-
Period: Jan 1, 1450 to
Japan 1450-1900
Erik Alatalo
Meaghan Bransfield
Megan Priem -
Jan 1, 1467
Start of the Onin War
The Onin War started in 1476. This was a civil war brough on by economic decline, famine, and debate over succession. Yoshimasa did not leave an heir, which created concern over who would take the shogunate. There was a power struggle with the Ashikaga family. The war lasted until 1477, when neither side won but both had lost significant resources and could not continue fighting. -
Jan 1, 1549
St. Francis Xavier arrives in Japan
Primary Source Xavier brought Christianity to Japan. This led to the development of the Jesuit Order. Xavier's work had profound and long-lasting religious and political effects on Japan. -
Dec 31, 1573
End of the Muromachi Period
The Muromachi Period, which had begun in 1333, ended in 1573. This was the period when the Ashikaga family was in power. Warlord Oda Nobunaga made an effort to unify Japan by seizing Kyoto, bringing an end to the Ashikaga shogunate. -
Jan 1, 1574
Start of the Azuchi-Momoyama Period
The Momoyama period began in1574, and was an age of political unification under Oda Nobunaga. HIs successor was Toyotomi Hideyoshi. This was a very successful time in Japanese history. -
Start of Imjin War
Japan invaded Korea from 1592 to 1598. This was known as the Imjin, or Imjinwaeran. They invaded the Joseon dynasty, which, along with the help of the Ming dynasty, was ableto thwart Japanese efforts. The battle ended on November 19, 1598. -
Siege of Osaka
Ieyasu was to be the next shogun of Japan during the Tokugawa dynasty, but he wanted to make sure there were no threats to the throne. He, along with 200,000 men, went to the lavish Osaka castle built by deceased shogun Toyotomi Hideyoshi to destroy his son, Toyotomi Hideyori. Battle went on for two years, resulting in Ieyasu’s victory. -
Sakoku Edict of 1635
This was issued to restrict Christianity in Japan. The dislike for Christianity in Japan took off when Iemitsu, grandson of Ieyasu, proclaimed his desire for all Japanese to become Buddhist. As a way of protecting them from Christianity, Iemitsu forbade all Christians and missionaries to leave Japan to protect the Japanese from foreign influences. Japanese also must stay in the boundries of the nation. If practicing Christians were found, they would face death. -
Shimabara Rebellion
Christian peasants revolted against daimyo Matsukura Shigeharu because of the brutal treatment they were getting. Led by Amakusa Shiro, 23,000 rebels wanted to get their voices heard regarding religious persecution and unfair trea tment through attempts at capturing the castles of Shimabara and Tomioka, but eventually the rebels failed. -
Keian Uprising
Multiple ronin (samuri without a master) attempted a coup d’état against the Tokagawa shogunate because of the oppressive government that was being thrust over Japan. The ronin went to siege castles such as the Edo, Osaka, and Kyoto. They went against the young shogun Ietsuna as well, seeing as he was only a toddler. Ultimately the cout d’état failed, as the ronin did not have enough power to rebel against such a powerful state. -
Change in Currency
Before this time, Japan’s currency was largely based on rice. During the administration at this time, Japanese currency went through a series of changes. The new coinage system of this time period was now gold Shōtoku koban. -
Treaty of Amity and Commerce (United States–Japan)
This treaty between the United States and Japan was the first of several of the 'Unequal Treaties.' After military defeat to Matthew C. Perry, Japan had little choice but to accept this treaty, which opened port cities to American trade. It also led the way to more unqual treaties and the fall of the Tokugawa era. -
Meiji Restoration
As the Tokugawa Era came to an end amidst a civil war, the Tokugawa shogun (bakufu) resigned. Mutsuhito, or Meiji took over the government on January 3, 1868, leading a series of reforms known as the Meiji Restoration. These reforms completely changed the social and economic structure of Japan, allowing it to become an industrial power.
PRIMARY SOURCE: This Japanese drawing shows the new Meiji emperor moving from the old capital of Kyoto to the new Tokyo. -
Meiji Constitution
After exploring governments of other countries, Ito HIrobumi led the writing of a new constitution for Japan. It called for a constitutional monarchy with direct power returning to the emperor. It made extensive reform changes, lasting until the end of WWII. -
First Sino-Japanese War
This war, lasting from August 1, 1894 to April 17, 1895 was fought primarily between the Japanese and Qing Dynasty China, over the contorl of Korea. The military successes of the Japanese over the Chinese showed Japan's growing power after its reform period, as opposed to China's continued downfall. This loss would lead to revolutions in China. -
Russo-Japanese Wa
This war was fought from February 8, 1904 to September 5, 1905 between the Russians and the Japanese over the control of Manchuria and Korea. Japan would prove victorious, and its victory showcased Japan's new role as an powerful eastern industrial nation, defeating a the European western Russia.
