SSWH11 China and Japan from the 14th to mid-19th centuries

SSWH11 Students will investigate political and social changes in Japan and in China from the seventeenth century CE to
mid-nineteenth century CE.

Tokugawa Japan
• At the end of the 15th century, Japan was in chaos.
• Daimyo, heads of noble families controlled lands and warred with their neighbors
• Process of unification began in the late 16th century with three powerful political figures
• Influenced by the Chinese–culturally and politically

Local Level
• Landlords hold power
• Hire warriors, called samurai, for protection
• Similar to European Knights
• Local lords (daimyo: “great names”) and their samurai (“those who served”) were the most powerful people
during the Ashikaga shogunate

3 Powerful Leaders
1. Oda Nobunaga – began process of unification; Seized the capital of Kyoto
2. Toyotomi Hideyoshi
Located his capital at Osaka
persecutes Christians
3. Tokugawa Ieyasu
The daimyo of Edo (modern __________________) took control of Japan and took the title of __________
in 1603

Draw and label the pyramid on your notes.

Samurai
• Main function: local police
• Traits of a samurai
• Loyal to clan/lord
• Skilled swordsman
• ___________________: samurai code of behavior; “way of the warrior”
• Bravery, loyalty, honor
• Samurai would except physical hardships without complaint and did not fear death
• Seppuku: ceremonial suicide (aka: hara-kiri)
• Avoid dishonor that accompanied defeat or disobedience

____________________________________
• A daimyo – he wins a decisive victory in the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600
• He eventually unifies Japan gains loyalty of all daimyo
• Becomes shogun – sole ruler and the “Tokugawa Shogunate” begins

____________________________________
• Traditional culture thrived
• Kabuki theater gains popularity:
• Dance dramas w/elaborate costumes and make-up
• Haiku– poetry that expresses images and nature
_______________________________________
• Moves capital to Edo (becomes Tokyo)
• Forces all daimyo come to capital every other year to keep them obedient & close to his watchful eye
• Strong _______________________________ becomes more important than military actions
(rule of law over rule of sword)

_______________________________________
• Trade and Industry flourish
• Brings stability, prosperity, & isolation
• Food production increases
• Japan’s population increases
• Merchant class becomes wealthy & powerful, but peasants remain poor & overworked
• Many peasants eventually move to cities

China
• Ming China 1368-1644
• The Manchus and Qing China 1644-1800

Qing Dynasty
• Founded by the ___________________, a non-Chinese people
• In the Ming period the Manchus had lived in communities in Manchuria (modern day northeastern China)
• Hunters, farmers, and fishermen

Kangxi
• Reigned from 1661-1722; perhaps the greatest _________________in Chinese history
• Could speak, read, and write Chinese
• Firmly believed the Manchus had a legitimate claim to the Mandate of Heaven
• Toured areas where Ming support had been the highest; gave an exam to compile the official history of the Ming
Dynasty

Policies of the Qing Rulers

• Tried to maintain their cultural distinctness
• Brought Chinese into the imperial administration
• Ordered all men to adopt Manchu ____________________________________________________
• Restored peace & prosperity
• Under _________________, the efforts of Christian missionaries reached its height

Economic Changes
• Between 1500 & 1800 China remained mostly agricultural
• 85% of the people were small farmers
• Major Increase in population due to long period of peace & stability, improvements in food ______________,
and faster growing species of rice
• Increased population meant less land for each family

Continued Economic Changes…

• Steady growth in manufacturing and increased trade between provinces
• Under Qing confined European traders to a small island outside ________________________
• In 1793, the emperor wrote to King George III that China had no need of your country’s manufactures… the
Chinese would later pay for their rejection of the British

Social Changes
• Class system became rigid
• Intermarriage between ____________________ was forbidden
• Role of women became more restricted
• Parents arranged marriages
• Women who did not meet the expectations of her husband or his family would be divorced