The Tokugawa sh̄ogunate expanded farmland by using large water projects to create new rice paddies from previously unused land. In 1603, about 1.6 million hectares were farmed and, by 1720, this had nearly doubled to 3 million hectares. This increase in farmland supported a growing population. 9.8.2 Environmental impact
During the seventeenth century, Japan faced a serious deforestation problem. Timber was essential for building homes, castles and temples, as well as for cooking and heating. While forests could supply enough wood when the population was small, by 1670, the population had grown to almost 30 million. The demand for timber increased as new cities and farms were developed. This rapid growth caused large areas of forest to be cleared, leading to soil erosion, landslides and flooding. Japan was on the brink of an environmental crisis. 9.8.3 Protecting the environment By 1670, the sh̄ogun introduced measures to manage deforestation. Strict controls were placed on logging in forests controlled by the sh̄ogun and wealthy daimȳo. Permits became mandatory, and theft was harshly punished. Sustainable forest management practices were introduced, such as only harvesting mature trees, protecting young seedlings and thinning forests to allow younger trees to grow. These actions limited further environmental damage. Many daimȳo began growing new forests in areas where natural forests had been cut down. They taught villagers to grow seedlings from pine and cedar trees. Farmers planted these seedlings near their land to boost timber supply. Timber plantations then became a business, with careful logging to provide wood for sale. By the eighteenth century, Japan led the world in forest management.
SOURCE3 Houses of farmers and rural workers were made almost entirely of wood.
SOURCE4 A house from the Edo period. The use of tiles on the roof and the plastering of the walls were designed to minimise the risk of fire.
Building techniques also changed during the Edo period to reduce fire risk. Fires in towns often destroyed wooden houses, increasing timber demand for rebuilding. Using roof tiles instead of thatch and plastering timber walls helped prevent fires, reducing timber use for reconstruction.
9.8 SkillBuilder activity HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE AND COMMUNICATING Another action of the Tokugawa sh̄ogunate was its forestry policies, which introduced severe punishment for anyone who stole timber from lands controlled by the sh̄ogun. a. Imagine you are a village leader, and a member of your village has taken a small amount of timber for firewood to keep a sick child warm. Outline the arguments you would put to the local daimȳo in begging for mercy for your villager. b. The daimȳo has to consider the case.
i. Identify one reason why he might be prepared to show mercy. ii. Identify one reason why he might not be prepared to show mercy.
TOPIC9 Japan under the sh̄oguns 243
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