Return to: Outline Chronology of Japanese Cultural History This page: Tokugawa Era Events Also see: Tokugawa Imperial Reigns, Shogunal Reigns, and Interesting People. Disclaimer: This chronology is intended to provide easy access to the contexts of various events, not to provide in-depth interpretations. Topical organization is arbitrary. Names are in Japanese order. Note that for dates prior to 1873.1.1, months of Japanese events are on lunar calendar (with approximate year only converted to Western), Western dates are in Western calendar. A 'b' next to the month refers to a leap-month according to the lunar calendar. Terminology of Tokugawa social hierarchy Shi-n-k-sh m_H¤ (caste ranking of warriors, farmers, artisans, merchants): Emperor and courtiers (Ų°) were considered above the samurai Shogun («R): Supreme military leader bakufu (lit., tent government: Dynastic rule by Tokugawa family, lasted 15 generations) daimyo å¼ (feudal domain chiefs, subordinate only to the bakufu) gosanke (The three domainal houses [Owari, Kii, Mito] closest to Tokugawa power) toshiyori (lit., elders): close daimyo advisors to bakufu kamon: daimyo of Tokugawa family fudai: daimyo with close relations to Tokugawa shinpan: ?? between fudai and tozama?? tozama: daimy who were not close to Tokugawa sankin kotai (daimy must leave family as political hostages while away from Edo) daimyo gyoretsu (to and from Edo, large entourages stimulate vast economy along highways). Samurai caste divided into upper (ćm°) and lower (ŗm°): minimal inter-mobility or intermarriage bunbu-ryodo (¶¼¹): for samurai, the double-way of literary arts and martial arts kiri-sute gomen: Peasant class: gonin-gumi Ülg(five-family groupings of mutual responsibility: if one is guilty, all are punished) Outcastes (eta and beggars) were considered below merchants Miscellaneous Terminology Sakoku (Closed-country policy; allowed limited trade with Dutch, and with Asian areas) Edo (Central port city of Tokugawa political power, now Tokyo) Osaka (Port city west of Tokyo, known for development of merchant autonomy) Genroku Period (flowering of merchant culture, decadence) Yoshiwara (in Edo: one of several regulated prostitution districts) 1600 Tokugawa Ieyasu Consolidates Power 1615 Osaka Castle falls: Tokugawa rule consolidated Contacts Sought with Foreign Powers 1600 Dutch ship runs aground, Captain Jacob Quaeckernaeck 1604-5 missionary-daimyo problems prompt Ieyasu to forbid use of large ships 1605 Ieyasu sends Quaeckernaeck to S.E.Asia to encourage Dutch-J. trade; 1606 Dutch ships arrive; establish J-Netherlands trade relations; 1607 Edo/Seoul peace negotiations; 1611 trade resumed via Pusan 1609 Shimazu of Satsuma invades Ryukyu islands 1610 Chinese traders come to Nagasaki: silk for silver 1637 Rebellion in Kumamoto (in west Kyushu) includes Christians. Squashed. 1657 Great Fire of Edo, razed 60-70% of city, and much of the castle 1600-1868: several thousand small-scale uprisings by oppressed peasantry throughout Japan. Uchi-kowashi (bust-it-down): hamlet peasants would attack local tax-rice collector (tonya). National Census 1726 -- total population recorded of 26,550,000 people. International Ambitions = claims some countries wonÕt send missionaries by 1620s in Nagasaki, Chinese population from 2,000 to 3,000. 1615-1625 outflow of silver approx 130,000-150,000 kilograms 1614 edicts expelling Jesuit missionaries; 1616 a merchant organizes flotilla to conquer Taiwan; they go on looting rampage; 1623-1630s Bakufu gradually limits avenues of trade: 1623 English stop trade with Japan (no profit) 1624 Bakufu stops trade with Spanish 1630s Portugese stopped from trading 1630s Japanese stopped from trading with outside; from travelling abroad 1628 Spanish galleon plunders Japanese ship in Gulf of Siam 1630 Japanese seamen tangle with Dutch near Taiwan 1633 Iemitsu prohibits Japanese from travelling overseas from Nagasaki. 