Tokugawa Shogunate
Tokugawa Shogunate: Strengths and Weaknesses
Robert H. Webb
History 483
Professor John H. Sagers
6 August 2010
The death of emperor Hideyoshi and subsequent ascension to the throne of Hideyori in 1598 set into motion events that would alter the political landscape in Japan for the next two hundred and fifty years. Tokugawa Ieyasu, in his quest to become absolute ruler of Japan defeated Hideyori loyalists in the battle of Sekigahara and was appointed Shogun by Hideyori in 1603. This military “coup d’état” effectively gave Tokugawa complete control of Japan and reduced the emperor to little more than a figurehead in the governing of Japan. As history would show, the feudal system of government that Tokugawa created ultimately led to Japan’s movement from an isolated country to the first industrialized Asian nation. Although effectively a military dictatorship, the Tokugawa shogunate had the positive effect of unifying Japan under one government. Prior to Tokugawa being appointed as shogun Japan was a fragmented nation with many clan leaders. By completing his power grab, Tokugawa effectively joined the three main islands of Japan. Japan entered a period of prolonged peace in which many changes could occur. Tokugawa established a government centered in Edo (modern day Tokyo) called a bakufu in which daimyo (lords or barons in the European system) controlled regional lands and in turned served the shogun.
The Tokugawa political system was very complex in its operation. It was similar in many aspects to the European feudal system but it was very bureaucratic. Although the emperor remained seated on the throne he had little to no political power and was primarily a remnant of the neo-Confucian ideological theory. This theory prescribed a very structured society in which all people in society fell into certain classes. The four major classes within Japanese society were samurai, farmers, artisans, and merchants. Some members of Japanese society were
Robert H. Webb
History 483
Professor John H. Sagers
6 August 2010
The death of emperor Hideyoshi and subsequent ascension to the throne of Hideyori in 1598 set into motion events that would alter the political landscape in Japan for the next two hundred and fifty years. Tokugawa Ieyasu, in his quest to become absolute ruler of Japan defeated Hideyori loyalists in the battle of Sekigahara and was appointed Shogun by Hideyori in 1603. This military “coup d’état” effectively gave Tokugawa complete control of Japan and reduced the emperor to little more than a figurehead in the governing of Japan. As history would show, the feudal system of government that Tokugawa created ultimately led to Japan’s movement from an isolated country to the first industrialized Asian nation. Although effectively a military dictatorship, the Tokugawa shogunate had the positive effect of unifying Japan under one government. Prior to Tokugawa being appointed as shogun Japan was a fragmented nation with many clan leaders. By completing his power grab, Tokugawa effectively joined the three main islands of Japan. Japan entered a period of prolonged peace in which many changes could occur. Tokugawa established a government centered in Edo (modern day Tokyo) called a bakufu in which daimyo (lords or barons in the European system) controlled regional lands and in turned served the shogun.
The Tokugawa political system was very complex in its operation. It was similar in many aspects to the European feudal system but it was very bureaucratic. Although the emperor remained seated on the throne he had little to no political power and was primarily a remnant of the neo-Confucian ideological theory. This theory prescribed a very structured society in which all people in society fell into certain classes. The four major classes within Japanese society were samurai, farmers, artisans, and merchants. Some members of Japanese society were
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