Japan in the xvii century. Early modern Japan. The path to unification. Arrival of Europeans Japan in modern times and now

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Japan is the state of the East in the early modern era The presentation on history was performed by a student of 7 "A" class Huk An Cham MBOU Secondary School No. 65

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Japan in the 16th century In traditional Japanese historiography, accepted by European historical science, the 16th century is divided into two unequal parts. Its first three quarters (up to 1573) belong to the Ashikaga period, that is, the time when the Ashikaga shoguns were in power1, whose reign began as early as 1334; the last quarter of the 16th century is designated as the Momoyama period, which lasted until 1615, the time of the final approval of the Tokugawa shoguns at the helm of power.

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At the turn of the 15th and 16th centuries, Japan was in a state of deep crisis. The internecine feudal wars that began in the 60s (the so-called Onin wars, 1467-1477) were the beginning of almost a century of the "Time of Troubles" (Sengoku jidai), when there was virtually no single power in the country. By the end of the 15th century, Japan occupied an area almost equal to modern, with the exception of the northern island of Hokkaido and the southern islands of Ryukyu. Its population was about 16-17 million2. At that time, in comparison with neighboring states - China and Korea - Japan was not only politically weak, but also economically more backward country. And in the 17th century, it entered as a powerful centralized state, the economy of which was significantly ordered and experienced a great upsurge. During this time, there have been significant changes in the social structure of Japanese society, in the influence and relationships of various segments of the population. All this was reflected in the sphere of spiritual culture, the internal processes of development of which became much more complicated. As historians note, the basis of all changes in Japan in the 16th century was the transition to a new system of land tenure and the creation of large feudal principalities, sometimes uniting several provinces. Representatives of the top of the military class - the daimyo princes (literally "big name") 4 became the owners of almost all the lands. In a fierce struggle with each other, they increased their possessions, and this process continued until the middle of the 16th century. Not subordinate to the central government, daimyo were interested in increasing their own income, and, consequently, in developing the economy of their principalities. In addition to growing rice, the main agricultural crop in Japan, they encouraged crafts and trade, built roads, ships for coastal voyages and expeditions to neighboring countries. The capitals of the principalities gradually became not only administrative and economic, but also cultural centers.

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Jomon Period Around 10,000 BC NS. the era of glaciers has ended, with the melting of which the level of the world ocean has risen. Thanks to this, the Japanese archipelago was formed. As a result of warming and changes in the movement of sea currents, the Japanese steppes of the Paleolithic period were overgrown with dense forest. Around the same time, a new group of people from Southeast Asia moved to the Japanese islands. Members of this group were well versed in shipbuilding and maritime navigation. Probably, their canoe-like dugout boats were brought to the Japanese shores by the warm ocean currents of the Kuroshio. The newly arrived Southeast Asians mixed with the descendants of the Paleolithic population of the Japanese archipelago. Due to climate change, Japanese flora and fauna have changed dramatically. The northeastern part of the archipelago was covered with oak and coniferous forests, while the southwestern part was covered with beech and subtropical forests. Large wild boars, deer, wild ducks, pheasants lived in them. Bonites, red pagras, and sea pike perch were found in the seas and oceans. The coasts of Hokkaido and the Tohoku region were rich in salmon and trout. Thanks to such natural resources, the inhabitants of the Japanese Isles did not need large-scale agriculture or herding, remaining a primitive society of hunter-gatherers. About 10 thousand years ago, the ancient Japanese began to make pottery, which is considered one of the oldest in the world. Among the ceramics of that time, kitchen utensils in the form of deep-bottomed jugs for storing food, frying and cooking food prevailed. A characteristic feature of these products was the "lace ornament", which is called jomon in Japanese. A similar ornament was observed on island dishes until the middle of the 2nd century BC. BC, which allowed archaeologists to call the Japanese culture of the Neolithic period "the Jomon culture", and the time of its dominance in the Japanese archipelago - the Jomon period. In the Neolithic, the ancient Japanese moved to a sedentary lifestyle, forming small settlements of 20-30 people on low hills. Typical dwellings were dugouts and semi-dugouts. There were rubbish heaps around the settlement, which at the same time served as a burial place for the dead. Among the settlements of that era, the Sannai-Maruyama site in modern Aomori prefecture, dating back to the 5th century BC, stands out. NS. and containing the remains of a large village for 100-200 people. Hunting and picking plant fruits were the basis of the inhabitants' economy. There was a gender and age division of labor. Along with the crafts, the ancient inhabitants of the archipelago were engaged in the primitive breeding of chestnuts, legumes, buckwheat, as well as the cultivation of oysters. Around IV-III centuries BC NS. they mastered primitive dry land rice growing. Religious ideas were characterized by animism and totemism. They also made female dogu figurines from clay and worshiped the forces of the Earth, symbols of birth and life.

