Japan Under Shoguns Flashcards
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Who founded the Tokugawa Shogunate, and in which year?
Tokugawa Ieyasu founded the Tokugawa Shogunate in 1603.
What title was Tokugawa Ieyasu granted to mark his authority?
He was granted the title of ‘shogun.’
How long did the Tokugawa Shogunate rule Japan?
The Tokugawa Shogunate ruled from 1603 to 1868.
What was the political structure in Japan during the Tokugawa period?
Japan was a feudal society with a strict hierarchy, where the shogun held real power and the emperor was a symbolic figure.
What were the duties of the daimyo under the Tokugawa Shogunate?
Daimyo governed their own domains, collected taxes, and provided military support to the shogun.
How did Tokugawa Ieyasu consolidate his power over the daimyo?
He placed restrictions on the daimyo, including controlling marriage alliances, limiting their armies, and implementing the ‘sankin kotai’ system.
What were the four main social classes in Tokugawa Japan’s feudal system?
The classes were warriors (samurai), peasants, artisans, and merchants.
Who held symbolic power in the Japanese feudal system?
The emperor held symbolic power, while the shogun wielded actual control.
What role did the samurai play in Tokugawa society?
Samurai served as warriors and administrators for their daimyo and the shogun.
What was the purpose of the “sankin kotai” system?
It required daimyo to spend alternate years in Edo to reduce the likelihood of rebellion and keep them under control.
Which class was considered the lowest in the feudal hierarchy, and why?
Merchants, as they did not produce anything valuable like food or goods and were perceived to only profit from others’ work.
What restrictions were placed on the daimyo by the shogun?
Daimyo couldn’t marry or build castles without shogun approval, and they had to spend alternating years in Edo.
Why were merchants viewed as the lowest class, despite some becoming wealthy?
They did not produce food or goods and were thought to contribute less to society compared to peasants or artisans.
How did the “sankin kotai” system help prevent rebellions?
By keeping daimyo financially strained and their families in Edo, it reduced the resources they could use for potential uprisings.
What was Japan’s policy towards foreigners and foreign influence during the Tokugawa era?
Japan adopted a strict isolation policy, restricting almost all foreign contact and trade.
Which foreign nations were permitted to trade with Japan under isolation?
Only the Dutch and the Chinese were allowed limited trade in Nagasaki.
What effect did Christianity have on the Tokugawa Shogunate’s policies?
The spread of Christianity was seen as a threat to the shogunate’s authority and was banned.
Why did the shogunate view Christianity as a threat?
They feared it could undermine the power of traditional religions, and that foreign influence could destabilize society.
How did the Tokugawa shoguns limit the influence of foreign nations?
They issued edicts banning Christianity, restricted foreign travel, and allowed only minimal contact with specific nations.
Why were the Portuguese expelled while the Dutch were allowed to remain?
The Portuguese were expelled due to their combination of trade and missionary work, whereas the Dutch focused on trade only.
What was the significance of Commodore Perry’s visit to Japan in 1853?
It pressured Japan to end its isolation and eventually led to the signing of trade treaties with the United States.
How did the Japanese initially respond to American demands in 1853?
They asked for time to consider and tried to delay an agreement, but Perry returned with a larger fleet, forcing negotiation.
What internal issues contributed to the Tokugawa Shogunate’s decline?
Economic difficulties, unrest among the samurai, and the growing power of the merchant class created instability.
What changes in social roles caused unrest among the samurai and merchants?
Samurai lost their military role and struggled financially, while merchants grew wealthy and desired more influence.
