Ikegami begins the reading at the end of the sixteen-century, which marks the start of the Edo period. Japan had just ended their long tumultuous battles when Tokugawa Ieyasu won the Summer Battle of Osaka in 1615 with a decisive victory. (151) This victory affirmed the military preeminence of the Tokugawa forces and they subsequently inaugurate themselves as the “Great Public Authority” (O kogi), sealing its sovereignty over Japan. (Ikegami 151) It was essential for the Shogunate to legitimate its power in order to gain control. It restructured the social system, placing itself at the top of a hierarchical system. The predominant power will govern large portions of the taxable lands while the rest would be governed by loyal daimyos. (Ikegami 152) The restructuring of the social system not only affected all part of the society, but it also disadvantaged several social groups’ privilege.
One such restructuring was the demilitarization of …show more content…
(Ikegami 156) However, what was also crucial to the Shogunate’s legitimacy was partly because of Neo-Confucianism. During the Edo period, Neo-Confucianism has begun to spread from China and the Japanese adapted this religion to many aspects of their social life. (Tipton 4) Tipton noted that religion and not the Shogunate’s military strength that helped to legitimize Tokugawa’s rule and peace during the Edo period. (5) Neo-Confucianism was the philosophical basis for the political and socioeconomic order of the society. It acts as ethical clause combining good conduct in social life to appropriate conduct of the government. (Tipton 5) Furthermore, it rationalized that in order to have peace in the society, everyone has to commit to his responsibilities. (Tipton 5) This rationalized the fact that since the samurais have to be obliged to become a civilized bureaucratic in order to have peace in the
One such restructuring was the demilitarization of …show more content…
(Ikegami 156) However, what was also crucial to the Shogunate’s legitimacy was partly because of Neo-Confucianism. During the Edo period, Neo-Confucianism has begun to spread from China and the Japanese adapted this religion to many aspects of their social life. (Tipton 4) Tipton noted that religion and not the Shogunate’s military strength that helped to legitimize Tokugawa’s rule and peace during the Edo period. (5) Neo-Confucianism was the philosophical basis for the political and socioeconomic order of the society. It acts as ethical clause combining good conduct in social life to appropriate conduct of the government. (Tipton 5) Furthermore, it rationalized that in order to have peace in the society, everyone has to commit to his responsibilities. (Tipton 5) This rationalized the fact that since the samurais have to be obliged to become a civilized bureaucratic in order to have peace in the