Changes

Though the Japanese had had some interactions and dealings with the Ainu (or Emishi) of Hokkaidô in earlier periods<ref>Including as early as the late 15th century, when the [[Ando clan|Andô clan]] and [[Takeda Nobuhiro]], ancestor of the Matsumae clan, were active in Ezo.</ref>, it was in the Edo period that directed policy was first aimed at the island of Hokkaidô, then called Ezo.

Though the Japanese had had some interactions and dealings with the Ainu (or Emishi) of Hokkaidô in earlier periods<ref>Including as early as the late 15th century, when the [[Ando clan|Andô clan]] and [[Takeda Nobuhiro]], ancestor of the Matsumae clan, were active in Ezo.</ref>, it was in the Edo period that directed policy was first aimed at the island of Hokkaidô, then called Ezo.

For most of the Edo period, the Japanese continued to directly control very little of the island, but the economic benefits, and political or discursive benefits of having Ezo (and its people, the Ainu) within Japan's sphere of influence was of importance to the shogunate. Relations with the Ainu were handled almost exclusively by the [[Matsumae clan]] beginning in [[1604]], the only clan to be based on Ezo. Where Hokkaidô Ainu had previously traveled freely to Honshû to trade, after 1604 they gradually came to do most, if not all, trading at or through Matsumae, or through Wajin who came into Ainu communities and lands.<ref name=hokkmuseum>Gallery labels, Hokkaido Museum.[https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/52227210470/sizes/h/][https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/52226999034/in/photostream/]</ref> From the 1630s onward, Matsumae retainers increasingly imposed exploitative trade relationships upon the Ainu. Ainu traders became less free to travel to seek out and choose their trading partners. Instead, they were obliged to trade only at Matsumae or at trading posts run by retainers or merchants designated by the domain, and could only trade at rates and on terms set by the Wajin.<ref name=hokkmuseum/> In terms of the types of goods, the Ainu provided items such as furs, fish, hawks for [[takagari|hunting]], as well as items obtained from the Asian continent, in exchange for [[lacquer]]ware, swords, and other Japanese craft-goods. Many of these Japanese craft-goods were actually rather out of reach for the average Japanese peasant of the time, so the fact that Ainu had access to them is actually quite significant.<ref name=frontier45/> Japanese settlers also began to move into various areas of Hokkaidô in search of [[gold]] dust.<ref name=hokkmuseum/>

For most of the Edo period, the Japanese continued to directly control very little of the island, but the economic benefits, and political or discursive benefits of having Ezo (and its people, the Ainu) within Japan's sphere of influence was of importance to the shogunate. Relations with the Ainu were handled almost exclusively by the [[Matsumae clan]] beginning in [[1604]], the only clan to be based on Ezo. Where Hokkaidô Ainu had previously traveled freely to Honshû to trade, after 1604 they gradually came to do most, if not all, trading at or through Matsumae, or through Wajin who came into Ainu communities and lands.<ref name=hokkmuseum>Gallery labels, Hokkaido Museum.[https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/52227210470/sizes/h/][https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/52226999034/in/photostream/]</ref> From the 1630s onward, Matsumae retainers increasingly imposed exploitative trade relationships upon the Ainu. Ainu traders became less free to travel to seek out and choose their trading partners. Instead, they were obliged to trade only at Matsumae or at trading posts run by retainers or merchants designated by the domain, and could only trade at rates and on terms set by the Wajin.<ref name=hokkmuseum/> In terms of the types of goods, the Ainu chiefly traded furs, fish, kelp, hawks for [[takagari|hunting]], and items obtained from the Asian continent for rice, [[sake]], [[tobacco]], and Japanese-made textiles, [[lacquer]]wares, iron wares, swords, and other craft goods. Many of these Japanese craft-goods were actually rather out of reach for the average Japanese peasant of the time, so the fact that Ainu had access to them is actually quite significant.<ref name=frontier45/>  

Ainu communities on Honshû, meanwhile, came under the authority of the [[Tsugaru clan|Tsugaru]] and [[Nanbu clan]]s, and became isolated from those in Hokkaidô. By the 18th century, these communities, as well as those residing within the Wajinchi area of Hokkaidô, were absorbed into the Wajin population and disappeared as distinct Ainu communities.<ref>Howell, "Peripheries," 617.</ref>

