The mythical first emperor ascended the throne

Emperor Jimmu. 1839-1892

Wikimedia Commons

The information available in the ancient Japanese mythological and historical codes made it possible to establish the date of accession to the throne of the mythical first emperor Jimmu, from whom the imperial family in Japan supposedly originates. On this day, Jimmu, a descendant of the sun goddess Amaterasu, passed the enthronement ceremony in the capital he founded - in a place called Kashihara. Of course, there is no need to talk about any statehood in Japan at that time, as well as about the existence of Jimmu, and the Japanese themselves. The myth was introduced into everyday life and became part of history. In the first half of the 20th century, Jimmu's enthronement day was a public holiday, on the occasion of which the current emperor participated in prayers for the well-being of the country. In 1940, Japan celebrated 2600 years since the founding of the empire. Due to the difficult foreign policy situation, the Olympic Games and the World Exhibition had to be abandoned. The symbol of the latter was to be Jimmu's bow and the golden kite, which appeared in the myth:

“Jimmu's army fought with the enemy, fought, but could not defeat him in any way. Then suddenly the sky was overcast with clouds and hail began to fall. And an amazing golden kite flew in, and sat on the upper edge of the sovereign's bow. The kite shone and sparkled, it was like lightning. The enemies saw this and were completely confused, they didn’t even have the strength to fight. ” Nihon shoki, scroll III.

Since the defeat of Japan in 1945 in World War II, Jimmu has been approached very rarely and cautiously due to his image's strong association with militarism.

701

The first legislative code was drawn up

Fragment of the Taihoryo codex. 702 year

National Museum of Japanese History

At the beginning of the 8th century, active work continued in Japan to form institutions of power and develop norms for relations between the state and subjects. The Japanese state model had a Chinese model. The first legislative code of Japan, drawn up in 701 and enacted in 702, was called "Taihoryo". Its structure and individual provisions were based on Chinese monuments of legal thought, but there were also significant differences. Thus, the norms of criminal law in Japanese legislation were developed with much less care, which is also due to the cultural characteristics of the Japanese state: it preferred to delegate responsibility for punishing the guilty and replace the physical punishment of criminals with exile, so as not to incur ritual impurity. kegare caused by death. Thanks to the introduction of the Taihoryo code, historians call Japan in the 8th-9th centuries a "state based on laws." Despite the fact that certain provisions of the code lose their relevance by the time of its creation, no one formally canceled it until the adoption of the first Japanese Constitution in 1889.

710 year

Japan's first permanent capital founded

View of the city of Nara. 1868

The development of statehood required the concentration of the court elite and the creation of a permanent capital. Until that time, each new ruler built a new residence for himself. To remain in a palace defiled by the death of a previous sovereign was considered dangerous. But in the VIII century, the model of the nomadic capital no longer corresponded to the scale of the state. Nara became the first permanent capital of Japan. The place for its construction was chosen based on geomantic Geomancy or Feng Shui- a way of orienting buildings in space, in which they were located in such a way as to receive the maximum amount of positive energy and get rid of the negative influence. ideas about the security of space: a river should flow in the east, a pond and a plain must be present in the south, roads should be in the west, and mountains should be in the north. According to the parameters of the enclosing landscape, places will later be selected for the construction of not only cities, but also the estates of aristocrats. The city of Nara in plan was a rectangle with an area of ​​25 square kilometers and copied the structure of the Chinese capital Chang'an. Nine vertical and ten horizontal streets divided the space into quarters of equal area. The central avenue of Suzaku stretched from south to north and rested against the gates of the emperor's residence. Tenno- the title of the Japanese emperor - was also the designation of the North Star, located motionless in the north of the sky. Like a star, the emperor surveyed his possessions, being in the north of the capital. The quarters adjacent to the palace complex had the greatest prestige; removal from the capital to the provinces could serve as a terrible punishment for an official.

769 year

Soft coup attempt

Monk beating a drum. XVIII-XIX centuries

The Library of Congress

The political struggle in Japan took on various forms in different historical periods, but a common thread was the lack of attempts to take the throne by those who did not belong to the imperial family. The only exception was the monk Dokyo. Being a descendant of the seedy provincial Yuge family, he went from a simple monk to the all-powerful ruler of the country. The nomination of Dokyo was all the more surprising because the social structure of Japanese society rigidly determined the fate of a person. When assigning court ranks and distributing state positions, belonging to one or another clan played a decisive role. Dokyo appeared in the staff of court monks in the early 50s. The monks of that time not only learned Chinese literacy, which was necessary for reading the sacred Buddhist texts translated from Sanskrit in China, but also possessed many other useful skills, in particular, healing. For Dokyo, the glory of a skilled healer was established. Apparently, therefore, he was sent in 761 to the sick ex-Empress Koken. The monk not only managed to heal the former empress, but also became her closest adviser. According to the Nihon Ryoiki collection of Buddhist legends, Dokyo from the Yuge clan shared one pillow with the empress and ruled the Celestial Empire. Koken ascends the throne for the second time under the name of Shotoku and, especially for Dokyo, introduces new positions that are not provided for by law and endow the monk with the broadest powers. The empress's confidence in Dokyo was boundless until 769, when Dokyo, using his faith in divination, declared that the deity Hachiman of the Usa temple wished Dokyo to become the new emperor. The empress demanded confirmation of the words of the oracle, and this time Hachiman uttered the following: “From the time of the beginning of our state to our days, it has been determined who will be the sovereign and who will be the subject. And it has not yet happened that a subject became a sovereign. The throne of the sun of heaven must be inherited by the imperial house. Let the unrighteous be expelled.” After the death of the empress in 770, Dokyo was stripped of all ranks and positions and expelled from the capital, and a wary attitude towards the Buddhist church lasted for several more decades. It is believed that the transfer of the capital from Nara to Heian, finally carried out in 794, was also caused by the desire of the state to get rid of the influence of Buddhist schools - not a single Buddhist temple was transferred to the new capital from Nara.

