Shogunate is one of the important periods in the history of Japan in the Middle Ages and Modern times. In the second millennium, there were several shogunates in Japan, each of which contributed to the formation of the modern Land of the Rising Sun.
Causes and spiritual basis of the Minamoto shogunate
As you know, a society in which there is no stability craves change. In the last decades of the emperor's reign, feudal fragmentation became the main characteristic of political events in the country. The lack of centralization and unity led to severe economic consequences and frequent military riots, which only ruined the already unstable Japan. The main reasons for the change in the political structure were:
- feudal fragmentation;
- lack of strong economic ties between regions;
- weakening of the emperor's power.
The first shogunate existed from 1192 to 1335. Changes in the life of the country with the strengthening of the influence of the teachings of Zen Buddhism. This doctrine gradually spread among the military circles. It was the combination of the religious basis and the military power of the samurai that led these circles to understand that it was they who should rulecountry. The samurai had a significant impact on the development of Japan.
The Shogunate is a period of significant change in Japan
Until the beginning of the XIII century, the level of development of the country remained extremely low. This stagnation would have continued further if there had not been a change in the thinking of some representatives of the military-feudal aristocracy who came to power at the end of the 12th century.
What changes have taken place since the coming of the shoguns? Note that life did not immediately improve, because it is simply impossible. At that time, as now, a lot depended on the activity of trade. In the conditions of many islands and a small land area, successful trade could only be with a developed fleet. The most important achievement of the shoguns was the development of port cities, the increase in the merchant fleet. For example, in the 11th century there were only 40 more or less large cities, and already in the 16th century the number of cities approached 300.
The era of the shogunate is the heyday of crafts. As you know, craft workshops existed in medieval Europe. The craftsmen who joined the workshop could work successfully. So here, too, associations of artisans gradually began to form. Similar alliances were formed among representatives of trade. Obviously, it is more reliable to do business with partners, so the effect of the formation of such alliances was obvious.
An absolute achievement of the era of the first shogunate was the overcoming of feudal fragmentation. The main type of land ownership in the state was small samurai allotments, which they received for carrying militaryservices.
Reasons for the revival of the shogunate in the 17th century
The Tokugawa Shogunate is a reaction of traditional Japanese society to the events that took place in the state in the middle or second half of the 16th century. The second coming of the samurai to power had its own logical reasons:
- continuation of feudal fragmentation;
- deceleration of the country's economic development;
- the emergence of European ships and the gradual development of trade with Portugal and other European countries.
The most important and painful topic for the samurai was the emergence of alien elements (Europeans) who came into contact with a centuries-old traditional society that had previously maintained close contacts with culturally similar China and Korea. Historians believe that the establishment of contacts with Europe was a logical impetus to intensify the struggle for the creation of a centralized strong state.
Japan in the 17th-19th centuries
The era of the shogunate is a manifestation of absolutism in Japan. Of course, one should not forget about the existence of the imperial dynasty, but the power of these persons was more spiritual than secular. The regime of the shogunate created a "closed" state. European ships were forbidden to enter Japanese ports. If suddenly such a ship got into the port, its crew was subject to execution. This isolation lasted 250 years, until the middle of the 19th century.
If we talk briefly about the Tokugawa shogunate, then this is a period of total pressure on the peasantry. Formally, there was no corvee in the state, but manypeasant lands still belonged to large feudal lords. Various taxes, fees from peasants, which were officially introduced, amounted to approximately 60% of the harvest.
Estate system
Shogunate is a political system that was supposed to preserve the old traditional system. The estate system was introduced in the state. The population was divided into 4 groups: peasants, artisans, samurai, merchants. The main goal of such a division: the preservation of the social order that existed at that time, when the power of the shogun and the privileged position of the samurai were to be perceived indisputably.
The merchants were considered the lowest class, but in reality they were more successful than the peasantry and artisans. The cities continued to develop. At that time, there were already more than 300 cities and towns in Japan. The basis for the development of cities was active trade between the islands and with neighboring states (China, Korea), as well as a large number of handicraft associations.
