Early Modern Tokugawa Japan – Viewing Guide
Notes
- When: Early Modern: 1600-1868, also known as Tokugawa, or Edo period
- Where: Capital: Edo, now called Tokyo
Outline of Presentation – with [Timecode]
Urbanization [01:35] – capital is moved to Edo. New system of residency, alternate attendance.
Literacy [04:09] – well read population, many book borrowing.
Domestic Travel [05:48] – for specific purposes; major road networks existed, lots of travel to the capital for the alternate attendance system.
World Knowledge [07:58] – rich trade of knowledge and goods; people were forbidden to leave though.
Art and Cultural products [10:09] – different from earlier periods; many prints and objects left.
Debates
- Why it is called “Early Modern” vs. Modern Japan? An earlier debate pitted “modern” features—like having a strong government, taxation, and bigger cities—against more recent critiques showing these features were flawed, because early Japanese democracy fell apart in the early 20th century. But now, historians focus on individuals.
- Was it feudal? It was different from “feudal” Europe, so it cannot be easily compared and must be seen on its own terms, not as a lesser state.
- “Invention of Edo” People use “early modern” in many different ways; maybe it was more about what we are looking for.
Key features of Early Modern Japan
Aesthetic style: The Floating World (ukiyo), or for the moment: cherry blossoms, the snow, moon viewing
