Tokugawa Japan - Brief Look

1. Japan
15th
to 17th
centuries

3. Before the1500s,
Civil wars between daimyo, or
rulers, led to political
fragmentation and a feudal period
in Japan.
European arrival led the
Japanese to adopt weapons (and
trade goods) of Europe

4. Japan in the 1500s
Christian missionaries,
converted thousands
with support from many
daimyo.

5. The Tokugawa Shogunate
The Tokugawa
family gained
enough power
to “unify” most
daimyos.
(The Tokugawa
family would
rule Japan into
the 1800s)

7. La Casa del Tokugawa

8. Tokugawa Japan
The long tradition of the
samurai continued.
Shoguns no longer
needed Christian
support against
Buddhists
The Shoguns did not
need European firearms
or goods.

9. Tokugawa Japan
The Tokugawa shoguns
discouraged the use of firearms and
severely limited European trade.
Christian missionaries were
outlawed and Christians were
persecuted.

10. Self-Imposed Isolation (mid 17th
c
Foreign traders were only allowed in
a few cities (Dutch and Chinese only)
Japanese could not travel abroad
Western books were banned
School of National Learning
promoted Japanese identity

11. Keeping an eye on the “hairy
barbarians”
For the next centuries, the Japanese
elite kept contact with developments
in Europe through trade contacts
with the Dutch.

12. Japan flourished in isolation
Increased
centralization and
improved
bureaucracy of the
central government
based in Edo (Tokyo)
Improved
infrastructure and
education

13. Japan flourished in isolation
Merchants, artisans,
and manufacturers
increased their wealth
and power in internal
trade.
Urban areas grew in
population and status
Cultural life flourished

14. Kabuki Theater

15. Block printing