866

Establishing control over the imperial family

Actor Onoe Matsusuke as a samurai of the Fujiwara clan. Print by Katsukawa Sunsho. 18th century

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

The most effective instrument of political struggle in traditional Japan was the acquisition of family ties with the imperial house and the occupation of positions that allowed them to dictate their own will to the ruler. Representatives of the Fujiwara family succeeded more than others in this, supplying brides to emperors for a long time, and since 866 they have achieved a monopoly right to appoint to the positions of regents. sessho and a little later (since 887) - chancellors campacu. In 866, Fujiwara Yoshifusa becomes the first regent in Japanese history who did not come from an imperial family. The regents acted on behalf of the underage emperors, who did not have their own political will, the chancellors represented the adult rulers. They not only controlled current affairs, but also determined the order of succession to the throne, forcing the most active rulers to abdicate in favor of minor heirs, who, as a rule, had family ties with Fujiwara. The regents and chancellors reach the greatest fullness of power by 967. The period from 967 to 1068 received the name in historiography sekkan jidai -"the era of regents and chancellors". Over time, they lose influence, but positions are not abolished. Japanese political culture is characterized by the nominal preservation of old institutions of power while creating new ones that duplicate their functions.

894

Termination of official relations between Japan and China

Sugawara Michizane. 18th century

The Library of Congress

External contacts of ancient and early medieval Japan with mainland powers were limited. These were mainly exchanges of embassies with the states of the Korean Peninsula, the state of Bohai Bohai(698-926) - the first state of the Tungus-Manchus, located on the territory of Manchuria, Primorsky Krai and in the northern part of the Korean Peninsula. and China. In 894, Emperor Uda convenes officials to discuss the details of another embassy to the Middle Kingdom. middle state- self-name of China.. Officials, however, advise against sending an embassy at all. The influential politician and famous poet Sugawara Michizane especially insisted on this. The main argument was the unstable political situation in China. Since that time, official relations between Japan and China have ceased for a long time. In a historical perspective, this decision had many consequences. The absence of direct cultural influence from the outside leads to the need to rethink the borrowings made in the previous time, and to develop proper Japanese cultural forms. This process is reflected in almost all aspects of life, from architecture to belles-lettres. China is no longer considered a model state, and subsequently, Japanese thinkers, in order to justify the uniqueness and superiority of Japan over the Middle State, will often point to political instability on the mainland and the frequent change of ruling dynasties.

1087

Introduction of the abdication mechanism

The system of direct imperial control is uncharacteristic for Japan. The real policy is carried out by his advisers, regents, chancellors and ministers. This, on the one hand, deprives the ruling emperor of many powers, but, on the other hand, makes it impossible to criticize his person. The emperor, as a rule, exercises the sacred government of the state. There were also exceptions. One of the methods resorted to by emperors to gain political powers was the mechanism of abdication, which allowed the ruler, in the event of transfer of power to a loyal heir to the throne, to exercise control without being shackled by ritual obligations. In 1087, Emperor Shirakawa renounces the throne in favor of his eight-year-old son Horikawa, then takes the tonsure, but continues to manage the affairs of the court, already being an ex-emperor. Until his death, which overtook him in 1129, Shirakawa would dictate his will to both the reigning emperors and the regents and chancellors from the Fujiwara family. This type of government, carried out by abdicated emperors, was called insei- "the board from the chapel." Despite the fact that the ruling emperor had a sacred status, the ex-emperor was the head of the clan, and according to Confucian teaching, all the younger members of the clan had to follow his will. The Confucian type of hierarchical relations was also common among the descendants of Shinto deities.

1192

Establishment of dual power in Japan

Battle of the Taira and Minamoto clans. 1862

Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

Military professions, as well as forceful methods of resolving conflicts, did not have special prestige in traditional Japan. Preference was given to civil officials who were literate and able to compose poetry. However, in the 12th century the situation changed. Representatives of provincial military houses enter the political arena, among which Taira and Minamoto had a special influence. Taira managed to achieve the previously impossible - Taira Kiyomori took the position of chief minister and managed to make his grandson emperor. Dissatisfaction with the Taira from other military houses and representatives of the imperial family reaches a climax in 1180, which leads to a protracted military conflict, called the Taira-Minamoto War. In 1185, Minamoto, under the leadership of a talented administrator and ruthless politician Minamoto Yoritomo, wins. However, instead of facilitating the return of power to court aristocrats and members of the imperial family, Minamoto Yoritomo consistently gets rid of competitors, achieves the position of the sole leader of military houses, and in 1192 receives an appointment from the emperor. sei taishogun- "the great commander, the pacifier of the barbarians." From that time until the Meiji Restoration in 1867-1868, a dual power system was established in Japan. Emperors continue to perform rituals, while shoguns, military rulers, carry out real politics, are in charge of foreign relations and often interfere in the internal affairs of the imperial family.

1281

Attempted conquest of Japan by the Mongols

Defeat of the Mongols in 1281. 1835-1836

In 1266, Kublai Khan, who had conquered China and founded the Yuan Empire, sent a message to Japan in which he demanded to recognize Japan's vassalage. He received no answer. Later, to no avail, several more similar messages were sent. Khubilai began preparing a military expedition to the shores of Japan, and in the fall of 1274, the fleet of the Yuan Empire, which also included Korean detachments, with a total number of 30 thousand people, plundered the islands of Tsushima and Iki and reached Hakata Bay. The Japanese troops were inferior to the enemy both in numbers and in armament, but practically did not come to a direct military clash. The oncoming storm scattered the Mongols' ships, as a result of which they had to retreat. Kublai made a second attempt to conquer Japan in 1281. The hostilities lasted a little over a week, after which the events of seven years ago were repeated: the typhoon buried most of the huge Mongol fleet and plans to conquer Japan. These campaigns are associated with the birth of ideas about kamikaze, which literally translates as "divine wind." For a modern person, kamikaze is primarily suicide pilots, but the concept itself is much older. According to medieval notions, Japan was the "country of deities." The Shinto deities that inhabited the archipelago protected it from external harmful influences. This was confirmed by the "divine wind", which twice prevented Khubilai from conquering Japan.

