Tokugawa Period: Religion As A Political Tool For Population Control
Table of Contents
Opening remarks
In summary,
Citing sources
An opening
Examples of the creation of European culture and traditions include the Renaissance, Golden Ages, and Enlightenment Period. A lot of these can still be seen today. Japan’s most significant moment in cultural traditions is likely the Tokugawa era (also known under the Edo period). This period was when the militaristic, samurai-like shogun made up the hierarchy of feudal Japan. They were also the most literate and poets of that time. The Tokugawa time, which lasted between 1600 and 1868, was known as a period that brought peace. Tokugawa and his followers sought to maintain Japan’s balance by ensuring class immobility. To achieve this, the Shogunate employed a variety methods, including propaganda, organizing marriages among high-ranking elites (i.e. daimyo (Spackman), and religion This essay will examine how the Tokugawas kept Japan at peace by using religion to their political power.
The essay begins with a brief overview of Japan’s pre-Tokugawa history and how the shogunate unites it. The essay then explains how the Tokugawas viewed the major religions. The essay then discusses the various policies, social hierarchies and other aspects of religion. Finally, there are some concerns about the validity and insight of this analysis.
Japan’s history before the Tokugawa was in turmoil. The elite were fighting against each other and there was conflict between landlords. Every noble still pledged loyalty to the Emperor during this period, but the Emperor had no control over the people or conflicts and was primarily a ceremonial symbol for Japan. Farmers were also provoked by leaders and religious extremists to rebel against the government and take up arms against their daimyo. Three warlords emerged from this chaos to unify Japan again. Tokugawa Ieyasu, one of these warlords, seized control of Japan in 1600 after the Battle at Sekigahara. He defeated the most powerful western opposition. The shogunate was established in 1603, but it is commonly claimed that peace and success were achieved after Osaka’s siege in 1615.
Sakoku, or the Japanese social-economic lockdown, was established by the Shogunate from this point forward. Japan was closed to foreign countries wishing to trade and enter the country. Except for Dutch traders, which were permitted to visit a single Nagasaki post as a trading point. This was also where you could find western science and thought during that period. Tokugawa’s isolationism and decline as a ruler result from Commander Perry’s request for open borders. The nation became skeptical about the elite status of its shogunate after it surrendered to the American fleet. This caused civil war, which led to industrial Japan and Meiji restoration. The Meiji government placed Shinto above Buddhism in the realm of religion. This was supported by the Tokugawa Shogunate.
To counter militant religious leader uprisings, the Tokugawas used buddhism in politics. They controlled who could enter the temple hierarchy and made all civilian registrations at buddhist temples. Munks were also used as government officials and spying agents. The shogunate also used shintoism, neoconfucianism and other religions. They were used mainly to imbibe social values onto the civilians via moral teachings like the social hierarchy system for feudal lords. All this was done to stop opposition and resist the Tokugawa government. This article will discuss the essence and the ways in which the shogunate used each religion in society to support their rule.
Tokugawa’s family wanted to keep class control and harmony between classes, given the history of rebellion against governmental regimes by religious sects. This is also true for the neo-confucianism school. The confucianism worldview emphasizes the importance of values like obligation, obedience and discipline. This could be used to enforce obedience among farmers to their daimyos and prevent rebellions against Tokugawa’s government. Confucianism does not have any behaviour-reinforcing elements like rituals or habits, so the shogunate embraced Shintoism. Shinto’s presence was minimal in the Tokugawa period. It was concentrated in the imperial Palace. The connection between confucianism and Shinto allowed the teachings to be embedded in Japanese culture, history, and culture. Shinto could also profit from Confucianism to provide deeper meanings to religious elements.
Tokugawa Shogunate’s view of Buddhism as a threat was also an opportunity. The risk of rebellion would return if religious leaders were to oppose moral teachings. The fear was that Buddhist thought could oppose the emperor and so loyalty to Japan’s government. The buddhist rituals and temples were used to control and monitor the population and create an obedient community. The Shogunate created a system in which temples were used to control the population, while Shintoism was more prominent. Finally, Christianity attempted to gain ground in Japan during times of warring countries. Tokugawa saw foreign influences and considered them a threat. Christianity, which required devotion to a pope and a separate god, both from Japan and their Emperor, was a threat.
