Edo Period 1600-1867
On October 21, 1600 Tokugawa Ieyasu defeated Mitsunari in the Battle of Sekigahara. After the Battle of Sekigahara, Ieyasu seized the property of the opposition and ended many of their houses, distributed the booty and spoils of war to his allies and family. Like Nobunaga and Hideyoshi, Ieyasu strengthened central authority. The Tokugawa regime made Edo as its capital and ruled from there.
Ieyasu had one last threat and that was Toyotomi Hideyori, the son and heir to Hideyoshi, who was residing in Osaka Castle. Forces under Ieyasu along with his son, the Shogun Hidetada, laid siege to Osaka Castle. Osaka Castle fell in 1615 and most of the defenders were killed. With the Toyotomi line extinguished, there were no threats to the Tokugawa rule.
After Ieyasu died in 1616, Hidetada took control and strengthened the Tokugawa hold on power. As his father before him, Hidetada resigned his post as shogun in favor of his eldest son, Tokugawa Iemitsu (1604-1651).
Iemitsu had two sisters, Senhime (Lady Sen) and Masako. Senhime married Toyotomi Hideyori, son of Hideyoshi. Masako or Kazu-ko (1607-1678) became an Empress Consort of Emperor Go-Mizunoo. Masako’s daughter succeeded Emperor Go-Mizunoo as Empress Meishō. Masako also raised two sons of Go-Mizunoo as if they were her own and they ascended the throne as Emperor Go-Kōmyō and Emperor Go-Sai. Thus ties to the emperor were secured.
Iemitsu is remembered for persecuting Christians, expelling Europeans, and closing Japan.
As a result of the peaceful times coupled with social freeze, there was a problem with rōnin (masterless samurai). No war, no work, and no booty. The rōnin caused trouble for the Tokugawa regime for many years.
In a continuing effort to tighten control, Tokugawa Ienobu instituted Neo-Confucianism as state orthodoxy. The Tokugawa regime froze society. Primogeniture was instituted. The individual had no rights and the smallest legal entity was the family. Offices were inherited. Social classes were ranked according to Confucian principles.
During the reign of Emperor Higashiyama, the Genroku Era occurred. The era name, Genroku, means “original happiness.” The art, architecture, and culture of the townspeople, merchants, and samurai flourished as a result of several years of peace and stability.
Under Tokugawa Ienari (1773-1841), the government instituted stringent measures. It cut back on foreign trade; enacted strict sumptuary laws, limiting expenditures on luxuries, even forbidding barbers and hairdressers; cancelled debts of poor samurai; emphasized farming; and commanded strict observance of Neo-Confucian doctrine. The reforms were economically stultifying and were followed by 10 years of acute famines.
When Tokugawa Ieyoshi (1793 –1853), became shogun, his senior advisor, Mizuno Tadakuni (1794 –1851), instituted the Tenpō Reforms, which were a series of sumptuary laws attempting to stabilize the economy and end the excesses of the urban culture. They banned most forms of entertainment and displays of wealth. They also dealt with military, agricultural, and religious systems, and domestic unrest.
In 1853 Japan changed forever with the arrival of the Black Ships under Matthew Perry, USN. Perry pressured the shogunate to open Japan to the outside world.
Emperor Kōmei (1831-1867) was incensed about the Western incursions. Kōmei had never met a foreigner and knew little about them but did not like them. In 1863 Kōmei issued his “Order to expel barbarians.” While toothless, it caught on with the popular imagination. The shishi or ishin shishi (“men of high purpose”) appeared, motivated by the sonnō jōi movement. They sought to expel foreigners and attacked anyone who had encouraged dealing with foreigners.
Rebellions and unrest grew too much and on November 9, 1867, Shogun Tokugawa Yoshinobu tendered his resignation to the Emperor, formally returning governing power to the Emperor, and ending the Tokugawa shogunate de jure.
Resistance continued in northern Japan resulting in the Boshin War. The opposition groups coalesced at Hokkaido where they founded the Republic of Ezo. Eventually it was put down. The leaders on both sides who survived the Boshin War went on to become very important in both governmental affairs and science.
In 1868 Emperor Meiji (1852-1912) and his court moved to Edo, which was renamed Tokyo or “Eastern Capital.” During his reign Japan saw rapid modernization that transformed Japan into a world power.
Chapter 5.1 Edo Period 1600 – 1867: The Rise and Rule of Tokugawa Ieyasu
Chapter 5.2 Edo Period 1600 – 1651: The Tokugawa Shoguns Tighten Contro
Chapter 5.3 Edo Period 1651 – 1716: The Heirs of Tokugawa Iemitsu
Chapter 5.4 Edo Period 1600 – 1867: Society and the Genroku Era
Chapter 5.5 Edo Period 1600 – 1867: Economic Woes
Chapter 5.6 Edo Period 1830 – 1867: Tenpō Reforms to the Black Ships
Chapter 5.7 Edo Period 1854 – 1867: Foreign crisis, sonnō jōi, and End of Tokugawa