1336

Schism within the imperial household

Ashikaga Takauji. Around 1821

Harvard Art Museum

It is traditionally believed that the Japanese imperial line was never interrupted. This allows us to speak of the Japanese monarchy as the most ancient in the world. In history, however, there were periods of split of the ruling dynasty. The most serious and prolonged crisis, during which Japan was ruled by two sovereigns at the same time, was provoked by Emperor Godaigo. In 1333, the positions of the Ashikaga military house, headed by Ashikaga Takauji, are strengthened. The emperor resorted to his help in the fight against the shogunate. As a reward, Takauji himself wished to take the position of shogun and control the actions of Godaigo. The political struggle takes the form of an open military confrontation, and in 1336 the Ashikaga troops defeat the imperial army. Godaigo was forced to abdicate in favor of a new emperor, the convenient Ashikaga. Unwilling to put up with the circumstances, Godaigo flees to the Yoshino region in Yamato province, where he establishes the so-called Southern Court. Until 1392, two centers of power would exist in Japan in parallel - the Northern Court in Kyoto and the Southern Court in Yoshino. Both courts had their own emperors, appointed their own shoguns, which made it almost impossible to determine the legitimate ruler. In 1391, the shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu offers the Southern Court a truce and promises that from now on the throne will be inherited in turn by representatives of the two lines of the imperial family. The proposal was accepted, and an end to the split was put, but the shogunate did not keep its promise: the throne was occupied by representatives of the Northern Court. In a historical perspective, these events were perceived extremely negatively. Thus, in the history books written during the Meiji period, they preferred to remain silent about the Northern Court, referring to the time from 1336 to 1392 as the Yoshino period. Ashikaga Takauji was presented as a usurper and opponent of the emperor, while Godaigo was described as an ideal ruler. The split within the ruling house was perceived as an unacceptable event, which should not be remembered once again.

1467

The beginning of the period of feudal fragmentation

Neither the shoguns of the Minamoto dynasty nor the representatives of the Ashikaga dynasty were the sole rulers to whom all the military houses of Japan were subordinate. Often the shogun acted as an arbitrator in disputes that arose between the provincial military. Another prerogative of the shogun was the appointment of military governors in the provinces. Positions became hereditary, which served to enrich individual clans. The rivalry between military houses for positions, as well as the struggle for the right to be called the head of a particular clan, did not bypass the Ashikaga clan. The inability of the shogunate to resolve the accumulated contradictions resulted in major military clashes that lasted 10 years. The events of 1467-1477 were called "the turmoil of the Onin-Bummei years". Kyoto, the then capital of Japan, was practically destroyed, the Ashikaga shogunate lost its powers, the country lost its central administrative apparatus. The period from 1467 to 1573 is referred to as the "epoch of the warring provinces". The absence of a real political center and the strengthening of provincial military houses, which begin to issue their own laws and introduce new systems of ranks and positions within their possessions, allow us to speak of feudal fragmentation in Japan of this time.

1543

Arrival of the first Europeans

Portuguese map of Japan. Around 1598

The first Europeans to set foot on Japanese soil were two Portuguese merchants. On the 25th day of the 8th moon in the year 12 Tenbun (1543), a Chinese junk with two Portuguese on board was washed up at the southern tip of the island of Tanegashima. Negotiations between the aliens and the Japanese were conducted in writing. Japanese officials knew how to write in Chinese, but did not understand spoken language. Signs were drawn directly on the sand. It was possible to find out that the junk was accidentally washed up on the shores of Tanegashima by a storm, and these strange people are merchants. Soon they were received at the residence of Prince Tokitaka, the ruler of the island. Among various strange things they brought muskets. The Portuguese demonstrated the ability of firearms. The Japanese were struck by noise, smoke and firepower: the target was hit from a distance of 100 paces. Two muskets were immediately bought, and Japanese blacksmiths were instructed to set up their own production of firearms. As early as 1544, there were several weapons workshops in Japan. Subsequently, contacts with Europeans acquired an intensive character. In addition to weapons, they spread the Christian dogma in the archipelago. In 1549, the Jesuit missionary Francis Xavier arrives in Japan. He and his students carry out active proselytizing activities and convert many Japanese princes to the Christian faith - daimyō. The specificity of the religious consciousness of the Japanese assumed a calm attitude towards faith. The adoption of Christianity did not mean the rejection of Buddhism and the belief in Shinto deities. Subsequently, Christianity in Japan was banned under pain of death, as it undermined the foundations of state power and led to unrest and uprisings against the shogunate.

1573

The beginning of the unification of Japan

Among the historical characters of Japan, perhaps the most recognizable are the generals, called the three great unifiers. These are Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Tokugawa Ieyasu. It is believed that their actions made it possible to overcome feudal fragmentation and unite the country under the new shogunate, the founder of which was Tokugawa Ieyasu. The beginning of the unification was laid by Oda Nobunaga, an outstanding commander who managed to subdue many provinces thanks to the talent of his commanders and the skillful use of European weapons in battle. In 1573, he expels Ashikaga Yoshiaki, the last shogun of the Ashikaga dynasty, from Kyoto, making possible the establishment of a new military government. According to a proverb known since the 17th century, "Nobunaga kneaded the dough, Hideyoshi baked the cake, and Ieyasu ate it." Neither Nobunaga nor Hideyoshi, who succeeded him, were shoguns. Only Tokugawa Ieyasu succeeded in obtaining this title and ensuring its transmission by inheritance, but without the actions of his predecessors, this would have been impossible.

1592

Attempted military expansion to the mainland

Japanese warlord Kato Kiyomasa hunts a tiger while in Korea. 1896 print

Toyotomi Hideyoshi was not of noble origin, but military merit and political intrigue allowed him to become the most influential person in Japan. After the death of Oda Nobunaga in 1582, Hideyoshi deals with the warlord Akechi Mitsuhide, who betrayed Oda. Revenge for the master greatly increased Toyotomi's authority among the allies united under his command. He manages to subdue the remaining provinces and get closer not only to the heads of the military houses, but also to the imperial family. In 1585, he was appointed to the position of chancellor of the kampaku, which before him was occupied exclusively by representatives of the aristocratic Fujiwara family. Now the legitimacy of his actions was justified not only by weapons, but also by the will of the emperor. After the completion of the unification of Japan, Hideyoshi attempted an outward expansion to the mainland. The last time before that, Japanese troops participated in military campaigns on the mainland back in 663. Hideyoshi planned to conquer China, Korea and India. The plans were not destined to come true. The events from 1592 to 1598 are called the Imjin War. During this period, Toyotomi troops fought unsuccessful battles in Korea. After the death of Hideyoshi in 1598, the expeditionary force was urgently recalled to Japan. Until the end of the 19th century, Japan would not attempt military expansion to the mainland.

