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Period: to
The Tokugawa era
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The Battle of Sekigahara
From his victory at the battle of Sekigahara, Ieyasu was appointed shogun in japan marking the beginning of an era of peace in japan after a warring period for almost 200 years
He implemented rules to keep the daimyo in check
(https://www.timetoast.com) -
The Christian Expulsion Edict
-Tokugawa Ieyasu banned all Christian missionaries and texts from Japan
-Because of this, Christianity would be much less important in Japan
-Trade would also be lessened by the edicts -
Sankin-Kotai
- it was officially enforced by the Shogunate forcing Daimyos to live in Edo on alternate years -when they were not in Edo their wives and Heirs would reside in Edo as hostages to be loyal to the Shogunate. -This created loyalty to the shogun and less chance of rebellion against Ieyasu -It also stimulated the economy in Edo
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Sakoku
-Sakoku (鎖国) is a policy of controlled and very limited external contact, for business or otherwise
-The shoguns put it in place to remove any western and colonial influence in japan -
Incident of the 47 Ronin
-Lord Asano, a young daimyo from a small rural domain was insulted by a court official and wounded him in retaliation. The shogun killed him as a punishment for breaking the law
-The samurai previously loyal to Asano were now Ronin, so they vowed revenge, decapitated the court official and paraded his head through the streets of Edo.
-Because of this moral dilemma, the line between honor and law was drawn in Japanese history and this would pave the way for more Ronin to come in the future -
First American Ship Reaches Japan
-The first American to reach Japan was John Kendrick of Boston, aboard the brigantine Lady Washington.
-Several American ships followed, all hired by the Dutch East India Company, from 1797-1809.
-Fearing British attacks, the Dutch often used American ships to disguise themselves and avoid hostilities.
-This opened up the opportunity for further American ships to enter japan which increases fear of invasion from western powers
-it also made it easier for western influencing -
American Merchant Ship Fired Upon
-The American merchant ship Morrison arrived in Japan ostensibly to repatriate shipwrecked Japanese sailors, but with the intent of establishing trade.
-They brought missionaries in and were forced to leave
-This increased hostilities and fears of invasion by America
-it also gave the opportunity for further technological advancement in japan with the introduction of gunpowder in more regular use -
Commodore Perry Demands Japan Open to Trade
-Commodore Matthew Perry led an expedition to open political relations between Japan and the United States.
-Forceful and arrogant, he refused to enter the foreigners' port of Nagasaki and went directly to Uraga
-Mounting sixty-one guns, Perry demanded that Japan open its ports to American trade.
-This really steepened fears of western invasion in japan
-it also demonstrated the technological superiority that the americans had over the japanese which would create even more fear -
the Treaty of Kanagawa
-Perry returned in February 1854 demanding that japan open up to trade or he will fire upon them
-due to the lack of a strong leader in the position of shogun, Perry's demands were met
-The Kanawaga Treaty provided assistance for shipwrecked American sailors, and opened two ports for coal and supplies.
- The treaty paved the way for diplomatic and trade missions from Europe, and the opening of Japan.
-This is considered to be the end of the Sakoku isolation period -
End of the Tokugawa Shogunate/Start of Meiji Restoration
-Tokugawa Yoshinobu's resignation marked the end of Tokugawa Shogunate's 268-year rule and the return of the emperor as Japan's supreme ruler.
-Edo was renamed Tokyo. The Meiji Restoration, heavily influenced by Japan's opening to Europe and the United States,
- It also saw the decline of the samurai warrior class and Japan's emergence into the modern era.
-Because of the connection with other countries, the technology advanced and japan became westernised to a higher degree
