C: Japan 13. Japan Under the Shogun p. 282

Question 1

What was happening in Japan before the Edo period?

Answer 1

constant warfare for 100 years

daimyo (powerful and noble landowners) competed with one another for territory and power

Question 2

Edo period dates (Japan)

Answer 2

1600-1868

Edo was the capital and the Tokugawa shogun were the rulers.

Edo is present-day Tokyo.

Question 3

Who is the shogun?

Answer 3

the military ruler of Japan

Question 4

ronin

Answer 4

warriors without a master

Question 5

What is the story of 47 ronin?

Answer 5

Timeframe: Edo Japan

• the shogun sent for Lord Asano and other nobles to meet with a representative of the emperor
• Asano was insulted repeatedly by Lord Kira (since Lord Kira was not paid enough for tutoring Asano in the correct way to behave) and so Asano cut off Lord Kira’s arm
• Asano knew his punishment was death, so he killed himself under order of the shogun
• Lord Asano’s 47 samurai became ronin and having lost their position in society and out of loyalty to their master, they killed Lord Kira, but then realized that they had to kill themselves (their duty).
• They are buried in the Sengakuji Temple in Tokyo and remembered as heroes in Japan.

This is one of the most important Japanese stories.

Question 6

Tokugawa Ieyasu

Answer 6

Became the most powerful man in Japan having defeated many rival daimyo and generals in a great battle

The emperor made him a shogun

Although the emperor ruled the land, the shogun held all the power

Question 7

What is alternate attendance for the daimyo? (Japan)

Answer 7

every second year the daimyo were forced to live in Edo

This was done by Tokugaea Ieyasu (the shogun) because the daimyo had once fought against him, so he needed to inconvenience them so they had no time to plot against him and try to kill him.

Question 8

What government did Tokugawa Ieyasu create?

Answer 8

bakuhan system of two levels of government

shogunate: held control of foreign trade and relations

daimyo: controlled local affairs in their territory

Question 9

How was Japan made stable after the 100 years of war?

Answer 9

Tokugawa Ieyasu created:
- alternate attendance
- sharing power
- strict laws (including making the daimyo pay for their own roads restricting their wealth, and regulating dress and marriage; heavy punishment for those who disobeyed)

Question 10

What kinds of disturbances still occurred during Edo Japan?

Answer 10

• peasant disturbances
• riots

these occurred because of food shortages

However, Tokugawa shogun maintained control over Japan.

Question 11

What are the three levels of Japanese society?

Answer 11

1. emperor
2. nobility
3. samurai (warrior class, like the knights of the European feudal system) (ronin were the lowest class of samurai)
4. peasants, artisans, merchants

women did not have legal existence and could not own property

samurai were forbidden to trade or do business; instead they surveyed land, collected taxes, and kept order in times of peace

membership was determined by birth, known as hereditary membership to the class

Question 12

What system did Japan use?

Answer 12

Feudal system based on land

Local lords controlled domains and they supported themselves by collecting taxes from peasant farmers

Question 13

Where did the samurai live?

Answer 13

In castle towns controlled by the shogun or daimyo they served

Question 14

Who was allowed to have a sword?

Answer 14

only the samurai

Question 15

start again on page 303