Warring States (Sengoku) & Political Unification

Ashikaga Shogunate in Kyoto, 1338-1573

Onin War 1467-77

*Warring States (Sengoku), 1477-1573

*Daimyō ("big names" regional warlords), 1477-1573

Daimyō backgrounds

1) Former provincial governors (20%)
2) Local military lords (majority of daimyō)
3) Lowly samurai or warrior-farmers

Comparison with European feudalism

Politics/Military

✓Lord (daimyō)-vassal (samurai) bond

Economy

✓Land grants

Castles & Forts

✓Independent cities

Society

✓Warrior aristocracy

Self-governing villages of free farmers vs. European serfs

3 Unifiers (1573-1616)

*Oda Nobunaga (1534-82)

Small domain in Owari

2000 followers

*Kyoto 京都 “capital city” captured, 1568

Allied with emperor and Ashikaga Yoshiaki

30,000 followers

Attacks Buddhist monasteries, 1571-2

Enryakuji Monastery (Pure Land Buddhism) [Kyoto Map]

Ikkō (True Pure Land) communities

Ended Ashikaga Shogunate, 1573

Nobunaga’s title

“imperial adviser” not shogun

Battle of Nagashino (SE of Nagoya), 1575

Controlled 1/3 of Japan

Keys to success

Military innovations

Infantry with long pikes

Matchlock Musket

Administrative reforms

Land surveys

Consolidation of samurai vassals

*Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1536-98)

Humble background

Sandal holder in teens

Rose to generals

Nobunaga and sons assassinated, 1582

Hideyoshi 1 of 4 regents

Sole power, 1585

“Imperial Regent” not shogun

Completed conquest, 1585-90

Hideyoshi's policies

Controlled daimyō

Undertook land surveys

Transferred daimyō frequently

Destroyed small forts and castles

Took hostages from defeated enemies

✓Daimyō had to provide troops and laborers

Built Osaka Castle, 1583-90

Invaded Korea, 1592

Controlled society

✓Separated farmers and warriors

✓Collected weapons from non-warriors

Hideoyoshi's Failed Dynasty

Died 1598

Only produced 1 son surviving childhood

Toyotomi Hideyori

5 years old in 1598

5 regents Tokugawa Ieyasu dominant

Discussion

Butler, Lee. "The Sixteenth-Century Reunification." In Japan Emerging, 311-20.

1. According to the author, what are the common approaches to studying the late Warring States period and reunification (p. 312)?

2. Butler’s article goes beyond the usual story of the three unifiers to develop a new thesis about the reunification of Japan (pp. 317-20).

Ambrose, Barbara. "Religion in Early Modern Japan." In Japan Emerging, 378-79.

1. Ambrose’s article covers a diverse set of religions and philosophies—Christianity, Buddhism, Shinto, Confucianism and folk religion. Overall, how would you characterize the nature of Japanese religion, in contrast to the more familiar Judeo-Christian tradition?

2. What was the role of government in regulating religion? 3. What types of popular religions arose outside of the state-registered Buddhist and Shinto temples (pp. 385-89)?