The Tokugawa period introduced many changes to Japan. Some of these transformations are represented in woodblock prints created during that time and help researchers and historians to understand the lifestyle of the people; they offer insight and knowledge about specific events. The prints' scenery includes long journeys, everyday tasks, special festivals, and flora and fauna. Events such as the fish market and elaborate celebrations were crucial during the Tokugawa period. The practice of fishing and introduction to fireworks contributed to the economy, entertainment industry, and appreciation of nature.
The Tokugawa period was a time of economic prosperity. In the woodprint displaying fireworks, the Ryōgoku Bridge spans the water, implying
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the citizens of Tokugawa had enough financial stability to build massive structures for transportation and trade. Fireworks shows are a costly leisure activity. Therefore, historians can infer that this time frame was successful enough to put time and money aside for recreation. Japan's largest island, Honshu, is mostly mountainous terrain. Consequently, there was limited space for agriculture and a rise in fishing occurred. Hokusai's woodprint entitled, "Kōshū, Kajikazawa," shows a father and son casting their nets into the roaring, white-topped water off the coastline of Kajikazawa. The fisherman's legs are not fully covered, which implies that he is wearing the clothes of a lower-ranked citizen, perhaps a peasant. Fishing was a huge aspect of the Japanese economy. This bounty of fish provided a substantial meal for people of all classes. The focal point of this image is the man balancing over the corner of a grassy cliff. Even with the extreme dangers of fishing in rough waters, the Japanese continued to be self-sustaining hunters and gatherers. The young child is depicted holding a basket preparing for the day's catch. During the Tokugawa period, boys were trained at an early age to master the craft of their father and continue the tradition. With every generation, the skill level increased and the craftsmen became more refined. Therefore, artisans were able to raise the price, forcing the townsfolk to pay at a higher cost. This economic growth strengthened the economy of the Tokugawa. Fireworks played a major role in the entertainment business during the Tokugawa period.
First performed for the shogun, Tokugawa Ieyasu, fireworks soon became popular among the public for summer celebrations. This sought-after leisure activity started when the West introduced gunpowder to Japan. The 98th print from Hiroshige's "100 Famous Views of Edo" entitled "Fireworks at Ryōgoku" is a perfect example of the picturesque scenery the Japanese enjoyed. Families would gather on small boats to enjoy the show. The eighth shogun, Tokugawa Yoshimune, created The Sumida River Fireworks Festival in 1733 to honor and serve the one million people who died from starvation. After this nation-wide famine, fireworks not only served for entertainment purposes and memorial services, but were also believed to hold the power to ward off evil spirits. Additionally, the Japanese admired the shortly lived beauty of fireworks. They resemble the way cherry blossoms bloom for a week and then fall off. The ancient Buddhist idea of 'fleeting beauty' is continued throughout the entertainment industry of Japan. Moreover, the shows of fireworks present the Tokugawa period as a time of peace after a discombobulated era. The Japanese turned the negative concept of gunpowder into something beautiful for everyone to enjoy. Fireworks served as a recreational activity while incorporating cultural aspects into the beautiful
tradition. Along with the appeal of fireworks, the people in the Tokugawa period also had high respect for nature. Edo became the artistic headquarters of Japan. In the woodblock print exhibiting the fisherman, Mt. Fuji is prominent in the background. The father and son are miniscule compared to the scale of the cliff and waves. Similarly, the people boating in the fireworks scene are barely visible as they float along. The river, sky, and booming fireworks take up the majority of the space in the print. During this era, the Sumida River was a perfect place to admire nature in all seasons: spring time cherry blossoms, summer night fireworks, autumn's moon, and snow in the winter. The Japanese were willing to take time away from their hectic lives to sit and enjoy natural beauty; they practiced "mono no aware" or sensitivity toward things. The Japanese word for fireworks is "hanabi;" "hana" meaning flower and "bi" meaning fire. The notion of flowers was continued through the ancient practice ikebana. This simplistic style of flower arrangement underwent a major change during the Tokugawa period. As the popularity grew, the practice expanded to merchants. They introduced a new form: Seika. It was triangular shaped to represent heaven, earth, and mankind. The style of ikebana continued to shift throughout the Tokugawa era. The reconstruction of art and culture in Edo skyrocketed during this period. Japanese fishing and fireworks are two examples that led to a strong economy, leisure lifestyle, and artistic perspective. The people in Edo enjoyed a prosperous economic status, which allowed them to create elegant shows of fireworks, among others. They were able focus and modify their style of art that carried throughout Japan. The Tokugawa period was a fast-paced time of evolution that has been preserved for modern appreciation.
Coaldrake argues the Izumo Taisha was equally important as a centre of power as Ise Jingsu. Primarily, Izumo served as point of cultural and technological intercourse between Japan and the rest of mainland Asia. Similar to Ise Jingu, Coaldrake provides details of the layout of the Izumo Taisha. In this tour, Coalgate highlights the Honden with its unusual structure design.
Tokugawa Japan and the Ming Dynasty are both very similar. For centuries Japan and China have shared their differences through their customs and traditions, but also share commonly a few similarities.They both share a unique history whether it’s technology, uniform or how they constructed their country to what it is today. There will be comparing and contrasting between Tokugawa Japan and the Ming dynasty, which through this essay marking the key topics of government, economy and religion.
