history: Shogunate Japan

What is Shogun?

A military ruler who held the real political power in Japan.

What is Shogunate?

A government ruled by a shogun.

What is Emperor?

Japan’s traditional ruler; during shogunate periods, often had less real power than the shogun.

What is Daimyo?

A powerful landholding lord who controlled a domain.

What is Samurai?

A warrior class that served daimyo and shoguns.

What is Clan?

A group of people connected by family ties.

What is Figurehead?

A leader who represents authority but has limited real power.

What is Feudal hierarchy?

A ranked social system where people had different duties, rights and status.

Who held the most real power under the Tokugawa shogunate?

The shogun.

What was a daimyo’s role?

To rule a domain and control its people and resources.

What was a samurai’s role?

To serve their lord, fight when needed and uphold discipline and loyalty.

Who were farmers?

People who grew food; rice was especially important to the economy.

Who were artisans?

Skilled workers who made goods.

Who were merchants?

People who bought and sold goods.

Could people easily change social class?

No. The Tokugawa social hierarchy was rigid and social movement was limited.

What was the rice economy?

Rice was a key measure of wealth; peasants paid taxes in rice and samurai could be paid in rice.

What was a koku?

A Japanese measure of rice, used to estimate wealth and the amount needed to feed one person for a year.

What was Bushido?

A code of conduct associated with samurai, emphasising loyalty, honour, discipline and courage.

How did the samurai role change over time?

They were originally warriors; during long periods of peace, many also served as officials and administrators.

Why was discipline important to samurai?

It supported loyalty, self-control and service to their lord.

What was samurai meditation meant to support?

Focus, self-control and calmness.

Why did the shogunate regulate samurai and daimyo?

To limit challenges to its authority and keep the country under control.

What is Shinto?

Japan’s traditional religion, often translated as “the way of the gods.”

What are kami?

Spirits or sacred presences associated with nature and places.

What is a torii?

A gate marking the entrance to a Shinto shrine and separating sacred space from ordinary space.

What is Buddhism?

A religion that originated in India and spread across Asia to Japan.

What is Zen Buddhism associated with in the booklet?

Meditation, simplicity, nature, gardens, landscape painting and the tea ceremony.

What is Confucianism?

A tradition of thought emphasising proper relationships, duties, order and respect for authority.

Which countries influenced early Japanese writing and religion?

China and Korea.

How did China influence Japanese writing?

Chinese characters influenced the development of written Japanese.

How did Buddhism reach Japan according to the booklet?

A Korean king recommended it and sent writings and statues in 552 CE.

When did contact with China and Korea increase?

Especially during the third and fourth centuries CE.

Name two areas in japan influenced by China and Korea.?

Writing and religion, including Buddhism; their ideas also influenced government and society.

What was Japan’s earlier spiritual tradition?

Shinto, based on kami and nature.

Who founded the Tokugawa shogunate?

Tokugawa Ieyasu.

What was the significance of the Battle of Sekigahara?

In 1600, Ieyasu’s victory helped him establish dominance over Japan.

When did Ieyasu become shogun?

1603.

How long did Tokugawa rule last?

Over 250 years, during the Edo period.

What was the main aim of Tokugawa policies?

To keep peace, centralise power and prevent daimyo from becoming powerful enough to rebel.

What was the Buke Shohatto?

Laws for military houses, first issued in 1615, regulating daimyo and samurai.

Why did the Buke Shohatto restrict castles?

Daimyo were generally limited to one castle and repairs or expansions needed approval, reducing their ability to rebel.

Why were daimyo marriage rules restricted?

To stop powerful families forming alliances that could threaten the shogunate.

Why were daimyo expected to be frugal?

To limit wasteful spending and help keep them disciplined and politically weaker.

What was sankin-kotai?

A system requiring daimyo to alternate residence between Edo and their own domains.

How did sankin-kotai help the shogun?

It let the shogun monitor daimyo and made them spend heavily on travel and maintaining households, reducing their ability to rebel.

Where was Edo?

Modern-day Tokyo; it was the shogunate’s political centre.

Why did the Tokugawa period have long stability?

The shogunate controlled daimyo, regulated society and limited challenges to its power.

Why were castles important?

They were defensive strongholds and could become centres of population and power.

What is Name three castle defences.?

Dry moats, watchtowers, and large stone walls; narrow paths and firing slits also helped defenders.

Why was timber in high demand?

Building castles, houses, ships and growing towns required large amounts of wood.

What caused deforestation?

Logging and land clearing for timber and farming used forests faster than they could regrow.

What could deforestation cause?

Soil erosion, landslides and floods.

How were rice and taxes connected?

Peasants paid taxes in rice; rice was wealth and helped fund the shogunate and daimyo.

How could increased rice production affect forests?

More farmland could require clearing forest, contributing to deforestation.

How did the shogunate respond to forest loss?

It developed rules and management practices to control logging and encourage sustainable forest use.

What was sakoku?

Tokugawa restrictions that tightly controlled foreign contact and Japanese travel abroad; it was not complete isolation.

Who formalised sakoku restrictions?

Tokugawa Iemitsu, with edicts in 1635 and 1639.

Why did the shogunate restrict foreign contact?

To control trade, prevent foreign alliances, limit Christianity and protect the shogunate’s political authority.

What happened to Japanese people who tried to leave or return from abroad under the strict edicts?

The rules imposed severe penalties, including execution in specified cases.

Where were some European traders confined?

Dejima, an artificial island in Nagasaki Bay.

Did Japan stop all foreign trade under sakoku?

No. Foreign contact continued under strict controls, including trade with the Dutch and Chinese.

How did sakoku strengthen Tokugawa control?

It let the shogunate manage trade and foreign relations, limit outside political and religious influence, and prevent daimyo forming foreign alliances.

What was the Shimabara Rebellion?

A revolt in 1637–1638 involving Christian peasants; its suppression strengthened the shogunate’s determination to suppress Christianity.

What were some effects of Tokugawa stability?

Long peace and growth of cities and culture, including kabuki theatre, woodblock prints and haiku poetry.

What was Edo by 1700?

A very large city; the booklet states it had over one million residents.

What happened in 1853?

Commodore Matthew Perry arrived with American ships and pressured Japan to open to foreign relations.

What was the Treaty of Kanagawa?

A treaty signed in 1854 that opened some Japanese ports to American ships and helped end sakoku restrictions.

When was the Meiji Restoration?

1868.

What happened during the Meiji Restoration?

Political power was restored to the emperor and Japan began major modernisation.

Why did some Japanese leaders want change?

They feared Japan could be dominated by Western powers if it did not strengthen and modernise.

What changed after the Meiji Restoration?

Japan adopted many Western-style institutions and rapidly modernised its government, military and economy.

What should you do when analysing a historical source?

Describe what it shows, use a specific detail as evidence and explain what that detail suggests.

Why consider who created a source?

The creator’s purpose, background and point of view can affect what it says.

What does TEEL stand for?

Topic sentence, Evidence, Explanation, Link.

How do you explain a cause?

State what caused an event and explain how it led to the outcome.

How do you explain a consequence?

State what changed because of an event and explain its effect.

What makes a strong history paragraph?

A direct answer, accurate evidence, explanation of why the evidence matters, and a link back to the question.