Japanese Culture and Institutions 
The Tokugawa Shogunate:  Transformation of the Tokugawa

 Museum Field Projects I  Cultural Projects I  Videos I Maps I Chronology I Bibliography I Websites I Study Guides I  Tokugawa Home Page

In the 250 years that the Tokugawa Shogunate ruled Japan, they resisted the temptation to change.   They had perfected the feudal-based bureaucratic system and centralized the entire operation.  With a large unified market, merchants and cites  flourished.  Without war, it was inevitable that the economic and social environment  of the feudal structure would change.  Daimyos became dependent courtiers and  the Samurai warriors became state employees with a thorough  knowledge of Confucian classics.  All classes had rules of conduct which were carefully followed.  Everything was regulated according to class--peasants could not wear samurai hairstyles or carry a weapon, merchants could not wear opulent kimonos, and the samurai were in financial trouble attempting to maintain their social position. 

The economy changed rapidly.  Agriculture was revolutionized, new industries were developed, and Edo became one of the world's largest cities.  Education and economic growth resulted in tensions within this inflexible system.  The Japanese world had changed but the Tokugawa refused to change.  Change was forced on the institution by the arrival of the U.S. warship and Matthew Perry .  Those who wanted change could now make their case before the Emperor.