Chapter 4: What Were the Effects of
Japan’s Policies of Isolation During the
Edo Period?
How Did the Geography of Japan Affect its Worldview?
How Did the Edo Era of Great Peace Begin?
Why Did Japan Isolate Itself From Much of the World?
How Did the Political System During the Edo Period Reflect
Worldview?
How Did Societal Systems Change During Isolation?
How Did Communities Change During Isolation?
How Did the Popular Culture of Japan Change During Isolation?
How Did Foreign Influence Change Japan Despite Policies of
Isolation?
Imagine Living on an Island
You live on a island full of people just like you. You
have never met other people from different
societies.
What are the good things about living on your
island? The bad? How do those affect your
worldview?
Ships have arrived in your harbour and they
brought goods to trade for resources. They also
brought people to teach you about “their beliefs”
What are your responses?
Which one would you select to deal with the visitors. Why
did you select this?
Good
Bad
How Did the Geography of Japan Affect its
Worldview?
Japan is composed of a long, narrow
series of islands along the Eastern
Pacific coast of Asia
Four main islands (From north to south)
Hokkaido
Honshu (the main island)
Shikoku
Kyushu
Also about 3000 smaller islands
How Did the Geography of Japan
Affect its Worldview?
How Did the Geography of Japan
Affect its Worldview?
73% of Japan is mountainous
means there is little flat land for
farming/cultivation
valleys
along the coastline
terraces on the hills and mountains
Also on a volcanic zone that rings the Pacific
Ocean
Ring of Fire
Frequent earthquakes/tremors
Some volcanic activity
Many deep and quick rivers
How Did the Geography of Japan
Affect its Worldview?
Japan is a very humid and wet
country
Four seasons
Cool in the north and sub-tropical in the
south
The moisture allows rice and fruit to
grow
How Did the Geography of Japan
Affect its Worldview?
Societies that develop on islands are
quite isolated
Mountains and the ocean provide natural
barriers
Close to dominating cultures
Aspects of those cultures filter in
How Did the Geography of Japan
Affect its Worldview?
Using the map on page 128 answer the
following:
In 16th century Japan there were many different
areas ruled by different rulers and they were
constantly at war with each other. How might
have the geography help the people defend
themselves?
Do you think that it would be easy or difficult to
prevent foreigners from visiting Japan? Explain.
Creating Your Island…
Assignment: Creating Your Island
How Did the Great Edo Era of “Great
Peace” Begin?
Imagine Living On Your Island
What if on your island there were 5
different groups of people. Each one of
them are fighting with the other. What
would you do to bring peace to your
island? What steps would you take?
Ways to Solve the Issue: Fighting Groups
How Did the Great Edo Era of “Great
Peace” Begin?
With a partner read page 132-133
and fill in the missing information on
your handouts.
How Did the Great Edo Era of “Great Peace”
Begin?
In 1500 Japan was not a unified
country
250 smaller groups each with their own
emperor and a commander called a
daimyo
The daimyos were constantly at war with
each other trying to increase their land,
wealth, and power
How Did the Great Edo Era of “Great
Peace” Begin?
Although the emperor was considered
the supreme ruler the real power of
authority was with the shogun
They were the leader of the military
government
There are three shoguns given credit
for unifying Japan in the late 1500’s
Oda Nobunaga
Toyotomi Hideyoshi
Tokugawa Ieyasu
How Did the Great Edo Era of “Great
Peace” Begin?