1634-5 Portugese movement further prohibited 1636 Deshima constructed; Portugese must thenceforth reside there. 1640 Dutch ordered to live and conduct business from Dejima. 1637 Iemitsu, egged on by Dutch, almost mounts attack on Spaniards in Manila. 1630s-1850s trade continues only via Chinese, Dutch, Korean ships = nanban painting no longer brought in; dangerous to own; International 1627 Manchu army tries to attack Ming; attacks pro-Ming Seoul. 1636 Manchu army second invasion of Korea; forces Yi Dynasty into submission. 1644 Manchus drive Ming out of Peking. 1645 Iemitsu vacillates over whether to send assistance, until it is too late. 1647 Iemitsu decides to stay clear of Ming-Manchu struggle = Foreigners hardly let in; now Japan will not go outside: sakoku policy complete. 1676 bakufu allows limited support to anti-Manchu forces. 1642-43 Portugese missionary groups attempt infiltration; are crushed; 1637-1638 Shimabara Rebellion 1570-1630 Economic Boom = increased efficiency of transportation, mining, farming, etc. = factors led to increased rural working population, working hours, (Totman 61) = village heads given responsibility to balance peace and taxes. = increased rural output enabled urban growth = workers conscripted from rural areas for all kinds of projects; = huge logging, canal, and road projects = castle-building is curbed; no new castles after 1630 = after 1630, government control over economy is loosened; Court family More buildings... 1625 Hidetada builds KanÕeiji in Edo 1630s Iemitsu builds up Nikk. 1620s-1650s Memorial buildings (tshgu) to Ieyasu built all over Japan Buddhism 1608 Ieyasu issues seven-clause code for Enryakuji (on Hieizan). 1614 Ieyasu tries to quell conflicts by distributing Daiz ichiransh as doctrine. Popular Culture 1603 Izumo dancer Okuni does folk dances in Kyoto: starts trend of onna-kabuki. 1608 WomenÕs troupe in Sunpu starts brawl: Ieyasu relocates them with prostitutes. 1617 Brothel operators in Edo are moved to Yoshiwara. 1629 bakufu forbids women from performing kabuki. 1629 Brothel district in Osaka: 1641 Brothel district in Kyoto: Economy after 1630s: local autonomy and economic freedoms encourage capitalism 1680 increasing calls by merchants for protections of monopolies 1720 bakufu recognizes merchant guild control of economic matters = Totman 102 calls this ŌfascismÕ = elaborate ideology arose to justify increasingly anachronistic political order. 1642 village conduct stipulated (goningumi) in response to famine/protests = merchants could not live in villages; no wage labor; no land seizure; 1657 Meireki fire ravages Edo Sankin ktai system 1609 Hidetada notifies tozama that they should spend winters in Edo. 1634 Iemitsu orders tozama wives and children to stay in Edo. 1635 Iemitsu issues detailed schedules for daimy visits to Edo. Famines 1630s-1640s (peak Ō41-Õ42) KanÕei famine 1630s peasant protests 1637 Shimabara rebellion. = Shimabara people particularly resented relgious persecution. = unable to take castle, embarrassed bakufu starves them out instead Earthquakes 1586.1? Miyako, Sakai 1616.8.30 Edo 1618.11.7 in Richard Cocks diary Estates of the daimyoÕs = note great variation in size; each develops its own style of governance; = ie sd: competition/unrest between vassals; quells after 1700. Tokugawa Laws and Sumptuary Rules 1690s~ Laws against abandoning cows and dogs, hitting dogs, harming animals and nests, etc... 1702.2, 1703.1, 1705.1, 1705.4b Repeated injunctions against gambling. ?-1705 Silk must not be worn by peasants or townsmen (Naramoto 10) ?