October 21, 1600

Completion of the unification of Japan

Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu. 1873

Art Gallery of Greater Victoria

The founder of the third and last dynasty of shoguns in Japanese history was the commander Tokugawa Ieyasu. The title of sei taishōgun was granted to him by the emperor in 1603. The victory at the Battle of Sekigahara on October 21, 1600 allowed him to take the position of head of the Tokugawa military houses. All military houses that fought on the side of the Tokugawa began to be called fudai daimyo, and the opponents tozama daimyō. The former received fertile lands and the opportunity to hold public office in the new shogunate. The possessions of the latter were confiscated and redistributed. Tozama daimyo were also deprived of the opportunity to take part in government, which led to dissatisfaction with the policies of the Tokugawa. It is the people from among the tozama daimyo who will become the main force of the anti-shogun coalition, which will carry out the Meiji restoration in 1867-1868. The Battle of Sekigahara ended the unification of Japan and made possible the establishment of the Tokugawa shogunate.

1639

Issuance of a decree on the closure of the country

Scheme of the siege of Hara Castle during the suppression of the uprising in Shimabara. 17th century

Wikimedia Commons

The reign of the shoguns of the Tokugawa dynasty, also called the Edo period (1603-1867) after the name of the city (Edo - modern Tokyo), where the residence of the shoguns was located, is characterized by relative stability and the absence of serious military conflicts. Stability was achieved, among other things, by refusing external contacts. Starting with Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the Japanese military rulers pursued a consistent policy to limit the activities of Europeans in the archipelago: Christianity is prohibited, the number of ships that are allowed to arrive in Japan is limited. Under the Tokugawa shoguns, the process of closing the country is completed. In 1639, a decree was issued according to which no Europeans were allowed to be in Japan, with the exception of a limited number of Dutch merchants. A year earlier, the shogunate had had to face difficulties in suppressing a peasant uprising in Shimabara, which took place under Christian slogans. From now on, the Japanese were also forbidden to leave the archipelago. The seriousness of the shogunate's intentions was confirmed in 1640, when the crew of a ship that arrived in Nagasaki from Macau to resume relations was arrested. 61 people were executed, and the remaining 13 were sent back. The policy of self-isolation will last until the middle of the 19th century.

1688

The beginning of the cultural heyday of Japan

Map of the city of Edo. 1680

East Asian Library - University of California, Berkeley

During the reign of the Tokugawa shoguns, urban culture and entertainment flourished. A surge of creative activity occurred during the years of Genroku (1688-1704). At this time, the playwright Chikamatsu Monzaemon, who later received the nickname "Japanese Shakespeare", the poet Matsuo Basho, a reformer of the haiku genre, as well as the writer Ihara Saikaku, nicknamed the Europeans "Japanese Boccaccio", creates his works. Saikaku's works were of a secular nature and described the everyday life of the townspeople, often in a humorous manner. The Genroku years are considered the golden age of theater kabuki and puppet theater bunraku. At this time, not only literature, but also crafts are actively developing.

1868

Meiji Restoration and Modernization of Japan

Japanese imperial family. Chromolithograph by Torahiro Kasai. 1900

The Library of Congress

The rule of military houses, which lasted more than six centuries, was put to an end in the course of events that came to be known as the Meiji Restoration. A coalition of warriors from the domains of Satsuma, Choshu and Tosa forced Tokugawa Yoshinobu, the last shogun in Japanese history, to return supreme power to the emperor. Since that time, an active modernization of Japan began, accompanied by reforms in all spheres of life. Western ideas and technologies are beginning to be actively assimilated. Japan is embarking on the path of Westernization and industrialization. Transformations during the reign of Emperor Meiji took place under the motto Wakon Yosai -"Japanese spirit, Western technology", which reflected the specifics of Japanese borrowing of Western ideas. At this time, universities were opened in Japan, a system of compulsory primary education was introduced, the army was being modernized, and the Constitution was adopted. During the reign of Emperor Meiji, Japan becomes an active political player: it annexes the Ryukyu archipelago, develops the island of Hokkaido, wins the Sino-Japanese and Russo-Japanese wars, annexes Korea. After the restoration of imperial power, Japan managed to participate in more military conflicts than during the entire period of the rule of military houses.

September 2, 1945

Surrender in World War II, beginning of the American occupation

View of Hiroshima after August 6, 1945

The Library of Congress

World War II ended on September 2, 1945, with the signing of Japan's complete and unconditional surrender aboard the USS Missouri. Until 1951, the American military occupation of Japan will last. During this time, there is a complete reassessment of the values ​​that have been established in the Japanese mind since the beginning of the century. Such a once unshakable truth as the divine origin of the imperial family is also subject to revision. On January 1, 1946, on behalf of Emperor Showa, a decree was issued on the construction of a new Japan, containing a provision called "self-proclaimed emperor by a man." This decree also sets out the concept of Japan's democratic transformation and rejection of the idea that "the Japanese people are superior to other peoples and their destiny is to rule the world." On November 3, 1946, the new Japanese Constitution was adopted, which came into force on May 3, 1947. According to Article 9, Japan henceforth renounced "for all time from war as the sovereign right of the nation" and proclaimed the renunciation of the creation of armed forces.

1964

The beginning of the post-war reconstruction of Japan

Post-war Japanese identity was built not on the idea of ​​superiority, but on the idea of ​​the uniqueness of the Japanese. In the 1960s, a phenomenon called nihonjinron -"Thinking about the Japanese". Numerous articles written within the framework of this trend demonstrate the uniqueness of Japanese culture, the peculiarities of Japanese thinking, and admire the beauty of Japanese art. The rise of national self-awareness and the reassessment of values ​​were accompanied by world-class events held in Japan. In 1964, Japan became the host of the Summer Olympic Games, which were held in Asia for the first time. Preparations for their holding included the construction of urban infrastructure facilities that have become the pride of Japan. Between Tokyo and Osaka, the Shinkansen bullet trains, now known throughout the world, were launched. The Olympics has become a symbol of the return of the changed Japan to the world community.

