Tokugawa Japan Quiz
What is Ganbatte?
"Do your best"; Japanese ethic of giving your all
What was Miyabi?
"Heartbreaker"; about eliminating anything that's vulgar
What was the class system in Tokugawa?
*Emperor → Figure head, sacred person, doesn't have much power (officially seen at the top BUT Shogun has the power)* 1. Shogun (or basically this class is all the samurais) → Lord of Daimyos, military commander in chief, the one who actually has the power in Japan *Samurai → warrior caste of soldiers (they serve Daimyos who ultimately serve the Shogun) 2. Peasants → farmers (to have them as second class is prettttyyyyy high) 3. Artisans → hand crafts are not viewed as high value 4. Merchants → seen as the scum of the earth, live off and make money off of other people's works
What did Nobunaga and Hideyoshi have in common?
-Both unable to eliminate power of local daimyo -Compelled to form alliances with some daimyo in order to destroy other more powerful rivals -Could not overcome Japanese tradition of decentralized rule
What were some effects and changes from the Meiji Restoration?
-Japan becomes a society modeled on Western practices (they borrowed technology, social systems, infrastructure, etc. from the Americans/Europeans). -Highly centralized, bureaucratic government -Constitution established an elected parliament -Well-developed transport and communication system -Highly educated population free of feudal class restrictions -An established and rapidly growing industrial sector based or latest technology -Power national army and navy (w/ compulsory service by all men) -Elimination of feudalism and a more fluid class system, allowing commoners to move up -Shift from Buddhism to SHINTO
Who was Tokugawa Ieyasu?
-Seized power + established government in Edo -Founder and first shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate. -NAMED himself Shogun (unlike previous two). -Completed restoration of central authority and remained in power until war destroyed system -Longest-lasting and most powerful shogun
Who was Toyotomi Hideyoshi?
-Succeeded Nobunaga, farmer's son who worked his way up the ranks to become military commander. -Located his capital in Osaka where he built a castle to accommodate his HQ and extended his power to southern islands. (1590) -Persuaded most daimyo on Japanese islands to accept his authority -He created a NATIONAL AUTHORITY. -Failed effort to invade Korea to export his rule to Asian mainland
What were the Japanese's initial reaction towards foreigners?
-Visitors initially welcomed because Japanese were curious and desired more knowledge and fascinated by -European goods (tobacco, clocks, etc.) -Local daimyo also interested in purchasing all types of European weapons and armaments -Nobunaga+Hideyoshi found new firearms very helpful in defeating enemies and unifying islands
What are some examples of Bushido rules?
1. Always be loyal to your lord (daimyo) 2. Always show courage (don't fear death) 3. Always show honor (only fight hand to hand combat b/c if it's gun or cannon then it's cowardly, commit suicide instead of being defeated) 4. Always use excellent swords
What led to Tokugawa Japan?
1. Decline in authority of Ashikaga shogunate @ Kyoto 2. Clan rivalries warring with each other 3. Local power frequently diffused (the daimyo's domain became just a little more than an allegiance to a manor lord)
What were the characteristics of Tokugawa?
1. Feudalism 2. Class System (samurais, daimyo, shogun, merchants) 3. Anti-foreign policy (isolationist)
What were the two options that Shogun had in his dilemma?
1. Revere the emperor, expel the foreigners, & ultimately preserve the traditional society/government 2. Take over the government completely (adopt foreigners' customs which will thus DESTROY Japanese culture and samurai)
Why did America want to start trading with Japan?
1. They sought trade with Japan 2. Wanted their coaling stations in Japan because it was the ideal place 3. Access to whale hunting 4. Safe haven for shipwrecked sailors
What happened with the expulsion of the Christians?
1587, Hideyoshi issued an edict prohibiting further Christian activities within his domains. He said that Japan was the "land of the Gods" and the destruction of shrines by foreigners was something unheard of. For the foreigners to corrupt and stir up the lower class was outrageous. Jesuits ordered to leave country BUT merchants allowed to stay.
What was Wabi-Sabi?
A Japanese "aesthetic." Beauty of things imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete; beauty of things modest, humble, and unconventional.
