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*''Japanese'': 江戸時代 ''(Edo jidai)''
*''Japanese'': 江戸時代 (''Edo jidai'')
The Edo period, also known as the Tokugawa period, covers the years during which the [[Tokugawa shogunate]] controlled Japan. It runs from around [[1600]] until [[1868]]. A space of over 250 years in between the countrywide wars of the [[Sengoku Period]] and the violence surrounding the [[Meiji Restoration]], the Edo period was characterized chiefly by the rise of urban culture and modern economic structures. It is also known as the Early Modern period in Japan, and shares many of the features of social, economic, and political development of the same period in the West.
The Edo period, also known as the Tokugawa period, covers the years during which the [[Tokugawa shogunate]] controlled Japan. It runs from around [[1600]] until [[1868]]. A space of over 250 years in between the countrywide wars of the [[Sengoku Period]] and the violence surrounding the [[Meiji Restoration]], the Edo period was characterized chiefly by the rise of urban culture and modern economic structures. It is also known as the Early Modern period in Japan, and shares many of the features of social, economic, and political development of the same period in the West.
Having defeated the armies of his enemies, and been named Shogun, Tokugawa Ieyasu began the process of establishing the legitimacy and stability of his clan's rule. It was not a rapid process, and many of these policies and structures were put into place by Ieyasu's successors over the course of several decades.
Having defeated the armies of his enemies, and been named Shogun, Tokugawa Ieyasu began the process of establishing the legitimacy and stability of his clan's rule. It was not a rapid process, and many of these policies and structures were put into place by Ieyasu's successors over the course of several decades.
Ieyasu divided the [[provinces of Japan]] into several hundred feudal domains, called ''han''. Some areas, including [[Edo]], [[Kyoto]], [[Nagasaki]], and [[Osaka]] after its fall in 1615, were administered directly by shogunal representatives called ''[[Shoshi-dai]]'' in Kyoto and ''[[Machi bugyo|Machi bugyô]]'' in the other cities. [[Nara]], [[Sunpu]], [[Nikko|Nikkô]] were also among the cities administered in this way. The ''han'' were then divided among members of the Tokugawa family, Tokugawa retainers, and other clan heads, who thus became ''[[daimyo|daimyô]]''.
Ieyasu divided the [[provinces of Japan]] into several hundred feudal domains, called ''han''. Some areas, including [[Edo]], [[Kyoto]], [[Nagasaki]], and [[Osaka]] after its fall in 1615, were administered directly by shogunal representatives called ''[[Shoshi-dai]]'' in Kyoto and ''[[Machi bugyo|Machi bugyô]]'' in the other cities. [[Nara]], [[Sunpu]], [[Nikko|Nikkô]] were also among the cities administered in this way<ref>Sansom, George. ''A History of Japan 1615-1867''. Stanford: Stanford University Press, 1963</ref>. The ''han'' were then divided among members of the Tokugawa family, Tokugawa retainers, and other clan heads, who thus became ''[[daimyo|daimyô]]''.
Members of the family granted land were known as ''[[shinpan]]'' and most were granted territory close to Edo such as [[Mito han]]. Other important Tokugawa retainers were made ''[[fudai]] daimyô'' and given territories in the [[Kanto|Kantô]] or [[Kinai]] (the center of the country), or in strategic locations, such as overseeing important points along the [[Tokaido|Tôkaidô]] highway, or watching over the last group of ''daimyô'', the ''[[tozama]] daimyô''. The '''tozama'' were those who opposed Tokugawa Ieyasu at Sekigahara. Many of them held the largest, wealthiest and most powerful territories, and most were allowed by the shogunate to keep their lands in exchange for their loyalty.
Members of the family granted land were known as ''[[shinpan]]'' and most were granted territory close to Edo such as [[Mito han]]. Other important Tokugawa retainers were made ''[[fudai]] daimyô'' and given territories in the [[Kanto|Kantô]] or [[Kinai]] (the center of the country), or in strategic locations, such as overseeing important points along the [[Tokaido|Tôkaidô]] highway, or watching over the last group of ''daimyô'', the ''[[tozama]] daimyô''<ref>Sansom. p3.</ref>. The '''tozama'' were those who opposed Tokugawa Ieyasu at Sekigahara. Many of them held the largest, wealthiest and most powerful territories, and most were allowed by the shogunate to keep their lands in exchange for their loyalty.