Despite the fact that the Japanese islands began to be settled many millennia ago, statehood in Japan began to take shape only in the 4th-6th centuries AD. The history of the emergence of Japan and its development until the 6th century is debatable, since before the introduction of the Chinese language, the Japanese did not have a written language and, accordingly, no reliable evidence was preserved.

The progenitors of the Japanese people are considered to be the Yamato tribe, which lived on the territory of the Japanese islands from the second century BC, there is also a version that in the III century AD, the Yamato clan subjugated most of the tribes of Japan, from which the report of the birth of the Japanese people went.

Until the 6th century, the bulk of the population of Japan was made up of the peasantry, slaves and inferior citizens, which included foreigners. In the 6th century, Japan began to acquire signs of civilization and began to develop at a rapid pace, narrowing the great gap that existed between Japan and China.

The dynamic development of Japan is associated with an incredible ability to use the experience of other civilizations and countries without losing its uniqueness. This is to absorb the most advanced and at the same time remain oneself, bringing into its history and culture only the features inherent in the Japanese, is visible throughout the path of Japan's development.

Starting from the 7th century, the Japanese rulers skillfully combined the experience of China and Korea, by attracting scientists, artisans, monks to their country, and in parallel, young Japanese were sent to Korea and China to gain knowledge.

Chinese was considered the official written language of Japan. In the future, writing gradually transformed. In the 7th-8th centuries, an original syllabary was invented in Japan. Kana consists of katakana and hiragana. Today, up to 40% of words in Japanese are Chinese borrowings.

The head of state of Japan was tenno - "Heavenly master". In Russian, "tenno" is usually translated as emperor. There is a legend that the emperors of Japan are direct descendants of the sun goddess Amaterasu. The official mention of the title of emperor of Japan occurred in 608 in the process of state relations between Japan and China, although the title of emperor was used earlier in the history of the emergence of Japan.

The power of the emperor in different time periods of the country's development was of a different nature. Until the 11th century, the emperor was the sovereign sovereign of his country. In 1185, the head of the Yoritomo clan founded an alternative samurai government - the shogunate. Under the shogunate, real supreme power passed to the shoguns - the supreme military rulers. And the Emperor of Japan performed ceremonial actions and wielded power symbolically.

Since the 16th century, Japan has become one of the most closed countries. Under pain of death, the inhabitants of Japan were forbidden to leave the country. Foreigners were evicted from the country, except for the Dutch, who were allowed to live on the small island of Dejima, not far from Nagosaki, and with whom trade relations continued. Christianity, which began to spread in Japan thanks to Jesuit missionaries, was banned.

The power of the shogunate continued until 1867-1868, when the outbreak of civil war and mass discontent led to the Meiji revolution "enlightened rule" and the restoration of imperial rule. Since that time, the country has again become open and began to develop rapidly in all areas.

In this lesson, you will get acquainted with the original culture and history of Japan. Japan in the 17th-19th centuries is a country of brave and courageous samurai, artisans who make original goods, merchants engaged in trade, as well as peasants who, like in other countries at that time, had the most unenviable position. In this lesson, you will learn about Japan during the Tokugawa Dynasty, which was on the throne for about 250 years. This is the time of the closure of Japanese borders and the original development of Japan. Only Emperor Mutsuhito will open the Japanese borders, but this will happen much later.

This lesson will focus on the development of Japan during the Tokugawa Dynasty.

XVII-XIX centuries in the history of Japan is called the period Edo. The name of this period was given by the capital of the state at that time - the city of Edo (Fig. 1) (modern Tokyo). XVII-XIX centuries - this is the era when Japan was ruled by a feudal military elite, headed by Tokugawa dynasty. In 1603, the representative of the Ieyasu Tokugawa dynasty was able to defeat his opponents and take the title shogun. The shogun is the military and political leader of the country, the leader. However, under the shoguns, the title of emperor was also retained. Emperors at this time were more high priests than the real rulers of Japan. Despite this, the Tokugawa dynasty was able to hold on to power until 1868.

Rice. 1. Edo city - the capital of Japan ()

The Edo period is characterized by a clear division of society into classes. The class system of that time was 4 estates(an estate is a social group of people endowed with certain rights and duties that are inherited): samurai, peasants, artisans and merchants. For each of these estates, the position, opportunities were clearly defined, every part of the life of the Japanese of this period was legally prescribed.

The leading estate was the estate samurai (as warriors were called in Japan) (Fig. 2). Samurai had a huge number of privileges. Only they had the opportunity to carry 2 swords with them in peacetime: long and short (Fig. 3). This showed that the samurai had the right to punish as they saw fit. If one of the representatives of the lower classes behaved inappropriately in the presence of a samurai, then he had the right to execute the offender. Samurai made up 10th of the population of Japan and were a formidable force. When the bloody wars end, the samurai have nothing to do. Samurai are warriors and they are not adapted to peaceful life, because they do not know how to do anything peaceful. The question arose: what do samurai do in peace? Some of the samurai became mercenaries. Others opened schools of martial arts and became masters of their craft, such as swordsmanship (Figure 4). Some of the samurai became officials, and some tried to turn the course of the development of the state and again called for wars. More than once, the shoguns had to suppress samurai uprisings.

Rice. 2. Japanese samurai ()

Rice. 3. Samurai swords ()

Rice. 4. Japanese samurai ()

Position merchants (Fig. 5) and artisans(Fig. 6) was even worse. Most of the cities belonged to either the shoguns or the princes. In such cities, the arbitrariness of samurai officials had no restrictions. There were few large shogunal cities where the position of merchants and artisans was tolerable, for example, Osaka, Hakata, Kyoto.

Rice. 5. Japanese merchant (right) ()

Rice. 6. Japanese artisans ()

But the worst was the position of the peasantry (Fig. 7) because the peasant had no rights. They were the main part of the taxpayers, and the samurai feudal lords treated them as they pleased.