What is Bushido + who followed it?
A code of rules; Samurai practice Bushido very strictly
What is feudalism in the context of Tokugawa Japan?
A society organized by land ownership. Land=wealth, Crops (rice)=primary currency. Key families owned vast majority of land. Families needed defenders of their land (samurais) for the lords. Lords fought each other for land (before Shogun)
What was a geisha?
A traditional Japanese female entertainer who acted as hostesses and whose skills included performing various Japanese arts (NOT prostitutes instead cultural icons), took 5 years of training
Who was the actual political power given to in the Meiji government?
ACTUAL political power transferred to hands of small group of nobles and former samurai.
What were the direct effects on the samurai AFTER the Meiji Restoration?
All power/priveleges/status are taken away from the samurai. No longer using the official religion of the government and the samurais (Buddhism). Had to live in castle towns, but they could still wear 2 swords.
What was the Tozama Daimyo?
Class of larger, more independent lords that are usually more distant from center of shogunate power in Edo
What is the Fudai Daimyo?
Class of small daimyo that is directly subordinate to shogunate
What happened during the drought and how did it lead to the Samurai decline?
Drought resulted in 20 great famines (1675-1837) which thus increased urbanization. This led to the merchants gaining wealth and position. The drought was ALSO followed by crop shortages and starvation.
What were some reasons for the samurai decline?
Drought, samurai losing their power/position, samurai falling into hard times, increase in population, peasant unrest grew, disruption to the defined class system, economic activities spread, Westerner intrusions increasing
What were the economic activities that led to the samurai decline?
Economic activities went well beyond the restrictive nature of the guilds, and commerce spread and a money economy developed. Which resulted with a wealthy merchant class (when before, they were lowest)
What was the Emperor's role after Meiji?
Emperor still has no political power, he's viewed as symbol of Japanese culture and historical continuity. Westerners viewed Emperor as pretty much just a ceremonial figure.
What was Tatemae?
Every person=senior or junior; it is one's role appropriate face to the world. Language + interaction always reflect relative rank.
What is Otsukare?
Fatigue. Highly respected (in Japan) to work until exhaustion.
What was the Edo period?
Final period of traditional Japan, a time of internal peace, political stability and economic growth under shogunate. Last feudal Japanese military government (Same as Tokugawa)
Who was Francis Xavier?
First Jesuit missionary to arrive (1549) in Japan
Who was Moronobu?
First artist to popularize Ukiyo-e, first to begin to draw out the potential of the woodblock art. Basically monochrome, often hand painted.
Who was Harunobu (his style)?
First to produce full-color works of Ukiyo-e. Drew very fragile/dainty/elegant women that have elaborate kimono designs. Used a lot of black background.
What were the artists of Tokugawa art (Ukiyo-e) focused on?
Focused on the "pleasure quarters" and the courtesans, Sumo, and Kabuki actors. {Entertainment}
What was the Emperor Meiji government?
Formed by politicians of the Satsuma Domain, Choshu Domain and Tenno Imperial power restored to emperor.
Who was Commodore Matthew Perry?
He was sent by President Fillmore (1853) to open Japan to trade with the West. He finally succeeded after forcing Japan to trade or its cities were going to be bombarded. FOREIGN PRESSURE
What is Omote (public face)?
Image which one wishes to present to outsiders/public. Composed of mixture of reality, myth, lie.
What was the reaction of samurai toward missionaries?
Initially, they were allowed but Shogun said they were messing up politics and bringing Western ideas, thus banning and rejecting them
What is extraterritoriality?
It basically shows the unequal treaties; the foreigners feel superior b/c they can basically go into a country and do whatever they want w/o any of that country's laws applying to them
Eviction of missionaries+persecution of Japanese Christians?
Japanese authorities wanted to maintain commercial relations with Europeans even while suppressing white religion but THEN decided to regulate foreign trade closely. SOLE remaining opening to the west: island of Deshima trade with the Dutch. Japanese not allowed to engage in foreign trade as the Bakufu sought to restrict ability of local authorities to carry out commercial transactions with foreign merchants.
What was Kabuki theater?
