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Introduction:
The Japanese shogunate period (1603-1868) was an important period in Japanese history, also known as the Edo period.
The political and social system of this period had many characteristics and changes, which had a profound impact on the historical and cultural development of Japan.
In this issue, we will analyze and interpret the political and social system of the Japanese shogunate.
1. Historical background
The Japanese shogunate period began in 1603 and ended in 1868.
During this period, under the leadership of the shogunate clan, Japan was divided into several domains, which were then administered by the lord daimyo.
The political and social systems of this period played a crucial role in the evolution of Japanese history.
1.1 Before the shogunate period
During the Heian-kyo period before the shogunate period, Japan was ruled by local feudal nobles and Sengoku daimyo, but because of this, the territorial issue became the trigger for various wars.
In every war, the worst victims are the poor people at the bottom.
This continued until 1600, when Tokugawa Ieyasu won the Battle of Sekigahara.
As a result, the Tokugawa clan became the supreme ruler of Japan, beginning the shogunate era, which lasted for more than two hundred years, and left a splendid mark on history.
Subsequently, in 1603, he established the Edo shogunate and established the shogunate political system, stabilizing and unifying Japan's political and social system, which also became a reference textbook for later generations.
1.2 Middle of the shogunate period
By the middle of the shogunate period, Japanese society was strictly divided into four classes: samurai, farmers, craftsmen, and merchants.
The status of the samurai class was only that of "daimyo", and they had a small number of privileges and enjoyed high social benefits.
Peasants and craftsmen, on the other hand, belong to the working class, have a low status and are always subject to many restrictions in social life, but they are still able to work to make ends meet.
The merchant class was in a very awkward position at this time.
Many of them were rich and rival, but the Deokang clan regarded merchants as lowly people, so merchants were also discriminated against and ostracized in Japanese society at that time.
Such social stratification soon led to a serious differentiation of the social structure, which temporarily maintained social order, but also limited the later development and progress of society.
1.3 "Lockdown Policy"
After rapid social stratification, the shogunate also implemented a strict closed policy, known as the "Lockdown Policy".
The main purpose of this policy was to restrict trade and exchanges with foreign countries, thereby keeping the shogunate's power and status free from other influences.
Such a policy of blind arrogance protected Japan's native culture and economy, but it also led to the eventual economic stagnation and technological backwardness.
Facts have proved that Japan lagged behind other countries in the course of its later history.
1.4 Political and social institutions
The political and social system of this period has had many significant influences on the development of Japanese history from ancient times to the present, both positive and negative.
1.4.1 Political system
The history of the shogunate period lasted for two centuries, and its prosperity and development could not be separated from the strict system of the Tokugawa regime.
The shogunate of the Tokugawa family was well versed in governance.
He divided the country into several domains, each ruled by a daimyo, and the upper shogunate clans administered the daimyo.
Layer by layer, two centuries of stability and peace have been maintained in an orderly manner.
The "daimyo" were Japan's aristocracy, and after the government divided their territory, they led the farmers to cultivate the land, and were also responsible for maintaining law and order and taxation.
The status of the daimyo was equivalent to that of a lord of a land, and although its power was relatively independent, it was also subject to strict restrictions and supervision by the shogunate.
The shogunate was a political body composed of shoguns and Tokugawa retainers, who held actual power throughout the country, including its daimyo and the various "samurai families".
The most important political system of the shogunate was the centralized system.
The centralized system of the shogunate ensured Japan's political stability, and on the eve of the Meiji Restoration, laid a solid foundation for Japan's modernization process.
1.4.2 Social System
In addition to the political system, the social system of the shogunate period also had unique characteristics.
Although different classes have their own responsibilities and obligations after the division of social classes, it is precisely because of this layered and interlocking connection that the unique romantic culture of Edo has been formed.
Because of this, society during the shogunate period was very stable.
At the same time, in this hierarchical and well-defined society, people usually follow strict social norms and etiquette, so the social order at this time is very stable.
1.4.3 Summary
The political and social system of the shogunate period, although limited, also guaranteed Japan's political and social stability to a certain extent.
