Japan Limits Western Contacts Setting the stage:

1467-1568: “Warring States” period.

Daimyo: warrior-chieftains who employed samurai

The daimyos fought each other for control of the country

First Attempts at Unification Oda Nobunaga: seized the

imperial capital Kyoto Used firearms effectively during

battle for the first time in Japan Committed seppuku after betrayed by

his own general.

Toyotomi Hideyoshi: Nobunaga’s best general Through force and alliances he

controlled most of Japan He invaded Korea and began long

campaign against Korea and Ming dynasty in China

Died without being victorious

Tokugawa Shogunate Tokugawa Ieyasu: ally of

Hideyoshi who unified Japan Defeated enemies at the Battle of

Sekigahara. Became shogun (leader) of Japan Moved his capital to Edo, which later

became Tokyo

Reforms: Forced daimyo to spend every other

year in Tokyo Had to leave their family in Edo as

hostages Result was rule of law over rule by

sword

Tokugawa Society Peace meant greater production of

food. Merchants class became rich but

peasant farmers still led difficult lives.

Confucian ideas were important in Japan but led to different results than in China Farmers were heavily taxed, and

people flocked to cities Cities grew, and Edo’s population was

greater than one million in 1600.

Culture: Kabuki: elaborate costumes, dance,

mime concerned with urban life Haiku: poetry that presented ideas.

It had a very particular structure. Basho: greatest Haiku poet.

Japan and Europe 1543: Portuguese sailors wash up

onto Japan. Japan is interested in the outsiders. Portuguese traders bring eyeglasses,

tobacco, and clocks to Japanese markets

Daimyo were interested in European firearms and cannons.

Christian missionaries arrived alongside merchants Francis Xavier: led the first mission to

convert Japanese The missionaries were successful:

300,000 converts by 1600.

Ieyasu reacts to the success by banning Christianity in 1612.

In 1637 there was a rebellion by peasants against the government Many of the peasants were Christians

therefore the government persecuted Christians eliminated the religion in Japan.

Closed Country Policy Japan eventually closes off their

country to outsiders One port (Nagasaki) is left open to

Chinese and Dutch ships Japanese government has monopoly

on foreign trade This isolation exists for over 200

years