Oda Nobunaga
In 1568 he gained control of 1/3 of the provinces of
Japan
Kyoto was included which was the seat of the emperor
and court
Toyotomi Hideyoshi
In 1582 he succeeded Nobunaga and continued reforms
to the government and social systems
Tokugawa Ieyasu
United Japan around 1600
His successors ruled Japan until 1868 from a city called
Edo (present day Tokyo)
Changes Under the Three Shoguns
Oda Nobunaga
Reduced the influence of Buddhists
control over Japanese politics
Built a series of castles to defend lands
Introduced new administrative practices
to pave the way to a unified Japan
Changes Under the Three Shoguns
Toyotomi Hideyoshi
Continued to centralize government power
Surveyed the country and changed the tax on
the land from money to quantities of rice
Created a society based on a formal class
structure that included samurai, farmers,
artisans, and merchants
Created a standing army
Made a rule that you could no longer be part
farmer, part warrior. You had to pick one or the
other
Tried to expand territory by attacking China and
Korea but was defeated by both
Supported painters and new types of drama
Changes Under the Three Shoguns
Tokugawa Ieyasu
Established his government base in Edo
Finalized the unification of Japan
How Did the Great Edo Era of “Great
Peace” Begin?
How Did the Great Edo Era of “Great
Peace” Begin?-Questions
How did legalizing the formal social system
created by Toyomi Hideyoshi reflect the
values and beliefs of Japan at the time?
The three shoguns had different leadership
styles. What can you learn from this quote?
If confronted by a caged nightingale that would not sing,
Nobunaga would kill the bird, Hideyoshi would force it to
sing,
and Ieyasu would wait for it to sing.
Why Did Japan Isolate Itself from Much of the
World?
Imagine Your Island
After many years your island has began to attract more visitors
than before. Remember these visitors are bringing addictive
substances (tobacco, liquor) and are trying to push their
religious values on you.
A). What are some possible reasons/influences
you would want to start to isolate yourself from
these visitors?
B). How would you start to begin to isolate your
island?
Why Did Japan Isolate Itself from Much of the
World?
Imagine Your Island
After many years your island has began to attract more visitors
than before. Remember these visitors are bringing addictive
substances (tobacco, liquor) and are trying to push their
religious values on you.
A). What are some possible reasons/influences
you would want to start to isolate yourself from
these visitors?
B). How would you start to begin to isolate your
island?
Isolating Your Island
Reasons/Influences
Isolating Your Island
How would you do it?
Why Did Japan Isolate Itself from Much
of the World?
With a partner read pages 134-136
filling in the notes sheet.
Why Did Japan Isolate Itself from Much
of the World?
There are two main reasons why the
shoguns of Japan wanted to isolate
from the rest of the world
Foreign Influences
The Spread of Christianity
Why Did Japan Isolate Itself from Much
of the World?
Foreign Influences
At the beginning of the Edo period Japan was
actively trading with many different countries
Trade routes with Korea in the 15th century to control
piracy
China in the 16th century with a network of trading
stations that the Europeans also used
Japanese trading ships sailed to the Philippines and
as far as Siam (Thailand)
European ships were also docking in Japanese
harbours to trade their goods
Why Did Japan Isolate Itself from Much
of the World?
Why Did Japan Isolate Itself from Much
of the World?
The Spread of Christianity
Many European ships were carrying
Roman Catholic missionaries who
wanted to convert the citizens of Japan
Between 1549-1587 missionaries
converted 150 000 Japanese to
Christianity in the Nagasaki area
In 1587 Shogun Hideyoshi ordered all
missionaries to leave and executed 26
missionaries
Why Did Japan Isolate Itself from Much
of the World?
Shogun Tokugawa did not want the
Japanese people exposed to the
European culture and Western ideas
He was also concerned because the
Europeans were establishing colonies
around the world
– This would have undone of the unification work
To ensure Japans safety he decided to only
allow foreign ships to land at one port: the
island of Deshima in the Nagasaki Bay
Why Did Japan Isolate Itself from Much
of the World?
After Shogun Ieyasu died, the Bakufu
became more concerned of the
movement of Christianity
Concerned Christians would follow their
spiritual leader rather than the shogun as
their ultimate authority
Afraid of losing absolute control they
introduced a series of edicts
Why Did Japan Isolate Itself from Much
of the World?
The National Seclusion Policy
The Bakufu passed a series of strict
edicts to control the influence of
foreigners and to tighten control over the
daimyo
The National Seclusion Policy was
created over six years from 1633 to
1639.