Japan lasted from 1185-1603. During that time Japan had emperors, shoguns, daimyos, samurai, and peasants who were all apart of a social class, and all together it was called the Samurai Society. The emperor was just a figurehead for the shogun. The shogun was a powerful military leader that ruled in the emperor’s name. Daimyo were powerful landlords. The daimyo often led armies of samurai. These samurai were trained professional warriors who served daimyo and shoguns. The samurai had to follow a certain code of rules for samurai called Bushido. One of their rules included to always have self-discipline to become a good samurai. The samurai warriors wore light armor, helmets (usually shaped like an animal), and had two swords around their waist. Their armor had a lot of detail and color to it, like their unique helmets. After the samurai comes the peasants, which included farmers and fishermen. They usually always work, then pay takes to the shogun. They usually gave the shogun what they earned from working like food or crops. What made their jobs a bit difficult was their topography. Japan’s topography included many mountains, undersea volcanoes, and barely any flat land to farm on. The Japanese didn’t only work they also practiced their religion. For example, they practiced Confucianism, Buddhism (...
In 1857 Ando Hiroshige created a woodblock print titled Riverside Bamboo Market, Kyobashi representing a scene in Japan. The print is of a blue river, a bridge, and what looks like a mountain of bamboo. People are shown walking on the bridge as if they are entering the bamboo market. The colors in the artwork give off a calm feeling and the lines draw you into the details of the work. Calling the print Riverside Bamboo Market, Kyobashi, Ando Hiroshige presents the river as a market where people come to gain items to sustain focusing on the abundance of bamboo.
The Samurai is often confused with the ninja but they are not the same thing. To be a samurai you had to be born into a Samurai family and were trained highly. The Samurai’s job was to serve the shog...
The Tokugawa period, also known as Edo period (1603-1867), was the final period of traditional Japan that lasted for more than 250 years (britannica.com,2013). The period was a time of internal peace, political stability, and economic growth under the Shogunate founded by Tokugawa Ieyasu. The Tokugawa Shoguns maintained strict control over the structure of society by keeping a firm control over what they were allowed to do and what they were not allowed to do.
Throughout History, there have been many different groups or events that are still widely known today. Groups of people such as the Indians or Vikings are popular groups which are referenced constantly in today’s society. However, none of these groups is more known or referenced than the Japanese Samurai. Originating in 646 AD, these Japanese warriors developed from a loose organization of farmers to the dominant social class in Feudal Japan. Along with their dominant military and political standing, the samurai brought with them a unique code or moral belief that became the core of Samurai culture. Because of this, the Samurai and their principles still affect modern day Japanese society with social customs today deriving directly and indirectly from the beliefs of the Samurai.
Greene, Carol. Enchantment of the World Japan, p. 97. 28 Pitts, Forrest R., Japan. p. 78. -. 29. Davidson, Judith.
With the gradual decline of the Tokugawa Shogunate and the restoration of the Imperial title, Japan began its second phase of foreign borrowing by entering ‘secondary civilization,’ or industrial society (Suzuki, 1995 p.773). Beginning in the late Tokugawa period, the power of the shogun and the damiyos progressively began diminishing under political pressure and the deteriorating financial condition of the nation. Dissatisfied with the conditions, the people began leaning towards the restoration of the nation as an Empire, which occurred in 1867-68 with the resignation of Tokugawa Yoshinobu (15th Tokugawa Shogun), marking the beginning of the Meiji Restoration. The transfer of power to the Emperor proceeded smoothly, indicating the beginning of Japan’s radical influence and changes from the west. At the beginning of the Meiji period, Japan was primarily an agricultural nation with a weak military and scarce technological development still largely traditional in nature. Power was transferred into the hands of noble samurai that had opposed Tokugawa rule, acting in the name of the Em...
The ukiyo-e period was when a type of Japanese art was created which represented pictures of the flowing world. It was originally a Buddhist concept that meant the sadness of life. This print was influenced by the Dutch as Hokusai became interested with linear perspective when Western prints came by through Dutch trade. The artwork depicts a large wave which takes up about half of the print and then people in boats underneath the wave. The waves could be a metaphor for the government at the time as it ruled with an iron fist restricting any abroad travel as well as any visitors from other countries. The government was very controlling and limited any communication with the outside world during Hokusai’s time. The boats represent the civilians trying to explore the rest of the world but being stopped by the wave ‘government’ which is trying to get them to stay within the country or within ‘safety’. The boats have no control in the water and are practically helpless which represents the citizens if they were able to travel abroad as they would be defenceless and feeble because they wouldn’t have a proper understanding of the world and its
Samurai have played a big part in Japans history. There have been supreme samurai or Shoguns whose rule shaped Japan in early times. These shoguns ruled in different eras or periods. There are three main periods concerning the samurai usage. They are the Kamakura, Ashikaga and the Tokugawa period. The samurai were introduced as a part of the government in the Kamakura period.
Munsterberg, H. (1985) The Arts of Japan An Illustrated History Charles E. Tuttle, Tokyo, Japan.
Myths and Legends of Japan Japan has many myths believed to be true by the Japanese culture. Such as: "You can tell a person's character from their blood type". The Japanese creation myth starts off with brother and sister gods Izanagi and Izanani. They dipped a spear into the churning sea and when they pulled it out the drops that fell on the water surface became the islands of Japan. Next, the sun goddess Amaterasu, was created and was soon sent to heaven to rule over the world.
Anime is an art form as it expresses cultural phenomena about Japan and its people. Like most other countries, cartoon has existed in Japan throughout the 20th century and onward, which began with traditional drawings and comics that dealt with political, social, and historical themes. However, what separates anime from the rest is that the anime included a huge portion of Japanese culture within it. In every series that aired, they include special holidays like Natsu Matsuri—summer festival, tea ceremony, traditional clothing such as kimono, etc.
Deal, William E. 2006. Handbook to Life in Medieval and Early Modern Japan. Facts on File, Inc., 2006. eBook