Rice. 7. Japanese peasants ()

Like other peoples of the Pacific region, in the XVII - XIX centuries. the Japanese had to deal with the increased activity of Europeans in the region. The first shogun, Ieyasu Tokugawa (Fig. 8), was suspicious of foreigners, but still allowed trade and settlement on the territory of the Japanese islands. But over time, relations between the Japanese and Europeans began to deteriorate. The reason for this is largely the fact that the uprisings that rose against the Tokugawa shoguns often had precisely christian character. In 1612, a decree was issued that forbade Tokugawa subjects from converting to Christianity.. The shoguns demanded that all their subjects renounce this religion. Soon, repressions began against Christians on the islands. Trade with Western powers began to decline sharply.

Rice. 8. Japanese shogun Ieyasu Tokugawa ()

In 1635, a decree was issued prohibiting the Japanese from leaving the territory of the state. Those Japanese who were outside the country at the time of the decree were prohibited from returning.

In the second half of the 17th century, the logical result of this policy was the prohibition, under pain of death, for foreigners to visit Japan. The country was completely isolated from the possibility of contact with the Western world.. This policy has led to conflicting results. On the one hand, Japan was able to successfully defend itself against European influence. The dominant religious denominations in the country were Buddhism and Shinto. On the other hand, Japan could not thus learn the scientific achievements that Europe brought to Asia. In historical science there are different assessments of the "closure of Japan", but the fact remains that Japan was able to get out of the period of the 17th-19th centuries. a country with its own tradition, culture and its own vision of foreign policy.

Especially popular during the Tokugawa were those religious trends and teachings that supported the power of the shogun. Yes, it was known the teachings of Zhu Xi (Fig. 9). This doctrine defended the ideals of subordination of the younger to the elders, the inviolability of traditions. Such exercises contributed to the growth of the nationalist atmosphere in the country. The Japanese were proclaimed the leading nation and believed that it was their path that was the most faithful and correct in the whole world.

The Tokugawa dynasty held on to power for a long time, about 250 years. However, over time, namely in the XIX century, there was a famous Meiji Revolution, during which power in Japan returned to the hands of the emperors. Emperor Mutsuhito of Japan (Fig. 10) made many important innovations, such as opened Japan to foreign trade, under him, foreigners began to appear in Japan again, he led Japan along the path of modernization. It was under the emperor Mutsuhito Japan is back on the world stage.

Rice. 10. Emperor of Japan Mutsuhito ()

Bibliography

1. Vedyushkin V.A., Burin S.N. Textbook on the history of modern times, grade 7. - M., 2013.

2. Dann Ch. Traditional Japan. Life, religion, culture. - M.: Tsentrpoligraf, 2006.

3. Kitagawa J. M. Religion in the history of Japan. - St. Petersburg: Nauka, 2005.

4. Leshchenko N.F. Japan in the Tokugawa era. - 2nd ed. - M.: Kraft+, 2010.

5. Mase F., Mase M. Japan of the Edo period. - M.: Veche, 2013.

6. Tolstoguzov S.A. The Tokugawa shogunate in the first half of the 19th century and the reforms of the Tempo years. - M., 1999.

7. Yudovskaya A.Ya. General history. History of the New Age. 1500-1800. - M.: "Enlightenment", 2012.

Homework

1. What were the four estates that existed during the Tokugawa era in Japan?

2. Why in Japanese history of the XVII-XIX centuries. called the Edo period?

3. Why did Japan close its borders to Europe?

4. When does the “opening of Japan” start?

The history of Japan is not counted from any particular date. The settlement of the territories began about 40 thousand years ago, although, of course, there was no talk of any state then. The ancient Japanese lived in small communities of 20-30 people, hunting, fishing and gathering. Approximately three centuries BC, technologies of rice growing and blacksmithing were brought to the islands from Korea and China. Agriculture meant a settled way of life, and the cultivation of rice, which required constant watering, led to the fact that communities began to move to the river valleys. It was with the advent of agriculture that tribal unions began to unite in the likeness of small states.

The first mention of the states located on the territory of modern Japan appeared in the Chinese chronicles of the 1st century AD. Three dozen out of a hundred, which are mentioned in the historical chronicles of those years, established contacts with China, sending their embassies and tribute there.

Under the rule of the Yamato tribe, the country began to gradually unite. It was Yamato who gave Japan an imperial dynasty, the first representative of which was Emperor Jimmu, who allegedly ascended the throne in 660 BC. However, most historians tend to consider Jimma a mythological character, and the very emergence of the dynasty is attributed to the period no earlier than the middle of the 1st century BC.

Kofun period

By the end of the 3rd century AD, the unification of small states into a kind of federal formation under the rule of the emperor, who lived with his court in the capital, was practically completed. Each new emperor moved to a new capital, since custom did not allow him to live in the place where the grave of his predecessor remained. And only in 710 the permanent capital of the state, the city of Heijo-kyo (modern Nara), was founded, and just 9 years before that, the first legislative code was drawn up, which was formally valid until the adoption of the Constitution in 1889.

Around the middle of the 6th century, Buddhism began to spread. Despite the opposition of Shinto priests, which led to conflicts and several wars, over time, the teaching gained popularity in the upper strata of aristocratic society and became the state religion. However, the lower strata of society continued to practice Shinto.

In 645, the aristocratic Fujiwara clan came to power, which concentrated actual power in their hands, while the emperor was left with only the role of high priest.

Nara and Heinan period

The countdown of the period begins with the construction of the capital of Heijo in the territory of the modern city of Nara. At that time, more than 60 provinces were subordinate to the capital, each of which was headed by its own governor appointed from the center. According to the code of laws adopted a few years earlier, the land and the population living on it were considered the property of the state. During the Nara period, which lasted about 80 years, the influence of Buddhism greatly increased. The largest temples and monasteries were built in the capital. One Buddhist monk from a seedy provincial family managed to subjugate the Empress Koken, who was living at that time, who received the name Shotoku upon her second accession to the throne, to such an extent that he even desired to become emperor. However, the death of the empress interfered with his plans, and in order to avoid the influence of Buddhists on members of the imperial family, the capital is transferred to the city of Heian. Not a single Buddhist temple was built in the new capital.