It set out controls on the interaction between
Japanese and foreigners.
Why Did Japan Isolate Itself from Much
of the World?
Key terms of the policy
Japanese ships are strictly forbidden to travel to
foreign countries
No Japanese are permitted to travel abroad. Those
who attempt are executed
If any Japanese return from foreign lands after
residing there, they are to be executed
If any Westerners (southern barbarians) attempt to
teach Christianity they are to be put into prison
No single trading city shall be permitted to purchase
all the merchandise brought by foreign ships
Portuguese ships are banned from Japanese ports.
Any who disobey will be destroyed and its crew
executed
Why Did Japan Isolate Itself from Much
of the World?
What aspects of its worldview led
Japan to make the decision to close
its borders to the Western World?
Describe the historical context that led
to this key event happening.
Confucian Beliefs and Values
Thinking About Your Island
What kind of beliefs and values would
you like to see on your island? How
would you promote these?
Beliefs and Values of Your Islands
Confucian Beliefs and Values
With a partner read page 137
Make a list of the important values in
Confucianism
How did they effect the worldview?
Each group will select a value and explain it to
the class (their own definition)
Each group will select a effect on the worldview
and debate if it was positive or negative.
Are there any codes of behavior in Canadian
society? How do they parallel Confucian
values?
Confucian Beliefs and Values
What are the beliefs and values?
Confucian Beliefs and Values
What are the beliefs and values?
Emphasize the relationship between
human beings, rather than the idea of a
god. Each person has a role in society.
The past is important
Stresses objective reasoning as the
basis of learning
Confucian Beliefs and Values
How did they affect the worldview?
Confucian Beliefs and Values
How did they affect the worldview?
Shoguns ruled in a caring manner and in return
the people were expected to be loyal and carry
out the functions of their social group
Importance of the past and traditions were
recorded in history
Confucian meshed with Buddhism
The Shinto religion emphasized the importance
of ancestors
Schools set up to follow a form of study based
on observation and questioning
How Did the Political System During the Edo
Period Reflect Worldview?
Thinking about your Island
What kind of political system would you
have to rule your island? What reasons
would you have for picking your
government?
How would you keep control of your
government?
Your Island
The Political Systems
Your Island
How you kept control
How Did the Political System During the
Edo Period Reflect Worldview?
During the Edo period the political system
in Japan was very hierarchal
Domains (provinces) were governed by a
daimyo
Each of them was a feudal lord with lands to rule
Daimyo had to pledge allegiance to the shogun
and worked under his rule
They had complete administrative control over
the lands and expected those who lived on
them to follow his rule
How Did the Political System During the
Edo Period Reflect Worldview?
There were two levels of government
Han-the local government in each
domain/province was ruled by the
daimyo
Bakufu-highest level of government lead
by the shogun
The shogun also was a feudal lord and also
had to rule a Han
Additional responsibilities
– Ruling social classes, maintaining order, national
policies
The Political System
The Shogun-Ruler
Bakufu-Government
Daimyo-Local
Ruler
Daimyo-Local
Ruler
Daimyo-Local
Ruler
Han-Local
Government
Han-Local
Government
Han-Local
Government
All inhabitants
of the domain
All inhabitants
of the domain
All inhabitants
of the domain
How Did the Bakufu Control the
Daimyo?
Personal relationships were very
important between the shogun and the
daimyo
Daimyo divided into 3 classes
They can never move out of these classes
– Those most trusted and loyal
– Nobel of the Tokugawa family
– Those with little standing because they may have
opposed the shogun
How Did the Bakufu Control the
Daimyo?
To keep the daimyos from becoming too
wealthy and powerful a few laws were in place
There is no unnecessary contact between the
neighboring daimyo
There are to be only one castle in each domain.
Detailed maps must also be supplied to the Bakufu
Daimyos must support public building projects
Daimyos must spend every second year in Edo
Marriages of daimyo must have permission of the
Bakufu
Travel and ship building is restricted
How Did the Bakufu Control the
Daimyo?