-1705 Meals served at ordinary meetings must not exceed 1 soup and 3 dishes. (Naramoto 10) ?-1705 Forbidden to walk around town after dark (Naramoto 10) 1682 Tsunayoshi sets laws to raise morality: ban on prostitution; ban on employing waitresses in teahouses, limit on fabric prices; ban on foreign luxury imports (Sansom, III:133) 1688-1704 Genroku period: frequent economy edicts from government (Sansom, III:151) c.1705 (response to nukemairi) Any stranger housed overnight must be reported. 1724 limitations on private expenditures on ceremonies, clothing, household furnishings; gold thread in daimyo wive's clothing; female servants wear simple clothing appropriate to position; no expensive lacquers, no fine nightdresses...; c.1800 Matsudaira Sadanobu: forbade barbers, betting, prostitutes, m-f baths... Improvements in living standards spread slowly from cities: mixed grains to white rice; muddy rice-wine (doburoku) to fine sake; miso; musiro/komo straw sleeping mats replaced by futon; opaque doors to translucent papered doors (shji); suspended ceilings; tatami floor mats; mosquito nets (kaya); 1690s-1700s fad for gambling (supressed); Nukemairi: Spontaneous Mass Religious Pilgrimages (usu. to Ise Shrine) 1615: (Naramoto 10) 1651: 1705: 3,620,000 pilgrims, over 2 months, 1771.4-1771.9: 2,700,000 pilgrims, from all but Thoku (north). 1830.3b-1830.6: 4,860,000 pilgrims, Histories, Diaries and Records of Current Events 1602-1871 (completed 1898) Nanki Tokugawa shi: History of Wakayama domain. 173 vols. 1690s-1720s: Nishikawa Jyoken, Chnin bukuro: merchant diary 1804-1897 Sappa kykizatsuroku: History of Satsuma domain from early Heian times. 362 vols. 1600-1750 Early Tokugawa Literary, Philosophical Landmarks Xu xi studies, Oo y mei studies, Dutch Studies (Rangaku), Hayashi Razan (1583-1657): Confucianist; founder of Rinke group; Ihara Saikaku (1642-1693): Novelist, poet. Kshoku ichidai onna (Life of an Amorous Woman): Life story of woman who tries it all... Kshoku gonin onna (Five Women who Loved Love): Erotic encounters of five women. Nihon eitaikura (Tales from the Family Storehouse): Stories of making and losing money... Chikamatsu Monzaemon (1653-1724): wrote jruri (romance plays) for bunraku (puppet theater). Shinjten no Amijima (Lovers' Suicide at Amijima): no way to stay together but in death... Arai Hakuseki (1657-1725): Western studies. Seiy kibun: 1693-1723 Arai Hakuseki nikki: record of Hakuseki's life in politics. Ogy Sorai (1666-1728): Seidan: describes improving Japanese living standards, luxuries. Takeda Izumo (1691-1756): playwright of jruri (romance plays) Japanese Technological, Industrial Phenomena during Tokugawa 1540-1700 Mines opened for gold, silver, copper; sophisticated divisions of labor 1551 Jesuit Francis Xavier introduces mechanical clock 1580~ Treadle-operated loom brought from China to Sakai 1590 Construction started on water-supply system in Edo 1615-23 Korean potter ??Li San-pei discovers fine porcelain clay in Arita (near Nagasaki) 1634-1854 Dutch traders allowed port at Deshima Island (off Nagasaki): make 116 processions to Edo. Dutch scholars observe Japan: Kaempfer, Thunberg (1775), Siebold (1820s). 1650s~ Fine painted porcelains go into production. 1709 Arai Hakuseki interrogates Sidotti, an Italian Jesuit who sneaked in. 1720s Shgun Yoshimune allows scholars access to Dutch learning, to study calendar, etc. 1770 Scholar Maeno Rytaku is allowed to study directly with Dutch interpreters. 1770~ Hiraga Gennai reproduces static electricity generator following Dutch sources. 1771 Sugita Gempaku witnesses dissection of human cadaver, proving Dutch anatomy book correct. 1810s~ Seto (near Nagoya) reemerges as center of Japanese porcelain industry. 