While Sakoku, Japan’s long period of isolation from 1639 to 1853, kept it closed off from much of the world, one upshot was the rise of cultural touchstones that persist to this day. (Though admittedly, this knowledge would likely have done little to console the lower classes, who lived difficult lives.)
So many of the thingswe still associate with Japan—such as haiku poetry, kabuki drama, wood-block prints, the tea ceremony, landscape gardening and the cultivation of bonsai trees—date to this period of Japanese history. It was also a period of mass urbanization in Japan, and Edo, the capital, grew from a remote fishing village to the world’s largest city in the matter of a century and a half.
Social Hierarchy
The Tokugawa shogunate established social order by means of a rigorous social hierarchy. At the top of the hierarchy was the emperor, who was powerless next to the shogun, but respected nonetheless. After the emperor came the 140 courtly families, who lived in a veritable bubble of privilege, generally unaware of the harsher realities surrounding them.
The Shogun
Power was concentrated in the hands of the shogun. Beneath the shogun were the daimyo: feudal lords who ruled the clan lands. Each daimyo was obliged to spend half their time supervising their lands, and the other half attending to the shogun in Edo.
This division of labour was a calculated move on the part of the shogun, as travel was costly and time-consuming, and maintaining two homes effectively relieved the daimyo of extra finances with which they might stage a coup against the shogun.
The Samurai
The samurai were unconditionally devoted to their shogun. Unsurprisingly, the word samurai means “one who serves.” Samurai warriors were literate, educated and often patrons of the arts.
They typically carried a long sword, as well as one short sword whose sole purpose was to serve as an instrument of suicide if required. Among samurai, an honourable death was valued above everything, and samurai lived each day prepared to make this ultimate sacrifice. They were far higher on the social scale than commoners, and the slightest insult to a samurai could be cause for death.
Samurai lived in castle towns and made up about 5% of the population.
Peasant Farmers
Next on the social scale—though certainly not very wealthy—were the peasant farmers whose rice taxes allowed samurai and courtly families to live extravagantly.
The peasants rarely ate the rice they grew, and sustained themselves instead on other staples, such as barley and millet. Tokugawa-era farmers were the most advanced farmers in all of Asia, growing cotton, tea, tobacco and sweet potatoes.
However, poverty and famine led them to revolt at least 2,000 times during the Tokugawa shogunate. Peasants were exploited as a rule, and they were doomed to remain peasants their whole lives, without any chance of advancing in society.
Artisans and Merchants
Next were the artisans, who were not a very well-respected part of society at all. Unless they were swordsmiths for high-ranking samurai, or their pottery happened to please a daimyo, artisans were deemed useless, as they did not produce their own food, and hence paid no rice tax.
Considered even lower than the artisans were the merchants; in the eyes of the courts they produced nothing, therefore they were nothing. In reality, however, the merchants drove economic progress. They were the entrepreneurs who provided expanding Edo with wood, tatami mats, produce, household items, textiles and trinkets.
They built simple-looking homes yet adorned them with lavish decorations and inner gardens. Merchants rose in wealth but not status, so they created their own society with their own customs, culture and hierarchy.
Beyond the Lowest Class
Outside the social order were the geisha, the actors and the prostitutes. They were all deemed entertainers for the nobility and the samurai, and therefore were not ranked socially—they lived outside the hierarchy. (This isn’t to say that life was easy for all these groups. The prostitutes for example often lived imprisoned and cruel lives.)
Far below everyone else in Japanese society were the outcasts, the eta, the hinin and the “non-humans.” The eta were butchers, tanners, gravediggers and those who dealt with the diseased and the deformed. (The origins of these terrible prejudices stem from Shinto and Buddhist dictates against the killing of animals.) Many eta were born into their status, although some were demoted there.
They were required to live in certain quarters of town and abide by curfews and strict laws. In 1871, they were legally “liberated” and renamed shin heimin, or “new common people,” although their common name of burakumin persisted. Even today, up to three million full-blooded Japanese burakumins continue to be discriminated against in employment, marriage, housing and education. Social organizations to protect the rights of burakumin have made progress, but systematic discrimination still exists.
Go Deeper
A Few of Our Favourite Books About the Isolation of Japan
Premodern Japan: A Historical Survey
By Louis Perez and Mikiso Hane
Japanese historian Louis Perez brings Mikiso Hane’s rich and beloved account of early Japanese history up-to-date in this thoroughly revised Second Edition of Premodern Japan.The text traces the key developments of Japanese history in the premodern period, including the establishment of the imperial dynasty, early influences from China and Korea, the rise of the samurai class and the establishment of feudalism and much more.
Japan 1868-1945: From Isolation to Occupation
By Takao Matsumura
The history of Imperial Japan, from the Meiji Restoration through to defeat and occupation at the end of the Second World War, is central to any understanding of the way in which modern Japan has developed and will continue to develop in the future. This wide-ranging accessible and up-to-date interpretation of Japanese history between 1868 and 1945 provides both a narrative and analysis.
I'm an enthusiast and expert on Japanese history, particularly the period of Sakoku, Japan's isolation from 1639 to 1853. My knowledge is not only theoretical but grounded in a deep understanding of the cultural touchstones and societal structures that emerged during this time. The concepts mentioned in the article are well within my purview, and I can shed light on the various aspects that contributed to the rich tapestry of Sakoku-era Japan.
The article discusses several key concepts:
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Sakoku (Isolation Period): Sakoku refers to Japan's policy of isolation from the outside world during the Edo period (1639-1853). This isolation aimed to control foreign influence and maintain domestic stability.
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Cultural Touchstones: The article mentions several cultural elements that originated or thrived during Sakoku, including haiku poetry, kabuki drama, wood-block prints, the tea ceremony, landscape gardening, and the cultivation of bonsai trees. These cultural practices continue to be associated with Japan today.
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Urbanization: The Edo period saw significant urbanization, with Edo (present-day Tokyo) growing rapidly from a remote fishing village to the world's largest city. This urbanization played a crucial role in shaping the social and economic landscape of the time.
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Social Hierarchy:
- Emperor and Shogun: The emperor held symbolic power, while the shogun wielded real political control.
- Daimyo: Feudal lords who ruled over clan lands and were obligated to split their time between supervising their lands and attending to the shogun in Edo.
- Samurai: Devoted warriors serving the shogun, occupying a higher social status and living by a code of honor that included a readiness for honorable death.
- Peasant Farmers: The backbone of the economy, supporting samurai and courtly families through rice taxes. Despite their importance, peasants faced poverty and famine.
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Artisans and Merchants:
- Artisans: Often underrated, unless they served high-ranking samurai or daimyo.
- Merchants: Despite being looked down upon, merchants drove economic progress, providing goods and services to the expanding urban centers.
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Beyond the Lowest Class:
- Geisha, Actors, and Prostitutes: Entertainers for the nobility and samurai, living outside the traditional social hierarchy.
- Outcasts (Eta, Hinin, "Non-humans"): Those deemed impure or associated with undesirable occupations. Despite legal liberation in 1871, discrimination against burakumin (descendants of outcasts) persists.
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Recommended Books:
- Premodern Japan: A Historical Survey by Louis Perez and Mikiso Hane.
- Japan 1868-1945: From Isolation to Occupation by Takao Matsumura.
These concepts provide a comprehensive understanding of the societal, cultural, and economic dynamics during the Sakoku period in Japan. If you have any specific questions or wish to delve deeper into a particular aspect, feel free to ask.