The Tokugawa state has been described as a "compound state", not a single unified state under a central government with absolute powers. On the contrary, the ''han'' enjoyed a considerable degree of independence, and the shogunate very rarely made efforts to directly impose or enforce policy within a domain, circumventing the authority of the ''daimyô''. Within a domain, the ''daimyô'' had more authority, or rather more direct authority, than the shogunate. For this reason, a variety of systems were established to ensure the peace and to prevent ''daimyô'' rebellion.
The Tokugawa state has been described as a "compound state"<ref>Ravina, Mark. "State-Building and Political Economy in Early-Modern Japan." ''Journal of Asian Studies''. 54:4 (Nov 1995). p1017.</ref>, not a single unified state under a central government with absolute powers. On the contrary, the ''han'' enjoyed a considerable degree of independence, and the shogunate very rarely made efforts to directly impose or enforce policy within a domain, circumventing the authority of the ''daimyô''. Within a domain, the ''daimyô'' had more authority, or rather more direct authority, than the shogunate. For this reason, a variety of systems were established to ensure the peace and to prevent ''daimyô'' rebellion.
Each ''han'' was ordered in 1615 to destroy all but one castle in its territory, and was not allowed to make repairs or expansions upon the domain's defenses without shogunate approval. Samurai were restricted to the castle towns, so as to prevent them from organizing rebellions or building armies in the countryside, and marriages between ''daimyô'' clans, which could represent the beginnings of alliances, were similarly forbidden without shogunate approval. The ''[[sankin kotai|sankin kôtai]]'' system was another key element of these restrictive measures. Initially voluntary, the system was made mandatory in 1635; ''daimyô'' were obligated to maintain a residence in Edo, where members of their close family would reside as hostages against the ''daimyô's'' disobedience or rebellion. The ''daimyô'' were also obligated to make annual journeys to Edo, and to reside there for half of each year; the massive expenses associated with these journeys served to place limits on even the wealth of the most powerful ''daimyô''.
Each ''han'' was ordered in 1615 to destroy all but one castle in its territory<ref>Sakai, Robert. "Feudal Society and Modern Leadership in Satsuma-han." ''Journal of Asian Studies'' 16:3 (May 1957). pp366-7.</ref>, and was not allowed to make repairs or expansions upon the domain's defenses without shogunate approval. Samurai were restricted to the castle towns, so as to prevent them from organizing rebellions or building armies in the countryside, and marriages between ''daimyô'' clans, which could represent the beginnings of alliances, were similarly forbidden without shogunate approval<ref>Sansom. pp7-8.</ref>. The ''[[sankin kotai|sankin kôtai]]'' system was another key element of these restrictive measures. Initially voluntary, the system was made mandatory in 1635; ''daimyô'' were obligated to maintain a residence in Edo, where members of their close family would reside as hostages against the ''daimyô's'' disobedience or rebellion. The ''daimyô'' were also obligated to make annual journeys to Edo<ref>Sansom. p20f.</ref>, and to reside there for half of each year; the massive expenses associated with these journeys served to place limits on even the wealth of the most powerful ''daimyô''.
The early decades of the Edo period were also marked by extensive foreign trade and cultural exchange. Continuing a system established by [[Toyotomi Hideyoshi]], the shogunate sent formally licensed ships called ''[[shuinsen]]'' (vermillion seal ships) throughout East and Southeast Asia. The region's seas were overrun with pirates and raiders, known as ''[[wako|wakô]]'' throughout the Sengoku period and the 17th century; in theory, these licenses helped foreign authorities distinguish legitimate traders from ''wakô''.
The early decades of the Edo period were also marked by extensive foreign trade and cultural exchange. Continuing a system established by [[Toyotomi Hideyoshi]], the shogunate sent formally licensed ships called ''[[shuinsen]]'' (vermillion seal ships) throughout East and Southeast Asia. The region's seas were overrun with pirates and raiders, known as ''[[wako|wakô]]'' throughout the Sengoku period and the 17th century<ref>Arano, Yasunori. "The Entrenchment of the Concept of 'National Seclusion'". ''Acta Asiatica'' vol 67 (1994). p98.</ref>; in theory, these licenses helped foreign authorities distinguish legitimate traders from ''wakô''.