1811 Translation bureau for Dutch texts set up within the Bureau of Astronomy. 1830~ Cotton plant strains bred in wide variety (approx 50). 1840~ Dutch thermometers used to monitor silkworm raising. 1860~ Silkworm varieties (200?) far more diversified than in France also: developments in brewing, automata, carpentry, porcelain, paper, Meanwhile, Japan watches China... 1644 Manchurian (ChÕing Dynasty) conquest of China. Replaces Ming (1368-1644) Dynasty. 1660s~ Kogaku (Ancient Studies) scholars promote Neo-confucianism: Yamaga Sok, It Jinsai... 1683 Manchu control complete: Japanese differentiate between Chinese culture and body-politic. 1750s~ Kokugaku (National Studies) scholars reject Chinese domination of Japanese ideology. Kamo Mabuchi, Motoori Norinaga, 1780s~ Some Japanese still fear Manchus might attempt to conquer Japan. 1839-42 Opium War: Ideas of Chinese superiority are discredited--the new threat is from the West. 1850-64 TÕai PÕing Rebellion Trade and Cultural Contact with other Civilizations: Ainu fashions, words popular in late Edo (Ootsuka Kazuyoshi, Kokuritsu Minzoku Hakubutsukan). rakko (sea otter), konbu (kelp), glass spheres, wood carvings, "Ezo nishiki" Chinese woven festival decorations entered Japan via Ainu. Tenjiku Tokubei (1804, kabuki drama) wears popular, hardy Ainu "atsushi" clothing. Hakkenden (Takizawa Bakin, 1814-41) uses Ainu myth of dog-ancestors 1789 Ainu uprising in east Hokkaido. Trade and Political Contact with the West during Tokugawa 1580~ Portugese galleons annually ship 20,000 kilos of silver out of Japan. 1750~ Arita pocelain becomes major export to Dutch merchants 1796 Scholars finish compiling Dutch-J dictionary. Revised thru 1833. Publication allowed 1855. 1808.10 British ship Phaeton lands at Nagasaki using Dutch flag, but departs immediately 1811 Russian ship Diana crew arrested by Japan during survey of Kuriles 1813 British take Java, try unsuccessfully to open trade with Japan 1837 American ship Morrison unsuccessfully tries to return stranded Japanese fishermen 1846 US ships Vincesses and Columbus try unsuccessfully to open diplomatic relations 1849 British ship Mariner tries unsuccessfully to open diplomatic relations Japanese People outside of Japan 1728 Gonza snd Sza leave Satsuma; shipwreck on Kamchatka; sent to St. Petersburg; arrive 1732-4; Orthodox Baptism; S. dies 1736; G. writes Satsuma-dialect lexicon, etc.; d.1739. 1792 Daikokuya Kday and two others return with Russian mission. Westerners in Japan: Francis Xavier, Sidotti, Kaempfer, Thunberg (1775), Siebold (1820s) Literary Terms: Gokan, Kusazs hi, Jruri, Bunraku, Kabuki, Kokkeibon, Kibyshi, Aobyshi, Yomihon, Kawaraban, Kiwamono, Ukiyo, Ukiyoe, c.1810 Lending libraries proliferate (300 in Osaka, 600 in Edo). Mobile book-lenders, too. 1787-93 Kansei Reforms of Matsudaira Sadanobu include publication prohibitions = decline of sharebon, rise of kokkeibon, ninjobon, depicting life and language of entertainment districts. = kokkeibon: Shikitei Sanba, Ukiyodoko, etc. 1839 Proliferation of ninjboon (love stories, i.e., by Shunsui and followers) 1842 Prohibition of ninjboon, works by Hirata Atsutane, etc.: Oorai-mono: readers for terakoya schoolchildren, etc.: word lists, dictionaries, lists of poems, songs, letter-writing patterns, books for teaching women, etc.: 15-??: Teikun rai: textbook, precedent for others. 1729 (not Kaibara Ekiken) Onna daigaku: feudal guide to proper women's behavior. 1766 (reprints thru 1830) Hyakush rai hnenz: guide to farmer vocabulary. 18-?? Shbai rai: guide to merchant vocabulary. 1847 Higashizato Sanjin, Tkaid meisho rai: guide to Tkaid place names. 