionaries in Japan
In 1549, Christian missionaries began arriving in Japan. The Japanese accepted the missionaries in part because they associated them with the muskets and other European goods that they wanted to purchase. However, the religious orders of Jesuits, Franciscans, and Dominicans came to convert the Japanese. Francis Xavier, a Jesuit, led the first mission to Japan. He wrote that the Japanese were “very sociable. . . and much concerned with their honor, which they prize above everything else.” Francis Xavier baptized about a hundred converts before he left Japan. By the year 1600, other European missionaries had converted about 300,000 Japanese to Christianity. The success of the missionaries upset Tokugawa Ieyasu. He found aspects of the Christian invasion troublesome. Missionaries, actively seeking converts, scorned traditional Japanese beliefs and sometimes involved themselves in local politics. At first, Ieyasu did not take any action. He feared driving off the Portuguese, English, Spanish, and Dutch traders who spurred Japan’s economy. By 1612, however, the shogun had come to fear religious uprisings more. He banned Christianity and focused on ridding his country of all Christians. Ieyasu died in 1616, but repression of Christianity continued off and on for the next two decades under his successors. In 1637, the issue came to a head. An uprising in southern Japan of some 30,000 peasants, led by dissatisfied samurai, shook the Tokugawa shogunate. Because so many of the rebels were Christian, the shogun decided that Christianity was at the root of the rebellion. After that, the shoguns ruthlessly persecuted Christians. European missionaries were killed or driven out of Japan. All Japanese were forced to demonstrate faithfulness to some branch of Buddhism. These policies eventually eliminated Christianity in Japan and led to the formation of an exclusion policy.
The Closed Country Policy
The persecution of Christians was part of an attempt to control foreign ideas. When Europeans first arrived, no central authority existed to contain them. The strong leaders who later took power did not like the introduction of European ideas and ways, but they valued European trade. As time passed, the Tokugawa shoguns realized that they could safely exclude both the missionaries and the merchants. By 1639, they had sealed Japan’s borders and instituted a “closed country policy.”
Japan in Isolation
Most commercial contacts with Europeans ended. One port, Nagasaki, remained open to foreign traders. But only Dutch and Chinese merchants were allowed into the port. Earlier, the English had left Japan voluntarily; the Spanish and the Portuguese had been expelled. Since the Tokugawa shoguns controlled Nagasaki, they now had a monopoly on foreign trade, which continued to be profitable. For more than 200 years, Japan remained basically closed to Europeans. In addition, the Japanese were forbidden to leave, so as not to bring back foreign ideas. Japan would continue to develop, but as a self-sufficient country, free from European attempts to colonize or to establish their Presence. Europeans had met with much resistance in their efforts to open the East to trade. But expansion to the West, in the Americas, as you will learn in Chapter 20, would prove much more successful for European traders, missionaries, and colonizers.
All Japanese were forced to be faithful to Buddhism
Execution of Christians

22. Japanese Isolationism
Tokugawa shoguns decided to exclude foreign merchants & missionaries
By 1639, Japan adopted a “closed country policy” & ended almost all foreign contacts
The Closed Country Policy
The persecution of Christians was part of an attempt to control foreign ideas. When Europeans first arrived, no central authority existed to contain them. The strong leaders who later took power did not like the introduction of European ideas and ways, but they valued European trade. As time passed, the Tokugawa shoguns realized that they could safely exclude both the missionaries and the merchants. By 1639, they had sealed Japan’s borders and instituted a “closed country policy.” Most commercial contacts with Europeans ended. One port, Nagasaki, remained open to foreign traders. But only Dutch and Chinese merchants were allowed into the port. Earlier, the English had left Japan voluntarily; the Spanish and the Portuguese had been expelled. Since the Tokugawa shoguns controlled Nagasaki, they now had a monopoly on foreign trade, which continued to be profitable. For more than 200 years, Japan remained basically closed to Europeans. In addition, the Japanese were forbidden to leave, so as not to bring back foreign ideas. Japan would continue to develop, but as a self-sufficient country, free from European attempts to colonize or to establish their Presence. Europeans had met with much resistance in their efforts to open the East to trade. But expansion to the West, in the Americas, as you will learn in Chapter 20, would prove much more successful for European traders, missionaries, and colonizers.

23. Nagasaki Bay Deshima Dutch Ships Japan
Japanese isolation remained in place for over 200 years until the 1850s
During this era of isolation, Japan had profitable trade, became self-sufficient, limited foreign ideas, & reduced Europe’s ability to colonize Japan
Deshima
Dutch Ships
By 1639, they had sealed Japan’s borders and instituted a “closed country policy.” Most commercial contacts with Europeans ended. One port, Nagasaki, remained open to foreign traders. But only Dutch and Chinese merchants were allowed into the port. Earlier, the English had left Japan voluntarily; the Spanish and the Portuguese had been expelled. Since the Tokugawa shoguns controlled Nagasaki, they now had a monopoly on foreign trade, which continued to be profitable. For more than 200 years, Japan remained basically closed to Europeans. In addition, the Japanese were forbidden to leave, so as not to bring back foreign ideas. Japan would continue to develop, but as a self-sufficient country, free from European attempts to colonize or to establish their Presence. Europeans had met with much resistance in their efforts to open the East to trade. But expansion to the West, in the Americas, as you will learn in Chapter 20, would prove much more successful for European traders, missionaries, and colonizers.
Japan
One Japanese port at Deshima in Nagasaki Bay remained open but only to Dutch & Chinese merchants

24. Closure Activity Who was the best emperor?
Use your notes to complete the chart
When finished, rank order the emperors from best to worst
Write a comment about who is the best emperor & give reasons why
Pass your paper to the person sitting to your right; They will write comment #2; Pass papers until all comments are filled