7.2. The Political System

An emperor had ruled Japan from Kyoto but by the twelfth century the imperial court lost power to shoguns, who in theory ruled in the name of the emperor. From 1603 to 1867, members of the Tokugawa family held the position of shogun. The country was divided into over 250 domains under the rule of lords called daimyo. The shogun exercised power over the domainal lords, ordering them to stay at the capital Edo (modern Tokyo) for long periods so that they would not pose a threat. He also controlled the major cities and mines. The samurai (the warrior class) were the ruling elite and served the shoguns and daimyo.

In Japan's history, the emperor initially had power but by the 12th century, shoguns rose to dominance, effectively ruling in the emperor's name. After gaining control, the Tokugawa shoguns held power from 1603 to 1867, maintaining a feudal system where the country was divided into over 250 provinces governed by daimyo (lords). The shogun managed to keep the daimyo in check by requiring them to live in Edo, which prevented them from building strength in their respective domains. The samurai served as the ruling elite, enforcing the shogunate's laws and protecting its interests.

Think of the shogunate as a modern corporation where the CEO (the shogun) manages several regional managers (the daimyo). By requiring the managers to frequently report to headquarters (Edo), the CEO ensures that they do not become too powerful and pose a threat to his authority. Just as employees typically follow a hierarchy in a company, samurai followed the orders of their superiors, their status connected to maintaining law and order.

In the late sixteenth century, three changes laid the pattern for future development. One, the peasantry was disarmed and only the samurai could carry swords. This ensured peace and order, ending the frequent wars of the previous century. Two, the daimyo were ordered to live in the capitals of their domains, each with a large degree of autonomy. Third, land surveys identified owners and taxpayers and graded land productivity to ensure a stable revenue base.

Three pivotal changes occurred in the late 1500s that set the stage for Japan's political and social landscape. First, disarming the peasantry and granting weaponry status to the samurai created peace, reducing civil strife. Second, requiring the daimyo to reside in the capital promoted loyalty to the shogun and centralized power. Finally, systematic land surveys helped the government manage taxes effectively and establish a consistent income. This approach laid the foundation for a more organized bureaucracy and fiscal stability.

Imagine a community where all the citizens are encouraged to put down their tools and only one select group is allowed to wield them for safety; this depicts the samurai's exclusive status. Similarly, it's like organizing a team project where team leaders are required to report frequently to ensure unity and collaboration, which helps manage tasks more efficiently. Conducting land surveys would be akin to assessing everyone's contributions in a work project to ensure fair credit is given.

The daimyo’s capitals became bigger, so that by the mid-seventeenth century, Japan not only had the most populated city in the world – Edo – but also two other large cities – Osaka and Kyoto, and at least half a dozen castle-towns with populations of over 50,000. This led to the growth of a commercial economy, and created financial and credit systems. A person’s merit began to be more valued than his status. A vibrant culture blossomed in the towns, where the fast-growing class of merchants patronised theatre and the arts.

As the daimyo's capitals expanded, cities like Edo grew to become the most populated globally during the mid-1600s. The emergence of major urban centers like Osaka and Kyoto facilitated a thriving commercial economy with complex financial systems. The meritocracy began to take shape, valuing individual talents over aristocratic birth. This period sparked cultural growth as merchants, who were becoming wealthy, began investing in the arts, theater, and literature, enriching Japanese society.

Picture a bustling marketplace where skills are prioritized over nobility: the top vendors make more money and are respected more than those born into wealth. As these vendors thrive, they start to sponsor local artists and entertainers, just like how the emerging merchant class in Japan supported culture. This reflects a society where hard work opens doors to cultural appreciation and community enrichment.

Japan was considered rich, because it imported luxury goods like silk from China and textiles from India. Paying for these imports with gold and silver strained the economy and led the Tokugawa to put restrictions on the export of precious metals. They also took steps to develop the silk industry in Nishijin in Kyoto so as to reduce imports. Other developments such as the increased use of money and the creation of a stock market in rice show that the economy was developing in new ways.

In Japan, the desire for luxury goods like silk led to a trade imbalance, as they were paying for these imports using their precious metals. This situation forced the Tokugawa shogunate to impose restrictions on metal exports to protect their economy. In response, they sought to develop domestic silk production in Nishijin, achieving independence from external sources. Additionally, innovations like a monetary system and establishing a rice stock market reflected the complex economic evolution occurring in Japan.

Consider a family that loves to buy expensive imported foods but struggles to pay for them and runs low on savings; they might start growing their own vegetables to cut costs. Similarly, Japan recognized the strain of importing goods and developed its domestic silk production to reduce dependence on imports, which is a smart strategical pivot in resource management.

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