Why did the sh̄oguns control trade? Why did the Tokugawa sh̄oguns choose to maintain such tight control over trade? The following may provide some clues. • Controlling trade helped maintain isolation from foreign influences. Other daimȳo were excluded from overseas trade to prevent them from gaining wealth and challenging the sh̄ogun’s power. • Nagasaki, controlled by the Tokugawa clan, was the only city where trade was allowed. Fees and taxes from trade went to the Tokugawa family, maintaining the sh̄ogun’s wealth and power. • Any foreign trade that did take place was profitable. The sh̄ogunate monopolised many goods and charged fees and taxes to merchants who were granted the right to trade. • Copper and silver were major exports. By controlling trade, the sh̄oguns limited the export of these metals, ensuring Japan maintained valuable metal stocks.
TABLE1 Classical and feudal Japan Dates Period
Power held by
Other features
Fourth century to794
Nara
Yamato clan emperors The imperial dynasty was established, along with the first central government of Japan.
794–1185
Heian
Emperors
Capital city was moved to Heian-kȳo (Kyoto); the first sh̄oguns were appointed; daimȳo and samurai gained power. There was a stable government for 150 years; the Mongols were successfully defeated. The sh̄ogunate broke down gradually as daimȳo fought for power during the age of the warring states. Sh̄ogunate rule broke down; government was centralised under the ‘three great unifiers’. The capital was moved to Edo (Tokyo); government was stable under the sh̄ogunate; Japan was isolated from the rest of the world.
1185–1333
Kamakura
Kamakura sh̄oguns
1336–1573
Ashikaga
Ashikaga sh̄oguns
1573–1603
Warring states
Oda Nobunaga; Toyotomi Hideyoshi; Tokugawa Ieyasu Tokugawa sh̄oguns
1603–1867
Edo
SOURCE10 From the Closed Country Edict of 1635 1. Japanese ships are strictly forbidden to leave for foreign countries.
2. No Japanese is permitted to go abroad. If there is anyone who attempts to do so secretly, he must be executed. The ship so involved must be impounded and its owner arrested, and the matter must be reported to the higher authority. 3. If any Japanese returns from overseas after residing there, he must be put to death. 4. If there is any place where the teachings of the [Catholic] priests is practised . . . you must order a thorough investigation. 5. Any informer revealing the whereabouts of the followers of the priests must be rewarded accordingly. If anyone reveals the whereabouts of a high ranking priest, he must be given one hundred pieces of silver. For those of lower ranks, depending on the deed, the reward must be set accordingly. 6. If there are any Southern Barbarians who propagate the teachings of the priests, or otherwise commit crimes, they may be incarcerated in the prison. 7. All incoming ships must be carefully searched for the followers of the priests. 8. No single trading city shall be permitted to purchase all the merchandise brought by foreign ships. 9. Samurai are not permitted to purchase any goods originating from foreign ships directly from Chinese merchants in Nagasaki.
226 Jacaranda Humanities Alive 8 Victorian Curriculum Third Edition
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