The United States
experienced growth and development by the time of Perry’s Expedition. But what
was the condition of Japan. Explore the condition of the home of the samurais before the arrival of
the American expedition.
The Empire of Japan
Japan
at the time of Perry’s expedition was stagnating. Since 1603, the Tokugawa ruled
the country. From 1633, the Islands isolated itself from the rest of the world
to alleviate fears of colonization. For centuries Japan survived without too
much contact with the rest of the world. But by 1853, Tokugawa Japan was in a bad shape.
Tokugawa
Shogunate ruled a Bakufu or a military government in Japan for two centuries from the time of its founder Tokugawa Ieyasu in 1603 until its collapse on 1868. While Tokugawa Shoguns
held the reins of power from their capital in Edo, the Emperor residing in
Kyoto served only as a symbol. With absolute power, succeeding shoguns
preserved peace in Japan resulting in great economic, cultural, and social
changes.
Japan
economy prospered. Merchants and Samurai’s had roaring trade, while
farmers enjoyed bountiful harvest. Domestic trade gave rise to interest in
commercial activities, while farmers used their surplus to finance small
cottage industries. Moreover, as Japanese enjoyed profits and surplus,
they spent in cultural activities such as theaters and plays. The Shogunate
also supported education, making Japan one of the most literate countries. Many
books on history described Tokugawa Japan as a booming era. If had not
been to the Perry expedition, the Shogunate would have economically survived
beyond 1868.
Nevertheless,
as time went by, the Shogunate began to show cracks within its system.
Corruption was an issue in the last years of the 18th century and the first
half of the 19th century. Samurais, the once proud and valiant warriors, lose
touch of their martial skills in an era peace. Moreover, they worked no longer as soldiers but as administrators. Meanwhile, allegations of incompetence as
well as squandering for luxuries plagued the high officials within the
Shogunate, and even the Shoguns themselves were accused. Especially, a decades before the
arrival of the American expedition, famine rattled Japan and rebellions threatened the country. This also led to economic disruptions that
brought dissatisfaction. The lack of quick and strong response from the
government made it look weak. Intellectuals liked Aizawa Seishisai criticized
the Shogunate for its lack of initiative to keep Japan strong and prosperous.
Another factors to Japan's development was the lack of technological advancement. The closing of the country limited technology transfer to a small island of Dejima in Nagasaki. Dutch Learning or Rangaku barely succeeded teaching Japan modern advancements by the 1850's. Lacking modern technology, Japan's economy and military were no match to the industrialize and modern weapons of the west.
By the time of the arrival of the American squadron in Edo Bay, Tokugawa Ieyoshi ruled as the twelfth shogun. However, his frail health resulted much of the power reside over the chief elder or roju shuza, Abe Masahiro. His rule was uneventful until the arrival of the 1853 American expedition. The pressure of leading Japan to the unknown rested upon his shoulders.
With the Shogunate crumbling from series of ineffective Shoguns and the military and defense stagnated, Japan’s weakness played on the hands of Commodore Perry and
other foreigners.
Japan’s Isolationist
Policy and Interaction with Foreigners
Isolationism
was a significant characteristic of the Tokugawa Shogunate. It began in 1633
by Shogun Tokugawa Iemitsu amidst fears of religious,
cultural, and political threats from trade and interaction with westerners. For
two centuries, the policy remained strong with some exemptions. But by the
middle of the 19th century, it faced renewed threats of western imperialism.
The policy eventually became the main focus of Commodore Perry’s expedition.
Sakoku (Closed Country) Edict
issued by Shogun Tokugawa Iemitsu in 1633, came on the midst of growing
European incursions in Japan. Decades before the edict, Portuguese, Spaniards,
and Dutch sent missions to Japan to trade as well as to spread the Christian faith,
especially the Spanish and Portuguese friars coming to the Islands. The
Shogunate watched the spread of Christianity in fear and
anxiety. They feared that Christianity threatened Japanese culture centered
on Shintoism, Buddhism, and Confucianism. In addition, they also believed that
conversion was a prelude for a bigger threat – colonization. After a
rebellion mostly composed of Christians, the Shogunate finally issued the
Sakoku Edict, prohibiting Japanese to travel outside Japan and banning foreigners
from entering Japan.
Exemptions,
however, were given to some. The Chinese, a traditional trading partner of the
Japanese, were allowed to come. The Dutch, who simply had commercial interest
rather than religious, also received the privilege of being the only Europeans
allowed to trade with Japan. But even though the Japanese allowed contact with
the Chinese and the Dutch, all activities with these foreigners were confined
only to a tiny island of Dejima in Nagasaki. For the next two centuries, Dejima
served as a window for Japan to the outside world and vice versa.
Until
the 1800’s, the Closed Country Policy remained intact. But with the dawn of the
19th century and the advent of modern technology, the Europeans returned to
Asia with vengeance. China, the giant neighbor of Japan, fell like a prey to
the European predators forcing it to open ports for trade and made its
people addicted to opium. As news of China’s humiliation reached Dejima and
Edo, the Shogunate ever more feared foreigners. Foreign ships passing across
Japanese seas rose once again, especially those seeking supplies. In 1825, Edo
found a way to deter foreign ships from coming close to Japan by shooting them
at sight. Many foreign ships experienced this Japanese harassment. But in the
1840’s, the policy of shooting first was relaxed and ships were first given
warning to leave the country or head to Dejima Island. The Japanese government
sensed foreigners would not leave Japan alone and closed. But the bakufu
worried for their country’s independence, especially after the Opium War in
China. For many Japanese, they equaled isolationism with preservation of
Japanese integrity and independence. But soon enough, they faced a formidable
challenge in 1853 in form of America’s Black
Ships.
Explore also:
Perry Expedition and the Opening of Japan (Part 3): Attempts and Plans
Perry Expedition and the Opening of Japan (Part 1): Perry's United States
Perry Expedition and the Opening of Japan (Part 1): Perry's United States
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