C: Japan 14. Edo Japan, A Closed Society p. 304 Flashcards
In the early 1500s, Japan welcomed the Portuguese traders. How did their attitude change over time?
By the late 1500s and early 1600s the ruling shogun considered foreigners a threat to his military control. If the daimyo acquired European weapons, they might challenge the shogun’s authority.
By 1848, when Ranald MacDonald entered Japan, foreign ships were being fired on and driven away.
Christianity was associated with foreigners, so it was also a threat.
In 1614, how did the shogun respond to rumours about takeover plots by foreigners?
He ordered all Christian missionaries to leave the country.
Churches were destroyed.
Japanese Christians who refused to give up their new faith faced execution.
This lasted until 1640; in that time about 70 missionaries were put to death, and many thousands of Japanese Christians were also put to death.
Who was the most defiant when it came to giving up Christianity?
The daimyos or the ronin and pesants?
The ronin and peasants were the most defiant.
How did missionaries continue to come into Japan?
They disguised as traders.
Exclusion / Isolation laws
- All Christian missionaries and foreign traders were forced to leave Japan. Newcomers were no longer allowed to enter
- The Japanese were not allowed to go abroad
- Ships large enough to make long voyages were not permitted to be built and existing ones were destroyed
- Japanese who were out of the country were forbidden to return
- Christian messages were banned and scientific books were forbidden since they had foreign origin
Could people travel easily in Japan after the exclusion laws were passed?
No,
- they had to get special documents to travel from one domain to another
- a curfew was instituted to stop people moving at night
- wheeled transport was banned
Which traders were still allowed to stay in Japan?
Dutch, Korean, and Chinese
The Dutch were only allowed on a small island in the harbour of the city of Nagasaki
How were the Dutch treated by the Japanese?
They were to have very limited contact, for example, not being allowed to speak with the servants.
Once a year, the Dutch had to go to Edo to pay their respects to the shogun and stay for three months. This was an expensive trip they had to pay for.
start again at
p. 312
Dutch scholars
- a small group of Japanese scholars that learned about Dutch medicine and Dutch language
- they were also directed to learn about Western ways
Who else was told to learn Dutch?
- the sons of samurai were also sent by their daimyo to study Dutch language
What books were allowed to be imported into Japan around 1720?
- European books were now allowed, so long as they did not include Christianity
In 1744, what study was encouraged and what was built in Edo to help further that study?
Did everyone get exposed to these new ideas from the West?
The shogun encouraged the study of astronomy and had an observatory built in Edo.
No, most Japanese were not exposed to the new ideas of the West. The shogun feared that these ideas might confuse them and make them forget that they owed absolute obedience to him.
How did Japan preserve peace, safety, security, harmony, and respect ?
- Life was controlled by rigid rules.
- People could not move between social classes (controlled by birth)
- little personal freedom
What did the Japanese feel was important, despite the rigid rules?
Leisure time and opportunities for personal expression and enjoyment of the arts, sports, entertainment, and crafts
But they also valued peace, safety, security, harmony and respect that the rigid rules preserved.
Economically, how was Japan doing in the 1700s?
Factors furthering the economy:
- Farmers were able to grow two crops in one season, so food was plentiful.
- Trade within the country was good because the daimyo financed road improvements
- population was increasing in urban centres
- silver and gold was introduced as currency
Factors holding the economy of Japan back:
- little foreign trade
- overtaxing peasants
- still using rice for payment