At the same time, it also laid the foundation for Japan's modernization and played a major role in promoting the modernization process of future generations.
2. The impact of the shogunate's political system
The stability of the political system during the Japanese shogunate mainly relied on the "centralized system" to implement military dictatorship, and only the shogun held real power.
Such a seemingly authoritarian policy has succeeded in bringing together a scattered Japanese regime.
2.1 Composition of the shogunate
The main composition of the shogunate was divided into three parts: shoguns, laojunaka, and daimyo.
As the supreme ruler, the shogun had absolute power and was inherited only by the Tokugawa clan.
Lao Zhong was responsible for supervising the daimyo and, if necessary, exercising supervisory duties over the generals, belonging to "one person below ten thousand".
Daimyo were de facto lower-class rulers, who administered their respective territories and people, paid taxes to the shogunate, and even trained armies and led troops on expeditions.
2.2 Family system
The aristocracy in the shogunate also practiced a strict family system.
The system of each family is much the same.
At the heart of this system is that family members must obey the orders of the family elders, even if they pay with their lives, to maintain the dignity and honor of the family.
Such a strict family system ensures the unity of the people within the family to a certain extent and maintains the class order of society, but it often restricts the development and freedom of individual members.
Even if you can enjoy all kinds of privileges and resources, it is a great sadness to be unable to help yourself.
2.4 Summary
2.4.1 Impact of the Grading System
The grading of social classes during the shogunate period brought prosperity and sowed the seeds of civil unrest.
Everything has two sides, but under such arbitrariness, the two sides are even more extreme.
As mentioned earlier, the samurai class enjoyed privileges and privileges, but in order to maintain the glory and dignity of the family, even if they sacrificed their lives, they could not refuse, otherwise, the people in the family would hunt and kill the person until death.
The common class, whether peasants, craftsmen or merchants, although they are all at the bottom of society, are subject to discrimination and many restrictions.
But they also have their own social organization and cultural traditions, and they also love their lives.
The saying "where there is shadow, there must be sunshine" applies most to them.
Although the social hierarchical system limited the participation and separation of power among the common people, it also gave rise to the samurai class's bushido spirit and family honor, and eventually formed the prosperity of traditional culture and art.
In general, the political system of the Japanese shogunate, although somewhat authoritarian and authoritarian, restricted the freedom and development of the people, but also maintained social stability and order, forming its own "Edo romantic culture".
With the changes of the times and the subsequent modernization process, although this centralized system has gradually been changed and replaced, it has also had a profound impact on the social and cultural system of later generations.
2.4.2 Limit the advantages and disadvantages of all unstable factors
The strict restrictions and supervision of the daimyo by the shogunate regime were mainly manifested in the following aspects.
In order to prevent the lords of each domain from stealing private soldiers, the shogunate clans regularly rotated between Kyoto and Edo to ensure their loyalty and limit their power.
In addition, the shogunate government also stipulated the territorial limits of the daimyos, limiting their property and military power to ensure that they could not become independent of the shogunate government.
The shogunate was extremely strict with the daimyo, and it was also very firm in the "class system" of society.
This has solidified the social class structure, and has also led to a significant reduction in the dynamics and mobility of society.
After the class was severely solidified, the people of the common class could no longer change their social status.
At the same time, the shogunate also strictly restricted the inflow of foreign culture, strengthening the status of traditional Japanese culture.
Although it lost the opportunity to connect with the times, it also formed a unique cultural atmosphere of the society of the shogunate period.
In summary, the centralized system of the shogunate and the social sealing system had certain defects and drawbacks, but it also shaped Japan's unique national image and cultural characteristics, leaving many precious cultural heritage for subsequent eras.
3. Characteristics and changes of the social system
The social system of the Japanese shogunate period had many characteristics and changes, the most notable of which was the land system and cultural wave.
3.1 Land system
In the early shogunate period, rural land ownership was restricted to the aristocracy, and peasants could only rent land as tenant farmers or petty farmers.
This phenomenon of "landlordism" led to serious social inequality at that time, which had a great adverse impact on the life and work of peasants.
Often, the grain that has just been harvested has to be handed over, and the harvest is not harvested after a whole year.
