6.1 Establishment of Tokugawa rule and social hierarchy

The Tokugawa shogunate, established in 1603, marked a new era in Japanese history. After winning the Battle of Sekigahara, Tokugawa Ieyasu secured power through clever land redistribution, marriage alliances, and the alternate attendance system.

The shogunate maintained control through a rigid social hierarchy and various methods. These included the hostage system, restrictions on castle building, and economic controls. The Sakoku policy limited foreign influence, helping preserve Tokugawa power for over 250 years.

Tokugawa Shogunate Establishment

Establishment of Tokugawa shogunate

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• Battle of Sekigahara (1600) decisively secured Tokugawa Ieyasu's victory over rival daimyo coalition marking the beginning of Tokugawa hegemony
• Appointment as shogun in 1603 granted by Emperor Go-Yōzei officially established Tokugawa shogunate in Edo (modern-day Tokyo) solidifying political legitimacy
• Land redistribution rewarded loyal daimyo with strategic territories while relocating potential rivals to less advantageous regions (Kaga, Satsuma)
• Alternate attendance system (sankin-kōtai) required daimyo to maintain residences in Edo and enforced regular travel between domains and capital draining resources and preventing rebellion
• Marriage alliances strengthened ties with powerful families (Tokugawa-Maeda, Tokugawa-Asano) securing loyalty through kinship bonds
• Tokugawa clan monopoly on key government positions ensured centralized control and family dominance
• Codification of laws and regulations through Buke shohatto (Laws for the Military Houses) established clear rules for daimyo behavior and governance limiting autonomy

Tokugawa Social Structure

Structure of Tokugawa social hierarchy

• Shi-nō-kō-shō system (four-class structure) rigidly organized society based on Confucian principles
• Samurai (shi) warrior class at the top of the hierarchy transitioned to administrators and bureaucrats in peacetime receiving stipends from daimyo or shogunate
• Peasants (nō) ranked second in social hierarchy as primary food producers paid taxes in the form of rice (koku system)
• Artisans (kō) skilled craftsmen and manufacturers lived primarily in urban areas (Edo, Osaka) contributing to material culture
• Merchants (shō) ranked lowest in the official hierarchy despite often being wealthy engaged in trade and commerce (Mitsui, Sumitomo families)
• Eta and hinin (outcast groups) existed below the four main classes performed tasks considered impure or unclean (leather working, execution)
• Restrictions on social mobility enforced through hereditary class system limited opportunities for changing status maintaining social order

Control methods of Tokugawa shogunate

• Hostage system (sankin-kōtai) required daimyo families to reside in Edo ensuring loyalty and preventing rebellion through constant surveillance
• Restrictions on castle building and repair limited daimyo's military capabilities preventing fortification of domains
• Control of foreign relations through Sakoku (closed country) policy limited foreign trade to designated ports (Nagasaki) minimizing external influences
• Surveillance and spy networks monitored daimyo activities and potential threats through metsuke (official inspectors) and oniwaban (secret police)
• Economic controls standardized currency and weights regulated trade between domains maintaining shogunate's economic dominance
• Ideological control promoted Neo-Confucianism emphasizing loyalty and social order reinforcing political stability
• Strict regulation of travel required travel permits for crossing domain boundaries limiting movement and information exchange
• Weapons control implemented through sword hunt (katanagari) to disarm peasants restricted weapon ownership to samurai class preventing uprisings
• Strategic placement of Tokugawa family members in key domains and government positions (Gosanke, Gosankyo) ensured widespread control
• Divide and rule tactics encouraged competition and mistrust among daimyo (tozama and fudai distinctions) preventing unified opposition