Japanese dance-drama. It's known for its high stylization and elaborate makeup (sort of bizarre and out there, over the top)
Who was Sharaku?
Kabuki theater, male actors that played all parts. Portrayed actors like celebrities. His work specialized in actors.
Brief summary of basically the Tokugawa social system.
Limited size of samurai class and reclassifying the samurai who supported themselves by filling the land as commoners. Samurai ceased to be warrior class. CAPITALISM.
What was Noh Theater?
Major form of classical Japanese musical drama. Usually based on tales from traditional literature w/ supernatural being transformed into human form as a hero narrates. Vividly shows the ordinary people, strong emphasis on tradition. Represents strict Buddhist way of life (boring, opposite of Kabuki)
Who were the Shishi?
Many groups (lumped into one group) who wanted to reform the Japanese government (to deal with the foreigners)...similar to the Young Turks
What was Shibui?
Means simple, subtle or unobtrusive. Means that things are more beautiful when they speak for themselves, when they're not loud+in your face
What is the Shinto religion and what's the Emperor's role in the religion?
Meiji reformers brought Emperor and Shinto religion to national prominence and it became the national religion. Emperor is the head of Shinto b/c they believe the Emperor(=semi-divine) descended from the Sun goddess and gods who created Japan
Who wanted to adopt the foreigners' customs?
Merchants; they wanted more trade with the West and more rights/power. Believed Japan should copy the Americans in order to beat the Americans
Who was Oda Nobunaga?
Military commander under Ashikaga shogunate. Seized the Imperial capital of Kyoto and placed reigning shogun under his rule. Attempted to consolidate his rule by defeating rivals and suppressing power of Buddhist estates (killed before process complete) →"Powerful daimyo of Japan in the late 16th century who attempted to unify Japan"
Who were the "Three Great Unifiers" of Tokugawa Japan?
Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Tokugawa Ieysau
What was the Buddhist religion?
Official religion of the government (before Meiji) and the samurais
Himeji Castle
One of the finest surviving hill-top castles. Known as "White egret castle". Built in 1346, remolded by Hideyoshi in 1581.
What is Honne?
One's true feeling and opinion. Important to know when to reveal honne and when to maintain tatemae.
What is Otaku?
People with obsessive interests; usually to do with anime and manga.
What was the Sengoku?
Period in Japanese history marked by social upheaval, political intrigue, and near-constant military conflict. Emperor seen as ruler, every lord sworn to him.
Where did a lot of Tokugawa art originate?
Pornography
How did the Western intrusions begin in Japan?
Portugese traders sailing in Chinese junk blew off course (by typhoon) and ended up in Japan. THEN Portugese ships stopping by Japanese ports on a regular basis to take part in regional trade between Japan, China, and Southeast Asia
What is Ura (private face)?
Reality behind omote image w/ myth and lies stripped away. Usually covered by omote, if shown, great embarrassment and damage b/c unreality is shown
What did the daimyo eventually become (economically)?
Retainers became a bureaucratic authority
What was the Satsuma Rebellion (1877)?
Revolt to the disaffected samurai against the new imperial government (9 years into Meiji era). Last and more serious of a series of armed uprisings against the new government.
What were the Domains (Han)?
Ruled a total of 250 individual daimyo lords
What were the effects on the samurai right BEFORE the Meiji Restoration?
Samurai gradually become separated from their rural ties. They then had to depend greatly on the merchants and the artisans for consumer goods and loans. Many samurais fell on hard times and were forced into handicraft production and wage jobs for the merchants.
What is "Otsukaresama deshita"?
Saying you're tired. Nicest thing to say in Japanese.
What is Mottainai?
Sense of regret you feel when waste something; Japan=island nation w/natural resources so Japanese careful not to waste food and care for possessions.
What was the Boshin War?
Series of battles that led to overthrow of Tokugawa shogunate and restoration of imperial rule in Japan. Began with the Battle of Toba-Fushimi. Shogunate not able/strong enough to fight against pro-imperial forces.
What was the Shogun's dilemma in dealing with the Americans?