During the Heian period that followed, actual power was concentrated in the hands of the Fujiwara clan. For several centuries, the girls of this clan married members of the imperial dynasty, strengthening family ties more and more. This led to the fact that people incapable of state activity often found themselves in key positions.

At the end of the 9th century, Japan terminated official relations with China, which had been quite limited until that time. If until that moment China was considered a kind of standard, then in subsequent centuries, due to the absence of Chinese influence, Japan developed a unique and isolated culture, reworking all previous borrowings in its own way.

Emperor Gosanjo, who ascended the throne in the middle of the 11th century, had no family ties with the Fujiwara family and wanted to rule the country on his own. Having abdicated in 1086 in favor of his minor son, he actually ruled the state from the monastery. Subsequent rulers did the same, and until 1156 the country was ruled by monk emperors.

Kamakura period

Starting from the XII century, provincial military clans began to exert increasing influence on the political life of the state. The main rivalry unfolds between the Taira and Minamoto clans. The more fortunate Taira, who established ties with the imperial dynasty, aroused the discontent and envy of their rivals, which led to a protracted war in which the latter were victorious. The representative of the Minamoto Yoritomo clan, having consistently eliminated all competitors, receives from the emperor the position of sei taishogun, and in Japan, an actual dual power is established for many centuries. The administration of external rituals remains behind the imperial house, and all real power belongs to the military rulers of the shoguns. A new government (shogunate) was established in Yoritomo's hometown of Kamakura.

In 1274, the Mongols, having conquered China, set off to conquer Japan. The 30,000-strong fleet, having previously plundered the islands of Iki and Tsushima, is sent to Hakata Bay. The Japanese troops, inferior to the Mongols both in numbers and in armament, were doomed to defeat, but a typhoon swept the enemy fleet, and it did not come to a direct collision. A second attempt, made by the Mongols in 1281, ended with the same result - a storm that had flown buried most of the Mongolian ships. It was then, apparently, that the concept of "kamikaze" was born, which literally translates as "divine wind" that destroys enemies.

Muromachi period

In 1333, the split between Emperor Godaigo and his former associate Ashikaga Takauji resulted in an open military confrontation. Victory remains with Takauji, and the emperor has to flee for his life. He chooses Yoshino as his new residence and establishes the Southern Court. At the same time, another emperor ascends the throne in Kyoto, supported by the Ashikaga clan. The Muromachi district, where government buildings were located, gave its name to this period of the country's history. Until 1392, there were two emperors in parallel in Japan, and two courts - Northern and Southern, each of which appointed its own shoguns.

However, neither the Ashikaga clan, nor the Minamoto dynasty of shoguns that preceded them, possessed full power - the provincial military houses were in constant rivalry for positions and patronage of the ruling house. Naturally, someone remained deprived, which eventually resulted in an armed confrontation. As a result of the ten-year military conflict of 1467-1477, the capital Kyoto was destroyed, and the Ashikaga shogunate lost power. The loss of central control led to the strengthening of the provincial military clans, each of which began to issue their own laws within their domains. Japan entered a period of feudal fragmentation that lasted over 100 years.

It was at this time that the first Europeans entered the country, who turned out to be merchants who, among other goods, brought muskets with them. On the basis of the purchased samples, the Japanese are establishing the actual manufacture of firearms. Following the merchants, missionaries arrive who convert some Japanese feudal lords to Christianity. The religious tolerance of the Japanese quite allowed the practice of several religions at the same time, the adoption of Christianity did not mean a rejection of the faith of their ancestors, but it contributed to the establishment of strong contacts with Europeans.

Azuchi-Momoyama period

It is called so due to the castles of Azuchi and Momoyama, which were owned by Oda Nobunaga and Toyotomi Hideyoshi.

The troubled period of feudal fragmentation ended in 1573 with the expulsion of the last Ashikaga shogun from Kyoto, for participating in a conspiracy against one of the future unifiers of Japan, Oda Nobunaga. Starting from 1568, Oda systematically and consistently destroyed his enemies, fighting, among other things, with Buddhist schools, which completely controlled some provinces. After the death of Nobunaga, the unification of the country was continued by his associate Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who subjugated the northern provinces, as well as the islands of Shikoku and Kyushu.

Hideyoshi confiscated weapons from monks and peasants, forced the samurai to move to cities, conducted an audit of state lands and a population census. By a special decree, all Christian missionaries were expelled from the country, to intimidate them even several dozen Catholic monks had to be executed.

After the unification of the country, Hideyoshi began to plan for expansion to the mainland, dreaming of conquering China and Korea. However, his death put an end to the unsuccessful military campaign on the Korean Peninsula, after which, until the end of the 19th century, Japan abandoned attempts to invade other countries.

Edo period

The unification of Japan was completed by Tokugawa Ieyasu, who ruled his lands from Edo Castle. In 1603, he became the founder of the last dynasty of shoguns. During this period, a 5-class system was created: samurai, peasants, artisans, merchants and "eta" - pariahs of Japanese society, engaged in the dirtiest work. It was impossible to change the status.

After Tokugawa dealt with his last opponents in 1615, a time of peaceful calm came. An attempt at a peasant revolt in Shimabara, which had Christian slogans at its base, led to the fact that the shogunate issued a decree forbidding Europeans to be on the territory of the country, and the Japanese to leave its borders. From 1639 until the middle of the 19th century, Japan entered a period of voluntary self-isolation.

Peaceful life led to the flourishing of culture, creativity and various crafts. Literature and theater developed actively.

However, the restriction of contacts with the outside world was not to everyone's taste. The merchants needed markets, and the outside world did not want to ignore the existence of Japan. In 1853-54, the American officer Parry forced the Japanese government to open several commercial seaports. His actions, coupled with a complex of accumulated problems, led to dissatisfaction with the shogunate, which, under pressure from the military, was forced to transfer power to the emperor. The 6-century rule of military houses has ended.

Meiji period

After the Restoration, the emperor moved to the new capital - Tokyo. A period of active reforms begins: social classes are abolished, freedom of religion is declared, and compulsory primary education is introduced. The government buys land from the feudal landowners and carries out an administrative reform. Compulsory conscription is introduced. The transport system and communications are developing. Many students go to the West, and foreign teachers are invited to Japan. In 1889, the first Constitution was adopted and a parliament was created.