3.1.1 "Kansei Reform"
Thus, in the middle of the shogunate period, land reform was officially implemented.
This is the famous "Broad Reform of Liberal Government" initiated by Tokugawa Yoshimune
The main purpose of this reform is to solve many of the problems that have long led to poverty and social unrest among peasants.
These include land distribution, tax systems, urban development, etc.
The ancients said, "Do not suffer from the few, but suffer from inequality." ”
So, in terms of land distribution, the "Liberal Reform" abolished the privileges of some lords.
The more even distribution of land to farmers also balances the average harvest and thus increases the efficiency of agricultural production.
At the same time, the tax system was reformed, and the lords only had to pay taxes according to the actual production, and no longer imposed a mandatory share of the tax.
So that there would be no situation where the landlords could not pay taxes and went to squeeze the peasants.
In terms of urban development, the "liberal reform" encourages business development.
Tokugawa Yoshimune sought to raise the social status of merchants to the same status as samurai, thereby contributing to the prosperity of the town's economy.
While this did lead to a recovery in economic conditions, the result of "changing social class" was still unsatisfactory.
In summary, the "Liberal Administration" reform brought many positive changes to Japanese society in the middle of the shogunate period, but it also had obvious limitations.
Although the economy flourished, the status of merchants could not be improved, but they were still regarded as a social class, and there was still a clear gap between them and the samurai class.
This gap existed in the middle and late stages of the Japanese shogunate period, and even became the source of many social problems, and during the Meiji Restoration, it completely became the trigger for the decline of the shogunate.
3.2 Culture and lifestyle
At that time, the cultural form of the samurai class was mainly the martial arts and samurai etiquette of each family.
The cultural forms of the civilian class, on the other hand, focus more on the culture of entertainment.
It was during this period that many artistic and literary forms arose among the people.
Nyo, Ukiyo, Haiku Wakabuki, etc.
These forms of art and literature, which were born from the masses, also made important contributions to the future development of Japanese culture.
In addition, the shogunate government at that time strongly supported the cultivation of intellectuals and popularized education among all strata.
Such advanced educational awareness has significantly improved the cultural level and skill level of the entire society.
In general, the social system of the Japanese shogunate, although there were many inequalities and restrictions, gradually developed in a more equal and open direction with the change of society.
3.3 Summary
The political and social system of the Japanese shogunate period occupies a very important place in history.
It has profoundly influenced the development and evolution of Japanese society and largely shaped the face of modern Japanese society.
Author's opinion:
To sum up, the political and social system of the Japanese shogunate period laid the foundation of Japan's modern political and social system, and also paved a broad road for the development of subsequent eras.
In order to maintain social stability and consolidate power, the shogunate implemented a strict hierarchy and centralized rule.
Although it is somewhat arrogant and arbitrary, in order to condense the originally scattered local forces, this is also an inevitable choice of history.
In the early years of the shogunate, the class system and family system were strictly enforced, and any interaction with foreign cultures was prohibited.
This arrogant decision, although it eventually led to the decline of the shogunate, also formed a cultural style unique to the Edo period.
In the late shogunate period, due to external pressures and intensified internal contradictions, the shogunate regime began to decline.
At the same time, it also promoted changes in Japan's social and political system, laying an important foundation for the success of the Meiji Restoration.
As a result, the shogunate era came to an end, and the Meiji Restoration broke out, which directly contributed to the modernization of Japan's political system and the success of Westernization.
In addition, the decline and modernization of the later shogunate regime also triggered long-standing social problems. For example, the gap between the rich and the poor and the lack of social welfare.
To sum up, the political and social system of the Japanese shogunate period was not only an important part of Japanese history, but also had a profound impact on the development of Japan's modern political and social system.
It is both an important heritage of Japanese history and culture and an important window for people to understand Japanese history and culture.
The end of one era is the beginning of another, and the wheel of history rolls forward, and we can only see the imprint it left behind.
It used to be brilliant and sad. It exists and it destroys.
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5. Ravina (2004), Land and Lordship in Early Modern Japan, Stanford University Press.