Shogun knew he couldn't defeat the American military → incl. in terms of ships (Japan's cities were mostly made of wood, if cannons fired at them, it would be destroyed by fire). BUT, if he surrenders, Japan won't have any rights and he would lose all his power.
What did the Japanese nobility do economically to mess with the system?
Some defrayed high costs by concentrating on cash crops, revenues stayed the same
What is the Emperor's other name?
Tenno = heavenly sovereign
Who was Matsuo Basho?
The Supreme Japanese haiku poet, who greatly enriched 17-syllable haiku form and made it an accepted medium of artistic expression. He renounced the ways of society and wandered through the country.
What simultaneously occurred as the unification and centralization of Japan?
The coming of EUROPEANS (!)
What was Tokugawa Japan (basic info)?
The final period of traditional Japan → a time of internal peace, political stability, and economic growth. Ruled under the shogunate (military dictatorship).
Tigers in a Bamboo Grove
The painting shows young tiger cubs running playfully through the forest while the mother watches them. Spring time is indicated by the new bamboo shoot sprouting. Tiger is the animal of the west and is the only animal capable of navigating through a bamboo forest. Tiger represents peace and harmony. Bamboo represents resilience and integrity.
What happened with the peasants in the samurai decline?
The peasant unrest grew and the mass protests over taxes and food shortages had become commonplace
Who was Utamoro?
The probably greatest master of the them of female figures. Most famous because of his ability to show flesh very well. Did a lot of symbolism.
Why did the agricultural system of Tokugawa lead to the Samurai decline?
The rest of the world (Europe) was industrializing, but the Samurai system was based on agriculture so they were weak against the industrialization
How did the stability and peace during the Tokugawa period take away the samurai power?
The samurai's purpose was to protect the land and maintain a warrior way of life, but the peace and social order robbed them of their warrior position prestige
What was the anti-foreign policy in Tokugawa?
They didn't want to trade with Americans + Europeans. Shogun doesn't want the foreigners around, Japanese see the West as barbarians.
How did the Jesuits react to their expulsion?
They protested and Hideyoshi eventually relented and permitted them to continue as long as they were discreet
How were the Daimyo autonomous?
They were able to support themselves from taxes on lands; shogunates received its own revenues from its extensive landholdings....ACTUALLY -- Shogunate had to compel daimyo lords to maintain 2 residences (one in their domains+other in Edo). Placed the Japanese nobility in a difficult economic position. Able to PROTECT their economic interests by depriving samurai retainers of their property rights over the lord and transforming them into salaried officials
"Oda pounds the national rice cake, Hideyoshi kneads it, and in the end, Ieyasu sits down and eats it."
Think about this and how this translates to each of the three's role in bringing up Tokugawa Japan.
What was the Edict of Sengoku (1635)?
Third of a series issued by Tokugawa Iemitsu. Considered a prime example of Japanese desire for seclusion. One of many acts written by Iemitsu to eliminate Catholic influence. It enforced strict government rules and regulations to implore those Catholic ideas, strict rules prevent Japanese from leaving Japan, Catholicism strictly forbidden and trade heavily regulated.
What was the Shimabara Rebellion (1637-1638)?
Uprising of Japanese Roman Catholics, failure of which virtually ended Christian movement in Japan and furthered government determination to isolate Japan from any foreign influences.
How did the disruption to the defined class system occur during the samurai decline?
Villagers begin to lease land to other farmers, becoming rich in the process (which thus, greatly disrupted the clearly defined class system which the Bakufu envisaged!).
How did Westerners play a role in the samurai decline?
Western intrusions were on the increase which thus forced Japan to adopt modern military practices (weakening the samurais)
What was Ukiyo-e?
Woodblock prints (seen as mass-produced art in that time). Buddhist concept (Ukiyo) originally suggested sadness of lie, but instead MEANT the momentary, worldly pleasures of the middle class..eventually commoners had enough money to have art that reflected them. Westerners got interested and demand increased, eventually they just copied them.
Who was Katsushika Hokusai?
Woodblock....The most famous of all Japanese artists "36 Views" painting. Nature is power and can not be messed with.
Who was Hiroshige?
Woodblock...Most famous contemporary artist. Landscape and natural paintings.