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Yayoi Period Although rice cultivation was known in Japan as early as the Jomon period, large-scale flooded rice cultivation using irrigation appeared on the islands in the 1st millennium BC. e., by borrowing from the continent. The place of innovation was the north of Kyushu, from where this culture spread to other areas of the archipelago. With the advent of flooded rice growing, people who had previously lived on small hills moved to plains and river valleys. The first rural mura communities were established, whose members were involved in the creation and maintenance of flooded fields. New tools appeared, such as the stone sickle knife, as well as new types of buildings for storing grain - barns on props. Community members began to hold holidays and prayers for a rich harvest. A new agricultural ritual and calendar was formed. Along with rice growing, the culture of processing metals - copper, bronze and iron - came to Japan from the mainland. Until the 1st century BC NS. the Japanese imported finished goods, but subsequently established their own metallurgical production. Among the main bronze items were swords, spears and ge, as well as mirrors and dotaku bells. With the spread of iron tools in the 2nd century AD. e., bronze weapons became objects of worship. Also at the beginning of the 1st millennium BC. NS. in the Japanese archipelago, they began to produce ceramics of a new style, which was similar to the continental one. Their peculiarity was reddish color, lack of pattern and richness of types of tableware. Probably, the reform of ceramics was associated with the spread of rice growing. Such utensils were first found in the village of Yayoi, after which the new ceramic culture was called the "Yayoi culture". The time of the dominance of this culture on the Japanese islands from the 1st millennium BC. NS. to the 3rd century A.D. NS. called the Yayoi period. Thanks to rice growing, the population of Japan has grown. This helped to improve relations between communities, but often provoked conflicts, especially over control of resources - land and water. From the 2nd century BC NS. most of the settlements were already surrounded by ditches and a wooden palisade. Among the population, leaders stood out, who concentrated religious and military power in their hands. The villages were often united in alliances - the first Japanese proto-state formations. One of the most fortified community settlements of the Yayoi period was the Yoshinogari site in Saga Prefecture, which testifies to the high level of organization of the ancient Japanese.

3.5.1. Japan in the first period of modern history.
Meiji Revolution

The development of Japan has always had a lot in common with the development of European states. During the period of feudalism (towards the end of the 16th century), complete feudal fragmentation remained here. The emperor's power was nominal. There were more than 256 principalities, between which there were constant wars.

At the beginning of the seventeenth century. certain tendencies of the centralization of power appear. The specificity of Japan is that the emperor did not play an important role. The main struggle unfolded between a number of principalities trying to lead this movement. As a result, Prince Tokugawa was able to do this in 1603. It was he who united the country, but did not overthrow the emperor. He simply pushed him out of business and took the title of shogun (from Japanese "commander").

Shogun was actually the highest official, the commander-in-chief, controlled all the executive and legislative powers, and finances. Under the son of Prince Tokugawa Cheyasu, the structure of power of the shogunate was finally established. A new system of centralized management was created, social and legal reforms were carried out.

At this time, a new estate structure ("shi-no-ko-se") arose from four categories: 1) samurai (si); 2) peasants (but); 3) artisans (co); 4) merchants (se). The life of these groups was strictly regulated.

Such a rigid system by the first half of the 19th century. began to hinder the development of Japan. She interfered with new trends associated with the development of cities, merchants. Estate restrictions, taxes caused discontent. Attempts to overcome the crisis in the period from 1830 to 1843. (Tempo's reforms) were not entirely successful, although some social monopolies were removed, the development of manufactories was facilitated, and tax and administrative reforms were carried out.

The external factor also played a significant role in the growth of the crisis. The first foreigners began to appear in Japan in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. They began to actively interfere in internal affairs. In the 30s. XVII century. a series of decrees brought about the "closure" of Japan. By this, the Japanese government wanted to preserve the existing system of feudal relations and limit the influence of the colonial powers.

This could not eliminate the contradictions in society. In the period from 1854 to 1858. foreigners, mainly by coercive measures, "opened" Japan and insisted on the conclusion of unequal treaties, which displeased the shogun.

As a result, the nobility united into two groups, dissatisfied with the shogunate. The first group wanted to regain their specific independence, and the second, realizing the impossibility of this, advocated reforms taking into account the European experience and under the control of the state. It was they who saw the way out in the return to imperial rule.

Supporters of the second approach (clans Satsuma, Tesu, Tosa) staged a coup d'état in August 1863. They made the emperor their hostage. Under their pressure, he signs a decree to "close" the country. Civil war begins, which from 1863 to 1867. went with varying degrees of success.