The first wave in political reforms was concerned with controlling who can hold power and enforcing class-immobility. This is best illustrated by the 1627 incident with the purple robe. Purple robes represent buddhist leaders in temples and other titles that could not be granted by the emperor or imperial palace. Tokugawa deprived about 150 high ranking monks and restricted the emperor from granting titles. This policy demonstrates the strict control that the Shogunate exercised to suppress religious teachings and emphasize hierarchic values.
Hommastu, a second level of control over buddhist sections, was established. It linked temples all over Japan in a hierarchic hierarchy, where the heads of temples must inspect and report to temples belonging in the same branch. This created a system of self-regulation and control, in which temples could ensure that each other’s practices were consistent with the Tokugawa rule.
Tokugawa established government control over Buddhist temples and sects. He used temples to manage municipalities and appointed monks as officials. It was legal to register your temple with the government and to establish a center to collect and manage your rice-tax contribution. Monks maintained population registries, which reported on any possible deficiencies and actions in rice-tax contribution. The registration to buddhist shrines also had the effect of preventing religious strife. Every person was asked to declare their religion during the annual registrations. It was illegal for a person to identify themselves as christian. Monks were also asked about one’s religious beliefs.
The combination of these policies and hierarchies was responsible for the destruction of christianity. All of these changes were made in order to promote class-immobility, obedience to feudal daimyo. They transformed monks into officials and spies to monitor for oppositional thought. Tokugawa was also able to use these population records to manage different purposes.
According to different sources, it is still unclear whether this social hierarchy, true isolation, or perception of rigid classes was as real as they implied earlier (Vaporis 2012). There are many evidences that point to trade and foreign interactions with foreign nations. Sweden, Germany and the Koreans are all possible candidates. The policy was designed to support the financial sustainability of christian practices and spread the faith.
The hierarchic system that Tokugawa had in mind for their nation is what was presented earlier. The Tokugawa’s intention might have had a different impact on moral values, but not everyone. The people’s perception of class was believed to be different than the ideology of the Shogunate. People did not see the distinction between artisans and merchants and considered them ‘townsfolk” (Vaporis 2012). The Tokugawa thought merchants were on the lowest tier because they might be seeking unjust profits (Labbe 2017).
If we take reliability as a given, what insights and concepts can late-feudal Japan’s analysis offer? After a long period in war and chaos, the Tokugawa Shogunate maintained stability and peace. They used propaganda to control religion and abolish Christianity. The Tokugawa period’s theme could be unify or purify. This can be seen as a parallel to European historical events. The feudal conflict between lords or kings through to the imposing Christianity and certain aspects of Spain’s Inquisition.
Conclusion. The reign of more than 250 years combined with the perception of peace can be argued that the policies have been successful. Many of the used practices are not compatible today with moral values like freedom speech and freedom thought. People would protest the imposition of a religion on them. People are also restricted from climbing the social ladders. This hinders innovation and talent. For example, a farmer could have a successful career if he or she was granted education.
Citing
Labbe, S. A. (2017). Religion and The State: The Influence Of the Tokugawas on Religious Life and Thought. Gettysburg College student publication
Encyclopaedia Britannica (2018). Tokugawa period Japanese history, derived on 19th Jan 2019 from https://www.britannica.com/event/Tokugawa-period
Jansen, M. B. (2002). The Making of Modern Japan. Harvard U. Press.
Vaporis, C. N. (2012). Voices of Early Modern Japan: Contemporary Accounts of Day-to-Day Life in the Age of the Shoguns: Contemporary Accounts of Day to Day Life in the Age of the Shoguns. ABC-CLIO.
Spackman, C. (2005), An Encyclopedia of Japanese History, retrieved on 19th Jan 2019 from http://www.openhistory.org/jhdp/download/encyclopedia/0.3.4/ejh.pdf