187-? Sekai shbai rai: guide to consumer products imported from West. Health Issues: Cholera: 1817 first major outbreak in India 1822 First outbreak in Japan: known as ŌkororiÕ Smallpox: 1870s Morse notes large population blinded by smallpox 1800-1850 Late Tokugawa Social, Economic, and Political Turmoil 1831 Chsh peasant uprising: 60,000 oppose bureaucracy, argue for market and political reforms. 1833-36 Great Temp Era Famine 1837 Oshio Heihachir leads revolt in Osaka against policies leading to famine; fails, suicide. 1838-43 Temp Era Reforms: ineffective measures against a rapidly destabilizing economy 1843 Formation of Htokusha (farmer support organization) at Odawara 1800-1850 Social and Industrial Transformations in West 19th C: shift in population to cities; 1798 Eli Whitney proposes using interchangeable parts in flintlock production 1811-1816 English Luddite weavers protest against textile loom technology 1850-1900 Basic literacy rates jump from 65% to 95% in England and France Pre-Meiji Literary Contact with the West 1861 ..., Waran bisei dan, translation by Kanda Khei 1840-1865 World colonization by Western Powers continues 1800-1850s advances in technology enable inland conquests in Africa and Asia. steamships / machine guns / quinine / railways / telegraphs / 1820s-1870s Inland conquests of Africa and Asia yield products for Western market cotton / copper / palm oil / tin / rubber / sugar / tea / coffee / cocoa / ... 1830 France occupies Algeria (Napolean had originally invaded in 1798) 1839-1842 (China) Opium War: Britain attacks Ch. to bolster opium commerce; 1842 Nanking Treaties of '42 and '43: open 5 ports, reparations, extraterritoriality... 1845-46 Irish potato blight incurs mass starvation, emigration; while England yawns. 1853 Karl Marx predicts that India will undergo vast and rich industrialization. 1853-56 Crimean War 1857-58 Indian Rebellion 1858 China Treaty of Tientsin: 1857-60 West attacks China repeatedly to receive damage awards 1859 France occupies Saigon ======================================== Must add: Ako uprising chrono sakura... hero chrono ========================================= samurai taught to live by confucian ethics: idealization of social relations: lord-vassal, parent-child, ... honor to feudal lord death in battle was glorified suicide rituals as a measure of protest no display of emotion, ascetic Samurai were supposed to be exemplars of moral behavior if one is guilty, all are punished) Fumi-e against Christian threat Very high capital punishment rate Examples of punishments Leupp 76 Killing one's master: expose for two days in public saw off head and display headless corpse Death for striking or wounding master or former master Frequent fights between samurai samurai women were taught how to wash a head parade in public for one day To keep economy under control, attempts to regulate international trade: Sakoku (Closed-country policy; allowed limited trade with Dutch, and with Asian areas) When an elephant was brought over from Vietnam around 1720, the Emperor wanted to look at it, so they ended up being forced to award the Elephant the fourth imperial rank, so that he could have an audience with the Emperor. General domestic peace caused booming economy travel by 1550s wak pirates had forced drop in Ch. and Korean maritime trade. 1557 Ming renounced trade with Japan; but continued, muted; 1560s-1580s Seafarers move south; substantial trade w/ Philippines, etc. trade in basic food goods; also many specialty items, clothing, etc. (Iwao) 1587 Hideyoshi secures Kyushu; cracks down on pirates; 1592 Hideyoshi sends out armada, planning to conquer Peking. = encounters resistance at many points; retreats to Pusan while negotiating truce. 1596 attacks resumed 1599 Japanese troops withdraw from peninsula