The ranking of the daimyo affected everything
Determined the size and location of residence in Edo
Number of samurai they were allowed to have
Where they would be seated in the audience
chamber
Determined the status of all those in their Han
Their credit rating and commercial relationship
How Did the Bakufu Control the
Daimyo?
The Bakufu had great power over the
daimyo
They could relocate them or abolish them
It also created laws impossible for them to
become rich and powerful
How Did the Political System During the
Edo Period Reflect Worldview?
Why where there so many rules
placed on the daimyos?
Why would they would they want to
control the daimyos?
How Did the Political System During the
Edo Period Reflect Worldview?
Why is the Edo castle preserved and
used as part of the Emperor’s
household today in Tokyo?
How Did Social Systems Change During
Isolation?
Your Island
For your island create a social system
that would describe the different roles of
citizens
Would some levels of your social system
have power/some power/little power?
What shape would your system take?
What is the title of the leader of your island?
Remember, be creative!!!
How Did Social Systems Change During
Isolation?
Island Social Systems
How Did Social Systems Change During
Isolation?
Assignment: Japanese Social
Systems
Read pages 141-145 and complete the
assignment
The Japanese Social Structure
The Japanese Social Structure
Rank in
Society
Quick
Description (one
sentence)
Shogun
Highest
The man in charge
of the government
Samurai
Second
Highest
Men who were
hereditary warriors.
Some were daimyos.
Facts
Held the most prestigious position next to the shogun
Lived by a code of behavior called bushido
oTold the samurai to be models of cultural, moral
and intellectual development
With the peace there were no more wars for the samurai
to fight in
oThey were called upon to help govern the domains
oManage affairs of the daimyo
oSupport the daimyo residencies in Edo
The Bakufu changed how samurai could gain court titles
and rankings (nobility)
oGave highest ranks to those who supported the
shogun
oRemoved names of warrior leaders from court lists
so they would remain separate from the nobility
First class to become literate
Role changed from warrior to civil administrator during
isolation
The Japanese Social Structure
Rank in
Society
Quick Description
Facts
Privileged position because they were responsible for
production of rice, the basis of food in the country
 They were not allowed to leave their lands or village
o Daimyo did not want to lose profits
 There were two groups of farmers
o The honbyakusho
 Principal farmers
 Controled specific land plots and owned
own homes
o The hyakusho
 Ordinary farmers
 Forced to work and could not own
anything
 As production increased for farmers the tax did not
 Daimyo put strict rules on the farmers to control them
Farmers
Third highest
People who farmed
the land
Artisans
Fourth
Highest
People who made
useful or
decorative
objects



Lived in the cities/towns
Made objects for daily life
Created goods for trade
The Japanese Social Structure
Rank in
Society
Merchants
Quick
Description
Third lowest People who
distributed
goods but
did not
contribute
through
labor
Facts




Many artisans and merchants began to
accumulate wealth for their labor and formed
the growing middle class
Became more important as the cities grew
o Providing goods to the population
Many merchant families created Japans
banking system
Played an important role in helping Japan
transition to a modern society
The Japanese Social Structure
Rank in
Society
Outcasts
(Eta)
Second
Lowest
Quick Description
People who had
jobs related
to death of
animals or
humans, such
as tanning
hides and
removing
corpses
Facts







Called Eta
o Lived outside of the villages and towns
Primarily were slaughtering animals, disposing
and tanning animal carcasses, executions,
removal of bodies
Touching the dead was against Buddhist
doctrines and so the Eta were shunned
Within the Eta community they had managers
o They would organize the Eta
o Policed them
Eta were not allowed to do any other job that
was not assigned to them
They were allowed to enter towns to sell items
but were not allowed to enter shops
Other social classes would not enter their
community unless forced to for business
The Japanese Social Structure
Rank in
Society
Nonhumans
(Hinin)
Lowest
Quick Description
People who
survived by
begging,
acting, telling
fortunes and
other
activities that
were frowned
upon
Facts







Called Hinin
Their status was not inherited but based on
their actions
o Fortune telling
o Begging
o Acting
o Prostitution
They lived by their own wits
o Lived outside the rules of hierarchy was
frowned upon
The did have a role in society
o Performed festivals
o Entertainment
They did have their own laws and chiefs
Anyone who was expelled from their class
could join
Killing a Hinin was not considered murder
because they were non-humans
The Japanese Social Structure
Interacting in the Social System
In your groups you will begin to create
a play based on the interactions in the
Japanese social system.
