Control system

Domestic rule: to maintain a static political, economics, social order.
Prevent political changes
Fear any kinds of changes that might challenge & upset the Tokugawa rule & stability
Tokugawa feudal order depended for its stability on a close correspondence between political & economic power & isolation policy
To protect the regime from ambitions of its own officials than to make any positive contribution to govern the country

Political order

The foundation of Tokugawa Shogunate was weak unorthodox, only based on military strength
Tokugawa Shogunate assumed himself as the real ruler of Japan by exercising strong influence in the imperial court
To control the Daimyo
To have absolute obedience & loyalty
Political stability based on centralization of political power & authority

1 Daimyo System

i Super- daimyo formed the central bloc

ii Fudai

iii Tozama - outer han

- potential enemies of the Tokugawa

- excluded from office in the central government

2 Financial check on Daimyo

3 Legal check on Daimyo

4 Sankin Kotai (alternate attendance)

Each Daimyo was required to spend half of his time in Edo, leaving members of his family there as hostages when he returned to his han
To guarantee loyalty & obedience from the Daimyo
To maintain political authority
Weakened the Daimyo financially (travel expenses, allowances to hostages)

5. Secret spy / agent

To check the activities of the Daimyo in their own han
To check any possible revolts by the Daimyo
The ruling system of Tokugawa Shogunate was systematic & organized.
The system simply replace the past ruling system of the Emperor
Feudalistic in nature
Checks & balance
Static political order
Local administration allowed certain autonomy but close checks by Tokugawa Shogunate
The political system worked well in the 17^th & 18^th century
In the early 19^th century, Tokugawa Shogunate was in decline.

Social structure

4 social classes

Warrior (privileged class): emperor, nobles, Shogun, daimyo, samurai, renin (masterless samurai)
peasants
artisans
merchants

Economic order

agrarian economy & self- sufficiency
commercial & trade activities were not encouraged
to maintain a static social, political order the basis of the rule of Tokugawa Shogunate
activities - changes and upset the stability & order
foreign trade was not welcome not necessary

Political philosophy

1 Confucianism

2 Bushido

3 Shintoism

Foreign policy

1636 Seclusion policy was adopted
cut contact with outside world
Japanese were forbidden to leave & those left had to return
missionaries expert in western knowledge dangerous advisers of Tozama
foreign trade weapon might be imported into Japan threat against the safety of Tokugawa Shogunate
foreign traders might bring unrest into the country
Christianity threaten the orthodox ideas in Japan (eg Confucianism & Bushido)
Spread of foreign ideas might threaten the rule
self-sufficiency
1639, Chinese & Dutch merchants were allowed to trade at Nagasaki, but under strict control
Dutch learning was introduced into Japan
1636-1853Tokugawa Shogunate kept the Seclusion Policy successfully
Aim: to maintain the rule of Tokugawa Shogunate, to have stability & peaceful

* soc-econ transformation had already developed unexpectedly