Tokugawa Japan and the Ming

Tokugawa Japan and the Ming

Introduction

In Japanese empire, Hideyoshi was succeeded by a noble named Tokugawa leyasu, who had also served Oda Nobunaga. There have been many great, successful, and powerful dynasties in history. But one that stands out is the Ming Dynasty. (Clements 2004)

Differences

Life in Tokugawa Japan was strictly hierarchical with the population divided among four distinct classes: samurai, farmers, craftspeople, and traders. Prior to the Tokugawa period there was some movement among these classes, but the Tokugawa shoguns, intent upon maintaining their power and privilege, restricted this movement. As economic conditions changed, the shoguns were ...