Ainu communities on Honshû, meanwhile, came under the authority of the [[Tsugaru clan|Tsugaru]] and [[Nanbu clan]]s, and became isolated from those in Hokkaidô. By the 18th century, these communities, as well as those residing within the Wajinchi area of Hokkaidô, were absorbed into the Wajin population and disappeared as distinct Ainu communities.<ref>Howell, "Peripheries," 617.</ref>

Indeed, in [[1799]], and again in [[1807]], the shogunate laid claim to lands in these areas, returning them to the responsibility of the Matsumae clan only in [[1821]], after fears of Russian encroachment subsided. At that time, policies or attitudes about the Japanization of the Ainu were reversed. Discursively, it lent greater power and legitimacy to the Matsumae clan, and to the shogunate, to appear to have a foreign people submitting themselves to Japanese dominion; the [[Shimazu clan]] of [[Satsuma han]] engaged in similar discursive activities in their relations with the Kingdom of Ryûkyû.

Indeed, in [[1799]], and again in [[1807]], the shogunate laid claim to lands in these areas, returning them to the responsibility of the Matsumae clan only in [[1821]], after fears of Russian encroachment subsided. At that time, policies or attitudes about the Japanization of the Ainu were reversed. Discursively, it lent greater power and legitimacy to the Matsumae clan, and to the shogunate, to appear to have a foreign people submitting themselves to Japanese dominion; the [[Shimazu clan]] of [[Satsuma han]] engaged in similar discursive activities in their relations with the Kingdom of Ryûkyû.

Though continuing to exert direct control over only a very small portion of the island, in the 18th century the Matsumae clan began licensing Japanese merchants to establish commercial operations in Ainu lands, setting up small permanent outposts of Japanese settlement, and cottage industries such as fisheries, where Ainu served as hired labor. Ainu were in fact pressured to work for the fisheries, and discouraged - through intimidation and other forceful methods - from engaging in farming; Ainu agriculture noticeably declined in the 17th-18th centuries.<ref>Morris-Suzuki. "Creating the Frontier." p21.</ref> This, combined with severe increases in prices for Japanese goods frustrated the Ainu, who saw this as a betrayal by people who had, up until then, kept to their own territory, traded fairly and amicably, and treated the Ainu with respect. Several Ainu rebellions would occur over the course of the Edo period, one of the largest or most famous being [[Shakushain's Revolt]] in [[1669]]-[[1672]], but all were eventually suppressed.

Though continuing to exert direct control over only a very small portion of the island, in the 18th century the Matsumae clan began licensing Japanese merchants to establish commercial operations in Ainu lands, setting up small permanent outposts of Japanese settlement, and cottage industries such as fisheries, where Ainu served as hired labor. Ainu were in fact pressured to work for the fisheries, and discouraged - through intimidation and other forceful methods - from engaging in farming; Ainu agriculture noticeably declined in the 17th-18th centuries.<ref>Morris-Suzuki. "Creating the Frontier." p21.</ref> Japanese settlers also began to move into various areas of Hokkaidô in search of [[gold]]; gold-panning activities quickly began to pollute the rivers, and to have a markedly negative impact on the salmon, and on Ainu livelihoods otherwise.<ref name=hokkmuseum/> This, combined with severe increases in prices for Japanese goods frustrated the Ainu, who saw this as a betrayal by people who had, up until then, kept to their own territory, traded fairly and amicably, and treated the Ainu with respect. Several Ainu rebellions would occur over the course of the Edo period, one of the largest or most famous being [[Shakushain's Revolt]] in [[1669]]-[[1672]], but all were eventually suppressed.

The Ainu continued to trade not only with the Japanese, but with various mainland Asian peoples, throughout the Edo period. Though the volume of this trade is unclear, some amount of goods from Russia, and from indigenous tribal groups such as the Nivkh and Uilta, were then in turn traded to the Japanese.

The Ainu continued to trade not only with the Japanese, but with various mainland Asian peoples, throughout the Edo period. Though the volume of this trade is unclear, some amount of goods from Russia, and from indigenous tribal groups such as the Nivkh and Uilta, were then in turn traded to the Japanese.