This trade came to an end in [[1635]] with the imposition of a set of maritime restrictions known as ''[[kaikin]]'' which forbade Japanese from traveling abroad or from returning to Japan. Over the course of the period from [[1633]] to [[1641]], the shogunate imposed a number of other related policies, restricting Chinese traders and representatives of the [[Dutch East India Company]] to Nagasaki, and all trade and relations to only four ports. Relations and trade with the Dutch and Chinese were managed at the shogunate-controlled port of Nagasaki; contact and trade with China was also effected through [[Satsuma han]] in the far south of [[Kyushu|Kyûshû]] and its vassal state, the [[Kingdom of Ryukyu|Kingdom of Ryûkyû]]. The [[So clan|Sô clan]] of [[Tsushima han]] handled relations with [[Korea]] and [[Matsumae han|Matsumae]], the only ''han'' on [[Ezo]] (now known as Hokkaidô), managed relations and trade with the native [[Ainu]]. Relations also continued, albeit to limited degrees, with various Southeast Asian polities, through Chinese traders who carried gifts and missives.
This trade came to an end in [[1635]] with the imposition of a set of maritime restrictions known as ''[[kaikin]]''<ref>Arano. p83.</ref> which forbade Japanese from traveling abroad or from returning to Japan. Over the course of the period from [[1633]] to [[1641]], the shogunate imposed a number of other related policies, restricting Chinese traders and representatives of the [[Dutch East India Company]] to Nagasaki, and all trade and relations to only four ports. Relations and trade with the Dutch and Chinese were managed at the shogunate-controlled port of Nagasaki; contact and trade with China was also effected through [[Satsuma han]] in the far south of [[Kyushu|Kyûshû]] and its vassal state, the [[Kingdom of Ryukyu|Kingdom of Ryûkyû]]. The [[So clan|Sô clan]] of [[Tsushima han]] handled relations with [[Korea]] and [[Matsumae han|Matsumae]], the only ''han'' on [[Ezo]] (now known as Hokkaidô), managed relations and trade with the native [[Ainu]]. Relations also continued, albeit to limited degrees, with various Southeast Asian polities, through Chinese traders who carried gifts and missives.
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==Popular Culture==
==Popular Culture==
Many aspects of Japanese culture which are today stereotypically considered to be quite "traditional" in fact had their start in the Edo period. [[Kabuki]] and ''[[joruri|jôruri]]'' puppet theatre (also known as ''bunraku'') developed over the course of the 17th century, reaching their climax around 1690-1750. ''[[Ukiyo-e]]'', or "pictures of the floating world", developed over the course of the 17th century, emerging in earnest in the Genroku period; but full-color prints did not appear until [[1765]].
Many aspects of Japanese culture which are today stereotypically considered to be quite "traditional" in fact had their start in the Edo period. [[Kabuki]] and ''[[joruri|jôruri]]'' puppet theatre (also known as ''bunraku'') developed over the course of the 17th century, reaching their climax around 1690-1750. ''[[Ukiyo-e]]'', or "pictures of the floating world", developed over the course of the 17th century, emerging in earnest in the Genroku period<ref>Lane, Richard. ''Images from the Floating World.'' Old Saybrook, CT: Konecky & Konecky, 1978. pp11-34ff.</ref>; but full-color prints did not appear until [[1765]]<ref>Lane. pp308-9</ref>.
The [[Yoshiwara]] and other realms of the courtesans likewise did not appear until the Edo period, and developed over the course of the period from a simple place for prostitution into the highly romanticized and ritualized subject of countless works of art and literature, both contemporary and modern.
The [[Yoshiwara]] and other realms of the courtesans likewise did not appear until the Edo period, and developed over the course of the period from a simple place for prostitution into the highly romanticized and ritualized subject of countless works of art and literature, both contemporary and modern.
==References==
==References==
*[[Mary Elizabeth Berry|Berry, Mary Elizabeth]]. "Public Peace and Private Attachment: The Goals and Conduct of Power in Early Modern Japan," ''Journal of Japanese Studies'', 12:2 (Summer 1986). pp237-71.
*[[Mary Elizabeth Berry|Berry, Mary Elizabeth]]. "Public Peace and Private Attachment: The Goals and Conduct of Power in Early Modern Japan," ''Journal of Japanese Studies'', 12:2 (Summer 1986). pp237-71.
*[[Mark Ravina|Ravina, Mark]]. ''Land and Lordship in Early Modern Japan''. Stanford: Stanford University Press, 1999.
*[[Mark Ravina|Ravina, Mark]]. "State-Building and Political Economy in Early-Modern Japan." ''Journal of Asian Studies''. 54:4 (Nov 1995). pp997-1022.
*[[Ronald Toby|Toby, Ronald]]. ''State and Diplomacy in Early Modern Japan''. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1984.
*[[Ronald Toby|Toby, Ronald]]. ''State and Diplomacy in Early Modern Japan''. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1984.
[[Category:Historical Periods]][[Category:Edo Period]]
[[Category:Historical Periods]][[Category:Edo Period]]
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