Japanese History Digest

Early Edo Period

Establishment of the Tokugawa Shogunate (Ieyasu)

After the death of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Ieyasu established his base in the Kanto region. In 1600, he confronted the Western Army, led by Ishida Mitsunari, who sought to protect the Toyotomi government, and won the Battle of Sekigahara. This battle allowed Ieyasu to seize control of the entire country.

In 1603, Ieyasu was appointed Shogun by the Imperial Court and established the shogunate in Edo (present-day Tokyo). This marked the beginning of the Edo Shogunate and the Edo period. Ieyasu appointed longtime vassals to key positions in the shogunate and consolidated his ruling system. He also divided the daimyo throughout the country into three groups: relatives of the Tokugawa family, longtime vassals (fudai), and outsiders who followed after the Battle of Sekigahara, and he carefully positioned each group to strengthen his control.

Ieyasu was also wary of the remaining Toyotomi clan, and defeated them in two battles at Osaka in 1614 and 1615. This solidified the Tokugawa's rule and marked the end of the era of war. The shogunate subsequently established the Buke Shohatto (Laws for the Military Class) and the Ikkoku Ichijo Rei (Order for One Castle Percentage of a Province) to control the daimyo, laying the foundation for a period of peace that lasted approximately 260 years.

The Edo Shogunate's founding period is characterized by Ieyasu's careful and planned seizure of power and the creation of a system for controlling the daimyo. This enabled the Tokugawa family to establish a long-term system of control over Japan.

 

Consolidation of the Tokugawa Shogunate

Ieyasu's son, Tokugawa Hidetada, succeeded him as the second shogun in 1605. While Ieyasu continued to hold real power as taiko in Sunpu, Hidetada handled shogunate affairs from Edo Castle. This period saw a dual political system under Ieyasu and Hidetada, with Ieyasu in charge of negotiating with outside daimyo, and Hidetada primarily governing the Tokugawa's direct territories and hereditary daimyo.

Hidetada continued Ieyasu's policies, establishing laws such as the Buke Shohatto (Laws for the Samurai Class) and the Kuge Shohatto (Laws for the Court Nobles), and solidifying the shogunate's system of control. He also strengthened ties with the Imperial family by marrying his daughter Kazuko to Emperor Gomizunoo, and strengthened control over temple and shrine influence through events such as the Purple Robe Incident. These actions further solidified the foundations of the Edo shogunate.

Tokugawa Hidetada's son, Tokugawa Iemitsu, succeeded him as the third shogun. During Iemitsu's reign, the shogunate's political system was further strengthened. New positions within the shogunate, such as rōjū (senior councilor), wakadoshiyori (young senior councilor), magistrate, and ōmetsuke (supervisor), were established, and the sankin-kotai (alternate attendance) system was introduced. This strengthened control over the daimyo and established the shogunate-han system.

Iemitsu also promoted a policy of national isolation, strictly restricting foreign exchange. He issued the Keian Imperial Edict to govern the peasants, and worked to maintain order within the country. During Iemitsu's reign, uprisings such as the Shimabara Rebellion occurred, but the shogunate suppressed them and solidified its ruling system.

The reigns of Tokugawa Hidetada and Tokugawa Iemitsu thus marked the establishment of the Edo shogunate's ruling system and the establishment of a long and stable era.

 

Toward Civil Rule (Ietsuna)

Tokugawa Ietsuna succeeded the fourth shogun of the Edo shogunate. Ietsuna's reign is known as a turning point toward "civil rule." Civil rule refers to stable political management that emphasizes Confucian morality, laws, and etiquette, rather than rule through force or coercion (military rule).

Ietsuna, along with his close aide Hoshina Masayuki, abandoned the hardline military rule of his predecessor, Iemitsu, and pursued a more moderate policy. The need to alleviate discontent among samurai and daimyo following the Keian Incident (Yui Shosetsu Rebellion) of 1651 in particular prompted a shift toward civil rule.

Ietsuna's main policies included relaxing the ban on adoption at the end of one's life and prohibiting junshi (self-death suicide). The relaxation of the ban on adoption at the end of one's life was implemented to prevent the extinction of daimyo families and curb the increase in ronin (masterless samurai). The prohibition on junshi (self-death suicide) abolished the custom of vassals committing suicide upon their lord's death and obligated them to serve their new lord. This stabilized the lord-vassal relationship and contributed to the maintenance of the feudal domain system.

Ietsuna also ran the government in a flexible and gentle manner, accepting the advice of capable vassals. This led to the development of various shogunate institutions and a shift from authoritarian approaches to considerate governance.

In this way, Tokugawa Ietsuna's civil government symbolized a transition from military rule to a stable political system that emphasized Confucian virtue. This led to the long-term stability of the Edo shogunate and the maintenance of social order.

 

Timeline of the Early Edo Period

1600 AD	Battle of Sekigahara
1603 AD	Tokugawa Ieyasu appointed Seii Taishogun; establishment of the Edo Shogunate
1605 AD	Hidetada becomes the 2nd shogun
1614 AD	Winter Campaign of the Siege of Osaka
1615 AD	Summer Campaign of the Siege of Osaka (Fall of the Toyotomi clan)
1615 AD	Buke Shohatto (Laws for the Military Houses, Genna Code)
1615 AD	Kinchū narabi ni kuge shohatto (Laws Governing the Imperial Court and Court Nobles)
1623 AD	Iemitsu becomes the 3rd shogun
1629 AD	Purple Robe Incident (Shie Jiken)
1635 AD	Buke Shohatto (Revised under the Kan'ei Code)
1651 AD	Ietsuna becomes the 4th shogun
1651 AD	Yui Shōsetsu’s Rebellion (Keian Uprising)
1665 AD	Shoshū Jiin Hatto (Temple Regulations for All Buddhist Sects)

Facilities where you can learn about Early Edo Period

Special Historic Site: Edo Castle（as listed by the Ministry of the Environment）
https://www.env.go.jp/garden/kokyogaien/1_intro/his_01.html

Sunpu Castle Park
http://sumpu-castlepark.com/

Daitoku-ji Temple
http://www.rinnou.net/cont_03/07daitoku/

Myōshin-ji Temple
https://www.myoshinji.or.jp/

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