Edo Period, Why So Loved In History

[TuskCracker]

i read recently, the Edo period of Japan is now
viewed as a wonderfull period in Japanese history.

Why now is it viewed this way ?

Whats so special about the Edo period ?

_.

 

[Maciamo]

What spring to mind as exceptional is that the Tokugawa dysnasty was able to keep political control of the country for more than 360 years, and keep the country at peace during that time. 2 and a half century wthout war is special enough to be praised. Another particularity of the Edo period is that Japan was a country closed to the rest of the world ( 鎖国 ). Well, that is what they say in history books, but a bit a relativism is necessary as Dutch were granted trade rights in Nagasaki, and exchange with China and Korea continue as well. As Japan hadn't been in contact with so many other countries before the arrival of the Europeans, let's say that Japan was closed to Westerners -except the Dutch- during the Edo period.

It's also quite exceptional in itslef, as it resisted Western colonization or forced trade till the late 19th century, in an age which saw the world dominated by Western Europe. Even China could resist partial colonialism in cities like Hong Kong, Shanghai, Peking, Tianjin or Port Arthur (Dalian).

The subsequent Meiji period was a time a semi-colonial dependence toward Western powers (US, Britain, France, Russia...) because of unequal treaties, which Japanese were not able to revise till 1894, 5 years after Japan drafted its first constitution (a proper Western-style legal system was required by Western before even considering revising the treaties).

During Meiji, some Japanese looked back on the Tokugawa period as a golden age free of Western influence, and some still do nowadays, as the westernization of Japan becomes more obvious year after year.

 

[TuskCracker]

as the westernization of Japan becomes more obvious year after year

Do the majority of Japanese people view westernization
-> as a good thing, or
-> as a bad thing, or
-> necessary but has corrupted the "soul" of Japan, or
-> pretty neutral, or
-> nostalgia for the past is now popular, so earlier periods are
seen as happier times

 

[Maciamo]

Probably a mix of it all, depending on the people.
Nowadays, few young people view Westernization as a negative thing or have nostalgia for the past, but elder generation might very well do. Anyway, Japanese are very practical-minded people, not affraid of sacrificing their culture or lifestyle for a better one. Very opportunistic IMO.

 

[Hachiko]

Probably a mix of it all, depending on the people.
Nowadays, few young people view Westernization as a negative thing or have nostalgia for the past, but elder generation might very well do. Anyway, Japanese are very practical-minded people, not affraid of sacrificing their culture or lifestyle for a better one. Very opportunistic IMO.

In other words, as I jump into this discussion, the Japanese [indirectly] adhere to the old maxim, "Go With The Flow," right, Maciamo?

 

[senseiman]

Not to be picky, but if I'm doing the math right the Edo era lasted 2 and a half centuries, not 3 and a half.

It might also be worth noting that in addition to the political developments, there were a lot of cultural developments during the Edo era. A lot of the art forms that we consider traditional Japanese, like Kabuki and ukiyo-e developed during the time of Tokugawa rule. Also, in terms of historical records a lot more has survived and is known about the Edo era than preceeding ages, which may account somewhat for its prominent place in historical studies.

 

[noyhauser]

I don't think its to do with westernization persay, but the effects westernization brought with it.

I think its the view that the Edo period was a period of relative stablity in Japanese culture. And It think collectivly JApan has had a a desire for stability and normality of life. Look at the general apathy towards remedying the economic malaise afflicting the country... people don't see change so they have don't think they need to act. Social Stability has been paramount of Japanese culture since the 1500s... and the Edo period is a key idea of that. Once the Edo period was seen to be untenable, the Japanese immediately converted to westernization in order to maintain stability in their culture.

I know that is a short answer, but I don't have time to go into philosophical details.

 

[Maciamo]

Not to be picky, but if I'm doing the math right the Edo era lasted 2 and a half centuries, not 3 and a half.

Sorry, I typed a bit too quickly it seems. Of course, the Edo period last from 1603 to 1868.

It might also be worth noting that in addition to the political developments, there were a lot of cultural developments during the Edo era. A lot of the art forms that we consider traditional Japanese, like Kabuki and ukiyo-e developed during the time of Tokugawa rule.