A conflict of interest leads to a war with Russia, in which Japan wins and expands its territory. In 1910, it increases even more due to the annexation of Korea.

World War II and post-war period

The policy of aggressive militarism leads to the occupation of Manchuria in 1931, followed by the bombing of Shanghai. The Second Sino-Japanese War began in 1937 and continued until 1945. Only the defeat in World War II and the signing of an unconditional surrender by the emperor put an end to Japan's militaristic aspirations.

The war-ravaged country, which survived two atomic bombings and was occupied by the Americans, also lost part of its territory. Under the leadership of the American General MacArthur, the reform of the political and economic structure of the state began. In 1947, a new constitution was adopted that forbade Japan from having its own armed forces.

The origin of Japan dates back to a time when the Japanese themselves did not yet exist. Items of material culture dating back to the Jomon era (8000-3000 BC) indicate that the first inhabitants of the archipelago were settlers from Southeast Asia. The migration routes of this ancient people ran through the islands of the Philippine archipelago. It was these people - the proto-Ains - who colonized the southern part of the future Japan. Only a small number of their descendants, the Ainu, have survived to this day. Following them, but much later (about 4000 years ago), representatives of the southern Mongoloid race, close to the modern population of the country, came through the Ryukyu archipelago to the Japanese islands.

3000 years ago, the population of the archipelago was quite motley. The bulk of the people were Ainu, who were engaged in hunting, fishing, and gathering. In the north (the island of Hokkaido), the Eskimos and Aleuts appeared, and in the south, newcomers from Australia and Polynesia, already familiar with primitive agriculture. In the middle of the first millennium BC. the Eskimos and Aleuts were completely absorbed by the northern Ainu, while the southern Ainu tribes, on the contrary, assimilated and dissolved among the more developed Austronesians.

A little later, a stream of proto-Japanese tribes, already familiar with bronze tools, rushed to the Japanese islands through the Korean Peninsula, which subsequently swallowed up all other nationalities, becoming the sole owners of the archipelago. It was the proto-Japanese who brought the Bronze Age to the islands (the Yayoi period, IV-III centuries BC - III century AD).

From the 3rd century AD on the territory of Japan, several proto-states are formed. The resettlement of the Chinese and Koreans from the mainland began. The first state - Yamato - arose in the 5th-6th centuries. In religious beliefs, the cult of the goddess of the Sun - Amaterasu became the main one. By this time, the Japanese had already developed as an ethnic group. In the 5th century hieroglyphic writing was brought to the archipelago from China, and in the 6th century. - Buddhism. The rivalry of the clans caused the inevitable centralization of power, and in the 7th century. after the reforms of Prince Shotoku and the Taika coup, led to the fall of the powerful Soga family and the creation of a centralized state headed by the imperial family.

In 710, the capital, Nara, was built, and in 794, Kyoto.

In addition to state (imperial) property, private land holdings (shoen) began to emerge, the owners of which had the right to receive part or all of their income. The process of formation of the service military nobility began, which over time will become a serious threat to the aristocracy and the imperial house. At the end of the XII century. after the victory of the Minamoto house over the Taira house, the first shogunate was created with a residence in Kamakura. At the same time, the samurai class was formed.

Mongols' attempts in 1274 and 1281 to seize Japan did not bring them success. In 1333, the government of the shoguns fell, and power completely passed into the hands of the imperial house. However, already in 1338, the power of the shoguns from the Ashikaga house was again established in the country. By the 15th century there is a transition from land ownership (shoen) to large - principalities, headed by influential princes - daimyo. There is trade with China and Korea.

In 1542, the first Europeans appeared in Japan - the Portuguese, in 1584 - the Spaniards. As a result of the activities of the missionaries, Christianity began to spread.

At the end of the XVI century. generals Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Tokugawa Ieyasu began a movement for the unification of the country. In addition, Toyotomi made an attempt to capture Korea (1590-1598), which ended in failure.

In 1600, after a two-year voyage on a Dutch ship, the Englishman William Adams arrived in Japan, where he remained until the end of his days. Having entered the confidence of the powerful ruler of Japan, Tokugawa Ieyasu and being his closest adviser for many years, he not only had a significant influence on the Japanese government, but, in essence, became a source from which the Japanese drew information on geography, mathematics, shipbuilding, and navigation. It is Adams who is the prototype of the protagonist of the famous novel by the American writer James Kleyvel "Shogun" and the multi-part film of the same name based on his motives.

By the beginning of the XVII century. in Japan, the freedom of free cities is liquidated, a system of estates is established - samurai, peasants, artisans and merchants. Nevertheless, the unification was relative; a number of independent principalities continued to exist. At the same time, decrees were issued that limited communication with the outside world, which was to some extent caused by popular uprisings and missionary activities of Christians. Such a "closure" of the country led to a significant lag in the development of science and technology, but also prevented the colonization of the country and ensured almost 250 years of peaceful life.

In the XVIII century. large principalities are being destroyed, impoverishment of the bulk of the samurai class occurs. The political and economic crisis allowed the Americans to forcibly "open" Japan in 1854. Unequal treaties with the United States and European countries led to a limitation of the country's sovereignty, but at the same time gave impetus to the capitalist development of the country after the Meiji revolution (1867-1868). The 1889 constitution abolished the feudal estates and consolidated imperial power, creating a unitary state for the first time.

New Japan begins active development. In 1895, after the victory over China, the island of Taiwan and the islands of Penghuledao went to her along with a significant monetary contribution. Having secured support from Great Britain, Japan defeats Russia in 1904-1905. and receives the southern part of Sakhalin, and in 1910 annexes Korea. During World War I, Japan seizes German concessions in China and German-owned islands in the Pacific. Japan's industrial production more than doubled during the war. In 1931, Japan occupied Manchuria, creating a "subsidiary" state of Manchukuo.

The rapid development of the state was interrupted during World War II, when Japan took the side of Germany and Italy. In 1945, the Kwantung Army was defeated, Manchuria was liberated, the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were subjected to nuclear bombardment.

After the end of the Cold War, Japan made a real scientific and technological revolution and became one of the leading countries in the world, which remains to this day.