Welcome to Japan,

The Land of the Rising Sun

Japan is a place full of history. Japan is also a place filled with people who embrace the olden ways of doing thing, and there are some who rather do things the modern way.

In this guide book of the country, we will be taking you on a journey through the Edo Japan period of this country.

Table of Contents

In this Travel Guide,

there will be 6 different chapters:

1.History and Government of the Early Edo Period

2.Social Structure

3.Key Cities of the Edo Period of Japan

4.Popular Culture

5. Changes in Japan since foreign influence

6.Martial Arts

Chapter 1:

A List of Topics that will be covered in this chapter

Chapter 1(Con.)

A List of Topics that will be covered in this chapter

Chapter 1-1: The Great Peace Era of Japan

How did it Start?

Back in 1500, Japan was separated in 250 small regions. Each region was controlled by a Daimyo who were always at war with each other to gain power, prestige, and more land. Soon in the late 1500's, 3 shoguns were credited with unifying Japan, and you will learn about them in the next chapter.

Chapter 1-2: The 3 Shoguns of the Great Peace

The 3 main Shoguns of the Great Peace Era of Japan are:

Oda Nobunaga

Toyotomi Hideyoshi

Tokugawa Ieyasu

Chapter 1-2A: Oda Nobunaga

Oda Nobunaga was considered the first shogun of the the Great Peace. He was born in 1534 and died in 1582. Nobunaga was the daimyo of the Oda region/clan. In the year of 1568, he had gained control of about 1/3 of Japan including the capital of Kyoto.

Chapter 1-2B: Toyotomi Hideyoshi

Toyotomi Hideyoshi is considered to be be the 2nd shogun of the Great Peace. He was born in 1536 and died in 1598. He was the successor of Nobunaga and was the one who had united the rest of Japan.

Chapter 1-2C: Tokugawa Ieyasu

Tokugawa Ieyasu is considered to be the 3rd shogun of the Great Peace. He was born in 1542 and died in 1616. He was the successor to Hideyoshi. Tokugawa was the one who had closed the country expect for Deshima Island in 1633-1853.

Chapter 1-3: Japan's Isolation Period

Why did it happen?

Japan's Isolation Period happened from 1633-1853. (Established by Ieyasu and continued after Ieyasu's death)But why did it happen?

Japan's Isolation Period had happened because Tokugawa Ieyasu did not Japan to become a European settlement, and that he didn't want the Japanese to be influenced by Western ideas.

Chapter 1-3:The Spread of Christianity in Japan

After Tokugawa Ieyasu's death, the Bakufu became more concerned about the spread of Christianity in Japan. They were also afraid that the Christian Daimyo would follow their spiritual leaders instead of seeing the shogun as their ultimate authority.

Chapter 1-5: The Bakufu and Daimyo

The Bakufu is the highest ranking government in Japan and is lead by a shogun, and like Daimyo the shogun is also a feudal lord and rules his own Han.

A Daimyo is the ruler of the local government which is called a Han.

Chapter 1-5A: Edicts set by Japan's Government

Some Edicts that were made during Japan's Isolation Period:

1.Japanese ships are strictly forbidden to travel to foreign countries.

2. No Japanese is permitted to go abroad.

3.Anyone who attempts to do so must be

executed.

Chapter 1-6:Confucianism in Japan

Confucianism was a system of beliefs that focused on morals, education,

and a strict order in government and society.

Chapter 2:

A List of Topics that will be covered in this chapter

Chapter 2-1: Social Structure in Japan

Chapter 2-1A: Shogun

Chapter 2-1B: Samurai

Chapter 2-1C: Farmers

Chapter 2-1D: Artisans

Chapter 2-1E: Merchants

Chapter 2-1F: Eta

Chapter 2-1G: Hinin

Chapter 2-2: Samurai's Code of Bushido

Chapter 2-1: Social Structures in Japan

In this chapter, we will study the social structures ladder of Japan which include:

Shoguns, Samurai, Farmers, Artisans, Merchants, Eta, Hinin

Chapter 2-1A: Shoguns

A Shogun is the person that is in charge of the main government in Japan called the Bakufu.

Examples:

Chapter 2-1B: Samurai

Samurai are men who hereditary warriors who were basically the police officers of Edo Japan.

Chapter 2-1C: Farmers

Farmers were the people who had to farm the land to be able to make/grow food such as rice.

Chapter 2-1D: Artisians

Artisans were the people(either male or female) who make useful or decorative objects.

Chapter 2-1E: Merchants

Merchants are people who distributed goods, but don't contribute directly through labor.

Chapter 2-1F: Outcasts(Eta)

Outcasts also known as Eta are the people who have jobs that are related to the deaths of animals or humans such as tanning hides or removing corpses.

Chapter 2-1G: Non-Humans(Hinin)

Non-Humans also known as Hinin are the people who survived by begging, acting, telling fortunes, and other activities that were frowned upon.

Chapter 2-2: The Samurai's Code of Bushido

The Code of Bushido is the code of behaviour for Samurai.Based on Confucianism, bushido told the

samurai to be models of cultural, moral,

and intellectual development and to set

the example for duty and loyalty for other samurai or humans.

Chapter 3:

A List of Topics that will be covered in this chapter

Chapter 3-1: The evolution of Castle Towns

Chapter 3-2: The 3 key Cities in Edo Japan

Chapter 3-2A: Edo

Chapter 3-2B: Kyoto

Chapter 3-2C: Osaka

Chapter 3-1: The evolution of Castle Towns

Castle Towns in Edo Japan grew huger because of the arrival of a lot of artisans, and merchants. The daimyo/shogun were allowed 1 castle as his seat of power. Everyone else had to live/do business around his castle.

Chapter 3-2: The 3 key Cities in Edo Japan

The 3 Key cities that existed in Edo Japan and we will be covering are:

1.Edo

2.Kyoto

3.Osaka

Chapter 3-2A: Edo(Modern Day Tokyo)

Edo was a large city and government centre. Tokugawa Ieyasu chose a spot that was next to the sea and had an easily defendable port, so that he could trade with Kyoto and Osaka for high quality goods such as:

Fabrics, Sake and Soy Sauce

Map of Edo Japan

Chapter 2-2B: Kyoto

Kyoto was the ancient capital of Japan and was home to the Imperial Castle where the Emperor lived. The location of this city was chosen as it had easy river access to the sea and was at the middle of land routes through the mountains. Kyoto is known for its as silk brocades, fine lacquer, and metal work.

Map of Kyoto

Chapter 3-2C: Osaka

Osaka was a large commercial center, that was built around a very protected harbor. Ships from China and Ryukyu Island(SW of Japan) could easily dock here. Osaka soon became the center of Japanese economy. The city is famous for it's castle which is also Buddhist Temple, and its 150 bridges which go across various bodies of water.The daimyo transported their surplus rice to sell in Osaka and it became the center of the rice market in Japan.

Map of Osaka

Chapter 4:

A List of Topics that will be covered in this chapter

Chapter 4-1: What is Popular Culture?

Chapter 4-1A: Kabuki Theatre

Chapter 4-1B: Bunraku Theatre

Chapter 4-1C: Geisha's

Chapter 4-1D: Woodblock Images

Chapter 4-1E: Books/Literature

Chapter 4-2: Basho Matsuo