Yes, that's right. However, lots of other so-called Japanese traditions were highly remodelled or even (re-)invented during Meiji period. For example, most martial arts (sumo, judo, karate, aikido...), the bonsai, and even the institution of Shinto as it exists today (that is, as a state-sponsored religion).

 

[Mandylion]

Social Stability has been paramount of Japanese culture since the 1500s... and the Edo period is a key idea of that. Once the Edo period was seen to be untenable, the Japanese immediately converted to westernization in order to maintain stability in their culture.

I like you to expand on this a little if you could. This is turning out to be a great thread!

Westernization was not overnight by any length of the imagination. I also don't think westernization looked like a very stable road to take at the time either - it just seemed like the one Japan could use and keep its head above water.

You had for a number of years the faith placed in the Tokugawa regime consistently challenged and shook up by outsiders. Perry just shows up one day and demands the country opens (more complex I know), you had the exchange between Choshu and British Warships and other incidents where a bunch of smelly foreigners always came out on top.

The political and social changes that came with modernization rocked Japan to the core. Political parties, the elimination of an entire class (samurai) and the old forms of government, military culture was revised and for the first time in 250 years people traveling abroad to Europe and the US. Three upstart provinces had gotten together and a bunch of revolutionaries, hardly the most stable type of people (in many ways), tore down the Tokugawa and revived the imperial throne.

Nobody knew if all this was really going to work.

If anything, the beginning of Meiji was the death of stability. I'm not saying you don't have a point in saying a desire for stability is not there. It truely is. And it might be one of the driving reasons behind why the Japanese like the Tokugawa (JackIntheBox's original question) era so much - it was the last time anything could be said to be truly stable.

 

[senseiman]

STability is definitely the defining feature of the Edo era, at least relative to the preceeding centuries which featured almost constant warfare. The 1500s was possibly the most violent in Japanese history, Japan didn't really become stable until after the fall of Osaka castle in 1615.

Its true that westernization wasn't an overnight experience either. As early as the beggining of the 18th century the Shoguns began tinkering with the exclusion policy in order to let in more western scientific knowledge. Several Tokugawa shoguns recognized the importance of this and the study of the Dutch language and the importation of non-christian books was encouraged by them.

Its interesting to note too that the parties that supported the 'restoration' of imperial soveriegnty in the 19th century originally styled themselves as anti-foreign and were quite in favor of continuation of the Bakufu's exclusion policy.

Personally I think the Muromachi, Kamakura and Heian eras are much more interesting than the Edo era. The histories of the leading figures of those eras have a much more epic feeling to them.

 

[TuskCracker]

Edo Period, the Edo period last from 1603 to 1868.

Using 1603-1868 as the EDO period.

I believe that in the 1920's, Japan had large economic problems
and social problems. Banks collapsed, political turmoil.

For American we had World-War I, around 1918.

My point then;
1603-1868 Edo period
1868-1919 ????, what was this like
1920-1929 social turmoil/bank failures
1930-1939 expansion, much written on this
1940-1949 war, end of war, huge changes, devastation for Japan
1950-1959 ????, what was this like,
1960-1969 ????, what was this like
1970-1979 huge growing economic power, to super-power
1980-1989 super-power
1990-1999 bubble burst, but super-power just doesn't disappear
2000-now too much writing on this


Please fill in ????

.

 

[Mandylion]

You should be able to find loads of info on the net, but 1868 - 1919 was a time of great change to political, social, religious and economic structures. You had Japan thinking it had to play a huge game of catch-up with the rest of the world. The military was restructured and modernized. Japan fought and won wars with Russia and China, gaining a foothold in Korea. Instead of inward looking, Japan was expanding outwards. This expansion and the pressures it produced came to a head in the 30's, but Japan had been in Korea since the end of the 1800's.

This is the short of it, and others can add some more. It is hard to sum everything up. There are people who devote their entire career to the Meiji period. None of us will be able to do it justice (but that doesn't mean we can't try )

If you have something more particular you want to discuss, that might be a good way to start.

 

[TuskCracker]

Edo Period, other periods

You should be able to find loads of info on the net

This is more interesting, peoples opionon and such.

But the years 1950-1959, when the war was truly over. Was it
still pretty tough. Recovering from the devastation. I know
in England in the 1950's their was food rationing and other rationing.
It was no picnic right after the war.