Tokugawa Bakfu Policy In Japan

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Tokugawa government had belonged to the Shoguns and was successful in forming and keeping an affordable system that had lasted two and a half centuries (Pg.3). Tokugawa government’s goal was to maintain “under the centralized power in the context of a feudal system, in which the various lords (daimyo) could retain their autonomy (Pg.3).” Tokugawa Shogun had his castle in Edo and he had also established the Shogun government in Edo and it is now presently known as Tokyo. The Edo government of the Tokugawa was known as bakfu (Pg.3). The Tokugawa policy relied on maintaining the status quo and their power. The status quo was based on Confucian’s principles which were made accordance to the need of a feudal Japanese society and sanctions by the Tokugawa rulers (Pg.4). In this paper, it will discuss Tokugawa bakfu policies which had given a rise to the culture of floating world through the various roles of samurai warriors, the merchants and the courtesans.
The Tokugawa bakfu had a control system called “alternate attendance” that expected the Daimyo to reside in Edo and at their domains (Pg.241). Edo was mostly consisted of the male population (Pg.245). The Daimyo had to leave their wives and children in Edo as hostages (Pg.241). Tokugawa society was divided into four categories: the samurai warriors, the peasants, the artisans and the merchants. The samurai warriors were the masters of agriculturalists, artisans and merchants and they were not allowed to be rude or disrespectful towards the samurai (Pg.5). The official merchants were in charge of supplying goods to Samurai’s in which made Edo a consumer capital (Pg.241). The power of merchants had formed most of the wealth for their feudal lords. The Tokugawa merchant officials were considered different from the rising middle class of the West since they did not accept to take their economic powers into political rights (Pg.8). In Yoshiwara, which is the center of Edo social life had given the merchants the opportunity to do more business by meeting rich customers such as daimyo and bannerman (Pg.246-247). Daimyo and high ranking officials had to adjust their lifestyle such as food, housing and clothing was based on warrior style and on their ancient practices and decorum of the Kyoto court (Pg.242). The warriors participated in leisure activities had given a rise to the culture in the floating world. For example, the warriors were engaged in calligraphy, painting, the tea ceremony, flower arranging, and their passion for poetry (Pg.244). The activities that the warriors took part in were all based on the practices of Kyoto and Edo and had adapted to the traditional arts (Pg.244). The samurai warriors and merchants participation in the leisure activities had also greatly influenced courtesans to give a rise to the culture of a floating world.
Edo became known as the floating world of pleasure and fashion due to the courtesans, dancing girls, musicians, jesters and special tradesmen. In Edo, the gay quarters were known as “towns of pleasure” in the larger cities (Pg.9). The gay quarter was like a fantasy that had a glamour and sensuality and had their own decorum and rituals. The courtesans had qualities such as spirit and pride. The high-ranking courtesans had the physical beauty and clothing and were considered very artistic. As well as, they had a great knowledge on culture and decorum (Pg.9). The Bakufu had placed conditions and which were that prostitutes were only permitted in the gay quarters and the courtesans were not
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