Interacting in the Social System
Project
Script
Length
Group Involvement
Historically
Accuracy
+
=
-
-script is
exceptionally
organized and
great to read and
follow
-the script is well
organized and easy
to read and follow
-the script is not
organized and
difficult to follow
-the play is 5 minutes
in length
-the play is less than
five minutes in
length but greater
than four
-the play is less than 4
minutes in length
and greater than
5:30
-everyone in the
group has a clear
role
-some members in the
group have a clear
role
-few members in the
group have a clear
role
-the actors portray
the roles with
exceptional
accuracy
-the actors portray the
roles accurately
-there is little historical
accuracy in the
roles
Interacting in the Social System
Project
Why???
Thinking About Your Island
After closing your borders to the
surrounding islands how would you
predict the major communities would
change?
Along major roads/rivers
Around major towns/cities/places of
trade
How Did Communities Change During
Isolation?
How Did Communities Change During
Isolation?
There was a network of quality roads
through out Japan
The shogun had these made so the
daimyos could easily make their annual
trip to Edo
He controlled five major roadways that
went through most of Japan
How Did Communities Change During
Isolation?
The regular movement of people on these
roads had a huge effect on the economies
of the domains and nations
Daimyos would need accommodations, food,
ect during their trips
Artisans and merchants would set up shops
along the road ways to cater to travelers
Post stations, supplies, rest stops, ect
Many of these stopping points developed into
larger centers
How Did Communities Change During
Isolation?
Because of the increased growth of
large centers into cities the link
between rural and urban centers
became very important
The cities were not self-sufficient and
relied on the rural communities
How Did Communities Change During
Isolation?
The castle towns created in each
domain also experienced growth
Artisan and merchant families would
travel to them to provide goods for the
farmers, samurai and daimyo
This caused the economies of the castle
towns to grow
How Did Communities Change During
Isolation?
Because of the growth of castle towns
into major cities, urbanization
changed the nature of Japanese
society
Many people wanted to move into the
cities but a rural life was still valued
A communication network was set in
place so communities be connected
How Did Communities Change During
Isolation?
How Did Communities Change During
Isolation?
Assignment: Cause and Effect:
Japanese Communities
With a partner you are to complete the
cause and effect chart
How Did Communities Change During
Isolation?
Assignment: From Castles to Cities
Complete the assignment individually to
discover more about Japans major cities
during the Edo period
From Castles to Cities
City/
Metropolis
Reasons Why it Became a Metropolis
-large city and government center
-chosen because easy trade by sea with Kyoto and Osaka
-easy to defend
-designed around landscape to fit more people (hills and water)
-used water ways to travel around city
Edo
-center of military government
-many daimyos and families stayed there at one time
-artisans and merchants came from all over to cater to needs
-merchants were encouraged to create large businesses
-Bakufu created ways to supply utilities and protection (mostly
fire) to the city
From Castles to Cities
City/
Metropolis
Reasons Why it Became a Metropolis
-capital of Japan before moved to Edo
-easy access to rivers/seas and at the crossroads of many land
routes
-mountains protected as well as provided fertile soil
Kyoto
-known for its silk production/luxury items
-Bakufu put few restraints on commerce in the city so merchants
grew rich
-less emphasis on class and structure
-became center for wood block printing and beautiful maps of
cities
From Castles to Cities
City/ Metropolis
Reasons Why it Became a Metropolis
-created around a protected harbour
-used rivers to ship good to other cities
-became center of Japans economy
-Buddhist temple
Osaka
-areas of good farmland surrounded
-became center of rice market in Japan
-they set the standard price of rice
How Did Popular Culture of Japan Change
During Isolation?
