Japan’s Tokugawa (or Edo) period, which lasted from 1603 to 1867, would be the final era of traditional Japanese Shogun government, culture and society before the Meiji Restoration of 1868. Tokugawa Ieyasu’s dynasty of shoguns presided over 250 years of peace and prosperity in Japan, including the rise of a new merchant class and increasing urbanization.
During the 1500s, power was decentralized in Japan, which was torn apart by warfare between competing feudal lords (daimyo) for nearly a century. Following his victory in the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600, however, Tokugawa Ieyasu (1543-1616) swiftly consolidated power from his heavily fortified castle at Edo (now Tokyo). The prestigious but largely powerless imperial court named Ieyasu as shogun (or supreme military leader) in 1603, beginning a dynasty that would rule Japan for the next two-and-a-half centuries.
During the 1500s, power was decentralized in Japan, which was torn apart by warfare between competing feudal lords (daimyo) for nearly a century. Following his victory in the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600, however, Tokugawa Ieyasu (1543-1616) swiftly consolidated power from his heavily fortified castle at Edo (now Tokyo). The prestigious but largely powerless imperial court named Ieyasu as shogun (or supreme military leader) in 1603, beginning a dynasty that would rule Japan for the next two-and-a-half centuries.
From the beginning, the Tokugawa regime focused on reestablishing order in social, political and international affairs after a century of warfare. The political structure, established by Ieyasu and solidified under his two immediate successors, his son Hidetada (who ruled from 1616-23) and grandson Iemitsu (1623-51), bound all daimyos to the shogunate and limited any individual daimyo from acquiring too much land or power.
The Neo-Confucian theory that dominated Japan during the Tokugawa Period recognized only four social classes–warriors (samurai), artisans, farmers and merchants–and mobility between the four classes was officially prohibited. With peace restored, many samurai became bureaucrats or took up a trade. At the same time, they were expected to maintain their warrior pride and military preparedness, which led to much frustration in their ranks. For their part, peasants (who made up 80 percent of the Japanese population) were forbidden from engaging in non-agricultural activities, thus ensuring consistent income for landowning authorities.
The Japanese economy grew significantly during the Tokugawa period. In addition to an emphasis on agricultural production (including the staple crop of rice as well as sesame oil, indigo, sugar cane, mulberry, tobacco and cotton), Japan’s commerce and manufacturing industries also expanded, leading to the rise of an increasingly wealthy merchant class and in turn to the growth of Japanese cities. A vibrant urban culture emerged centered in Kyoto, Osaka and Edo (Tokyo), catering to merchants, samurai and townspeople rather than to nobles and daimyo, the traditional patrons. The Genroku era (1688-1704) in particular saw the rise of Kabuki theater and Bunraku puppet theater, literature (especially Matsuo Bosho, the master of haiku) and woodblock printing.
Peace and stability of the Tokugawa period, and the economic development it fostered, set the stage for the rapid modernization that took place after the Meiji Restoration. During the Meiji Period, which ended with the emperor’s death in 1912, the country experienced significant social, political and economic change–including the abolition of the feudal system and the adoption of a cabinet system of government. In addition, the new regime opened the country once again to Western trade and influence and oversaw a buildup of military strength that would soon propel Japan onto the world stage.
Lived Ruled
1 . Tokugawa Ieyasu (1543–1616) 1603-1605
2. Tokugawa Hidetada (1579–1632) 1605-1623
3. Tokugawa Iemitsu (1604–1651) 1623-1651
4 Tokugawa Ietsuna (1641–1680) 1651-1680
5. Tokugawa Tsunayoshi (1646–1709) 1680-1709
6. Tokugawa Ienobu (1662–1712) 1709-1712
7. Tokugawa Ietsugu (1709–1716) 1713-1716
8. Tokugawa Yoshimune (1684–1751) 1716-1745
9. Tokugawa Ieshige (1712–1761) 1745-1760
10. Tokugawa Ieharu (1737–1786) 1760-1786
11. Tokugawa Ienari (1773–1841) 1787-1837
12. Tokugawa Ieyoshi (1793–1853) 1837-1853
13. Tokugawa Iesada (1824–1858) 1853-1858
14. Tokugawa Iemochi (1846–1866) 1858-1866
15. Tokugawa Yoshinobu (1837–1913) 1866-1867
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18. Tokugawa Yasuhisa IMAF President
Lived Ruled
1 . Tokugawa Ieyasu (1543–1616) 1603-1605
2. Tokugawa Hidetada (1579–1632) 1605-1623
3. Tokugawa Iemitsu (1604–1651) 1623-1651
4 Tokugawa Ietsuna (1641–1680) 1651-1680
5. Tokugawa Tsunayoshi (1646–1709) 1680-1709
6. Tokugawa Ienobu (1662–1712) 1709-1712
7. Tokugawa Ietsugu (1709–1716) 1713-1716
8. Tokugawa Yoshimune (1684–1751) 1716-1745
9. Tokugawa Ieshige (1712–1761) 1745-1760
10. Tokugawa Ieharu (1737–1786) 1760-1786
11. Tokugawa Ienari (1773–1841) 1787-1837
12. Tokugawa Ieyoshi (1793–1853) 1837-1853
13. Tokugawa Iesada (1824–1858) 1853-1858
14. Tokugawa Iemochi (1846–1866) 1858-1866
15. Tokugawa Yoshinobu (1837–1913) 1866-1867
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18. Tokugawa Yasuhisa IMAF President