The Muromachi Period is formally recognized to end when Oda Nobunaga overthrew the Ashikaga Shogun in 1573.
Sites to Visit Related to the Muromachi Period:
Friday, July 2, 2010
Muromachi Period (1333-1573)
The Muromachi Period was the second shogunate of Japan. It began with a three-year period called the Kenmu Restoration, in which Emperor Go-Daigo, who had just overthrown the Kamakura Shogunate, set himself up as Emperor. As many samurai were displeased by the restoration, Ashikaga Takauji, one of Go-Daigo's supporters, deposed him and set himself up as shogun. The Ashikaga Shogunate was nowhere near as stable as the Kamakura Shogunate, however. The first fifty years were marked by nearly civil war between the Go-Daigo's Southern Imperial Court in Yoshino and the Northern Imperial Court in Kyoto, under Ashikaga's control. In addition, the Ashikaga Shogunate increased the power of the samurai constables, creating the class of daimyo, or feudal lords. This would lead to the massive civil war of the Sengoku Period in 1467.
Sengoku Period (1467-1573)
The Sengoku Period, which means the Warring States Period, occurred at the end of the Muromachi Period. The Ashikaga Shogun had failed to win the support of most of the feudal lords, or daimyo, and these daimyo began to wage civil war on each other. Three daimyo in particular, Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Tokugawa Ieyasu, would play a major role in Japanese history in following eras. Other notable daimyo from this era include Takeda Shingen, Date Masamune, and Uesugi Kenshin.
The Sengoku Period ended when Oda Nobunaga forcefully united most of Japan.
Locations to Visit Related to the Sengoku Period:
Azuchi-Momoyama Period (1573-1603)
The Azuchi-Momoyama Period was the end of the Warring States Period, when Oda Nobunaga and his successor Toyotomi Hideyoshi unified Japan, ultimately ending the rule of the Ashikaga Shoguns. It also includes Hideyoshi's attempt to conquer China through Korea. This brief period of history ended in the Battle of Sekigahara, when Toyotomi's supporters were defeated by Tokugawa Ieyasu, thus beginning the Edo Period. Many institutions in the Edo Period, such as the class distinctions, began in the Azuchi-Momoyama period.
Locations to Visit in Japan Related to the Azuchi-Momoyama Period:
Locations to Visit in Japan Related to the Azuchi-Momoyama Period:
Edo Period (1603-1868)
The Edo Period, also known as the Tokugawa Period, was one of the most defining moments of Japanese culture. It began when the warlord Tokugawa Ieyasu took over Japan after the Battle of Sekigahara and became the shogun, or general, of Japan. This period was defined by the isolation of Japan from the rest of the world. Ieyasu, who initially welcomed the Portuguese missionaries and Christianity, soon began to fear that Westerners were using missionaries to take over the country, so he banned Christianity and forbade anyone to enter or leave the country. The Edo period had a complex social system including various classes and restrictions for each class to keep them under the Shogun's control.
Being isolated, this was also a very peaceful time. The samurai, who were previously involved in war, devoted their time to the arts. Many forms of art, including ukiyo-e and kabuki, flourished in this time.
The Edo period began to end when Matthew C. Perry arrived in his black ships and demanded that Japan open its ports. Following this was a brief period called the bakumatsu, where the shogun attempted to modernize to reassert his dominance, but eventually was overthrown and the Emperor restored to power.
Sites in Japan related to the Edo Period:
Being isolated, this was also a very peaceful time. The samurai, who were previously involved in war, devoted their time to the arts. Many forms of art, including ukiyo-e and kabuki, flourished in this time.
The Edo period began to end when Matthew C. Perry arrived in his black ships and demanded that Japan open its ports. Following this was a brief period called the bakumatsu, where the shogun attempted to modernize to reassert his dominance, but eventually was overthrown and the Emperor restored to power.
Sites in Japan related to the Edo Period:
- Edo Castle (now Imperial Palace)
- Edo-Tokyo Museum
- Nihonbashi
- Hamarikyu Gardens
- Yushima Seido
- Perry Park
- Yokomizo Yashiki
- Dejima
- Glover Garden
- Memorial to the Martyrdom of the 26 Saints of Japan
- Sofukuji Temple
- Nikko Tosho-gu
- Rinno-ji
- Himeji Castle
- Nijo Castle
- Kawagoe
- Hikone Castle
- Matsue Castle
- Nagoya Castle
Meiji Period (1868-1912)
The Meiji Period refers to the time when Mutsuhito, who called himself Meiji, meaning "enlightened rule," was emperor of Japan after the Tokugawa shogun was overthrown. Meiji moved the emperor's home from Kyoto to Edo, renaming the city Tokyo, which means "Eastern Capital." During the Meiji Restoration, Meiji reformed government and the class system to make a more inclusive and democratic government. The samurai were disbanded, and many feudal lords became governors. Christianity was legalized and Japan became more accepting of Western ideologies.
Under Emperor Meiji, Japan became increasingly modernized, and many institutions were modeled on Western countries. Japan also began militarization, and by the end of the Meiji Period, Japan had taken over Korea and won a war with Russia.
Sites in Japan related to the Meiji Period:
World War Period (1912-1945)
World War I and II occurred during the reigns of two emperors: the Taisho emperor and the Showa emperor. During this time, Japan expanded significantly in the Pacific. Japan was allied with Britain during World War I, but in World War II it was a member of the Axis. Japan became increasingly militaristic and conquered China and much of Southeast Asia. Japan was also infamous for their attack on Pearl Harbor, which brought America into the war. Japan's empire ended in August of 1945, after America dropped atomic bombs on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, after which Japan surrendered unconditionally. This led to a brief period of American occupation, in which the Emperor became a figurehead and renounced his godlike status, and Japan was never allowed to have an army for aggressive purposes again.
Locations to Visit Related to the World War Period:
Postwar Period (1945-Present)
After the Empire of Japan surrendered to the Allies, it was occupied until 1952. The Allies made several changes to the Japanese government. There was no more absolute monarchy, and government was made democratic. Rights were given to women and education was made mandatory for all citizens. After the State of Japan was formed following America's departure, Japan entered a period of rapid economic growth, and hosted the Summer Olympics in 1964 and Expo '70. During the 1990s-2000 the economy stopped growing.
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