Class Discussion
Create a web diagram describing
elements of popular culture
What are some aspects of Canada's
popular culture?
Canada’s Popular Culture WebDiagrams
Popular Culture Web-Diagrams
How Did Popular Culture of Japan
Change During Isolation?
Because of wealth increasing in Japan the
popular culture began to change
Desire for luxury items
Leisure time for theater, literature and arts
Merchants/Samurai/Daimyos
Supported artists, sculptors, painters, artisans,
architects, gardeners, education of samurai, ect
Samurai were known more for
accomplishments than their rank
How Did Popular Culture of Japan
Change During Isolation?
Group Assignment
In groups of four you will complete the
assignment Japanese Popular Culture
Web-Diagram
Japanese Popular Culture Web
Kabuki Theater
Became very popular with all the classes
Focused around the dilemmas of
everyday life
Performed by non-humans
No women actresses after 1629
Thought that they were corrupting the art
Japanese Popular Culture Web
Banraku Theater
A puppet theater only for adults
Performed by non-humans
Japanese Popular Culture Web
Geishas
Some women are trained to be geishas
They were expected to be able to
demonstrate all the correct forms of
etiquette
Their appearance and behavior reflected
the cultural values of the time
Japanese Popular Culture Web
Woodblock Images
Once an artist created a image they
would then carve out the major lines into
a wooden block so that paints can be
applied and then pressed onto other
canvases
Mostly focused on nature and daily lives
of commoners
Japanese Popular Culture Web
Books
Books were printed using the wooden
block method
Was a private industry not controlled by
Bakufu
There was some forbidden subjects:
Christianity
Anything to disrupt public order
Nothing offensive to public morals
Japanese Popular Culture Web
Literature
Pros gradually became less formal and
the language became much more
simpler and less sophisticated
Writers usually wrote on aspects of
everyday life
Basho Matsuo created the haiku which
influence many people
Basho Matsuo
In your same group of four you are to
read pages 155-156 and write down
your discussion on answering
question #1 on page 156.
How does your popular culture
compare to Edo Japans?
Element Present Day Edo Japan
Why?
How Did Foreign Influence Change Japan
Despite Policies of Isolation?
The Closed Country edicts did not totally
isolate Japan during the Edo period
China and Korea were allowed limited access
Some Japanese officials were allowed to visit
Ryuku Islands and Korea
China still influenced Japanese learning
and culture
Their goods were still allowed into the country
How Did Foreign Influence Change
Japan Despite Policies of Isolation?
The Dutch also had some effects on
Japan during isolation
They were allowed to trade in certain
ports
Impacted Japanese learning
Mostly in the area of medicine-surgery
Dutch books and language were very
popular among intellectuals
How Did Foreign Influence Change
Japan Despite Policies of Isolation?
These cultural impacts eventually
changed the worldview of the shogun
He became interested in western ideas
and literature
He relaxed restrictions on importing
books and learning the Dutch language
Allowed scholars to study European
science and art
How Did Foreign Influence Change
Japan Despite Policies of Isolation?
The shogun became more interested
in Western writings and ideas in the
early 1700’s.
What events would be caused by the
shogun showing more interest at this
time?
What would have happened to him if that
happened in the early 1600’s?
Mini Position Paper for Test
How did the lives of the samurai
change during isolation?
Lots of info on page 157
Remember….
3 ways the samurai lives changed
The format of the paper
–
–
–
–
–
Thesis paragraph
Support paragraph #1
Support paragraph #2
Support paragraph #3
Conclusion paragraph
Review for Chapter Test!!!
Do I Get it Or Not Study Sheet
Social System Review AssignmentPre and Post Edo Japan
Test Make Up
Fewer multiple choice questions
Questions will focus on the big question in
the chapter
A political cartoon to analyze
Mini-position paper to write