Ellington Lesson Two: Inventions and Ideas in China

This assignment is intended to achieve two objectives. The first is to assist teachers in understanding the complexity, sophistication, and achievements of Japan during its early modern period. The second objective is to help teachers better comprehend the first seminal event in US-Japan relations: Commodore Perry’s 1853-54 expedition.

Teachers should first read my short overview of Tokugawa Japan, "The Bamboo Blind." The essay appears immediately below. Next, although a complete read is not required, teachers should read a substantial portion of "Unifying and Governing Early Modern Japan" by going to the link provided under the title in order to gain a sense of how Tokugawa society was initially controlled and regulated. Then, teachers should read all of the brief primary source document, "The Four Classes of Tokugawa Society" and of the longer photo essay by John Dower," Black Ships and Samurai" by going to the respective provided links. Once the readings are completed, teachers should answer two of the following three questions. After completing the readings, teacher should answer two of the following three questions.

Questions (Please only answer two of the three questions below. Disregard discussion questions at the end of the essay links above.)

(required)How has working with these materials broadened and deepened my understanding of both early modern Japan and of early interactions between the US and Japan?

(optional)What concepts or materials from this assignment can you use with students and how might you use the materials?

(optional)If you are not able to use this material in your own class, how might you share it with other teachers in your school?

"The Bamboo Blind" and the "Opening of Japan" (Adapted from the UTC Japan teaching module)

Most of the sixteenth century in Japanese history was characterized by almost incessant civil war and significant societal chaos. This all ended with the reunification of Japan at the turn of the century. Tokugawa Ieyasu (1542-1616) assumed the title of shogun, moved Japan’s capital to Edo, (present-day Tokyo) and completely unified the country in 1615. Members of the Tokugawa family held the office of shogun until 1868 The years 1600-1868 constitute the Tokugawa era of Japanese history.

Primarily in response to European Christian missionary activities and mass conversions, the Tokugawa Government "closed" Japan to foreigners in 1630. Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the military leader who preceded Tokugawa Ieyasu, actually began to limit Japanese contact with the outside world in the latter sixteenth century. However, the late historian Marius Jansen is probably correct in referring to the barrier between Japan and the outside world as a "bamboo" blind rather than an "iron" curtain. This was particularly true throughout the seventeenth century, when Japan’s silver exports constituted thirty percent of all silver in world circulation, and Japanese copper exports to the Dutch were a major factor in the economic rise of the Netherlands. Still, although Japanese trade with the Dutch, Chinese, and Koreans would continue throughout the Tokugawa years, other foreigners were not allowed into Japan, and only a few Japanese traveled to other countries during the period.

Neo-Confucianism, with its hierarchal class structure, was the ruling political ideology. Samurai, who received classical educations and military training, constituted the highest class and merchants were in theory societies’ least valued class. Although there were some parallels between Medieval European feudalism and the Tokugawa political/legal order, the differences between Europe and Japan are at least as numerous as the similarities.

In general, many Japanese benefited from economic prosperity, wide-spread literacy, and in the urban centers and even smaller towns, cultural accoutrements, including widespread availability of books, a variety of goods, and flourishing popular arts and entertainment, ranging from ukiyo-e (wood-block prints) to bunraku and kabuki theater. Perhaps most importantly, Japan was at peace during the Tokugawa years.

The quietude of the Tokugawa years abruptly ended on July 8, 1853, when US Navy Commodore Matthew Perry and his expedition sailed into Edo Bay. Subsequent historical developments would lead to sweeping changes in Japanese society.

Assignment Links