The situation changed dramatically after the death of Emperor Komei in 1866. The 15-year-old Mutsuhito ascended the throne, taking the new name Meiji ("enlightened rule"). It was patronized by progressive-minded princes. In October 1867, they demanded that the shogun return the supreme power to the emperor, revoke the powers of the council of regents, etc. On October 14, 1867, Shogun Kanei resigned.

In December, a meeting of princes and officials worked out the principles of the new order. They were proclaimed by the manifesto of December 9, 1867: the return of power by the shogun; the abolition of the posts of regents, chief adviser, etc .; pursuing a new political course.

Soon the shogun gathered his troops and moved to Kyota. During the new civil war (1868 - 1869), he was defeated and finally capitulated. This is how the restoration of the power of the emperor took place.

Events of the 60s XIX century. received the name "Meiji revolution". Rather, it was a purely summit coup. Neither the peasantry nor the bourgeoisie had almost any influence on him. Nevertheless, as a result of the coup, an absolute monarchy was established in the country, prospects opened up for the bourgeois development of the country, for the rapid modernization of the state system and the formation of a new legal order.

Modern Japan is located on islands with an area of ​​approximately 400 thousand km 2. Most of it (up to 80%) is covered with mountains. The country is one of the most homogeneous in terms of ethnic composition in the world: the basis of the nation (99%) are Japanese.

Until the second half of the 16th century. Japan was in a state of political fragmentation. By 1580, one of the prominent political figures in Japan Oda Nobunaga(1534 - 1582) took possession of half of the provinces and carried out reforms there that contributed to the elimination of fragmentation. The final unification took place at Toyotomi Xudeyosu(1536- -1598). The land was assigned to peasants who were able to pay state taxes, and control over the cities and over trade in them was strengthened.

After the death of Toyotomi Hijoshi, power passed to one of his associates. Tokugawa Ieyasu, who in 1603 proclaimed himself shogun(a great commander). From that time until 1868, Japan was ruled by the Tokugawa dynasty. Since the Tokugawa did not have the legal right to rule the country, their main concern was to maintain power. In Japan, a policy of brutal despotism began to be pursued. Immediately after the unification of the country, Tokugawa Ieyasu destroyed the most prominent rivals. In 1634, the shogun forced the princes to settle their families in the capital Edo (now Tokyo). At the slightest suspicion of treason of the prince, his family was destroyed.

Under the Tokugawa, a reform was carried out, as a result of which the estates were strictly defined: samurai - - si, peasants - - but, artisans - - NS and traders - - this. The life of each class was strictly regulated. So, samurai were forbidden to engage in activities not related to military service. A special law determined all aspects of peasant life, from work in the field to the arrangement of a dwelling. At the same time, Japanese peasants were personally free and were considered tenants of their allotments. For this they paid the princes a rent in the amount of 50% of the harvest.

Prior to the establishment of the Tokugawa shogunate, the most common religions in Japan were Buddhism and Shinto(the way of the gods). However, these religions did not suit the shoguns, since they did not correspond to their ideals and goals. Therefore, the country is reborn Confucianism, which becomes the official ideology. Confucianism preached devotion to elders, valued moderation and economy, and placed high on school and study. At the same time, it should be noted that the Japanese could simultaneously profess other religions: they were distinguished by religious tolerance, although they accepted only those religions that did not break traditional foundations and the established way of life.

The unification of the country led to the strengthening of the Japanese economy. The end of civil strife and a temporary reduction in rent gave an impetus to the development of agriculture. In the XVII century. the cultivated area increased by 100% and the yield increased by 50%. The pace of development of handicrafts accelerated, trade revived. The first manufactories appeared in the country.

However, already in the XVIII century. an economic crisis began in Japan. The growth of production slowed down, and then the growth of production stopped, and the hidden landlessness of the peasants began in the countryside. There is a process of destruction of class boundaries. The peasantry gradually disintegrated into a well-to-do rural elite and a huge mass of land-poor tenants and paupers. Decomposition also swept the samurai estate, which more and more often switched to non-military activities. Ordinary samurai became doctors or teachers. Part of the princes, due to the reduction in income from rent, began to create manufactories and trading houses. At the same time, moneylenders and merchants, who previously belonged to the despised estates, received the right to buy samurai titles.

Gradually, elements of elite culture began to penetrate the culture of the people. Due to the devastation of the capital by wars, many aristocrats and monks left it, carrying Kyoto customs and knowledge to the regions. Schools for the children of the nobility and the peasantry began to open at provincial temples. A new kind of collaborative renga poetry and a genre of illustrated stories of otogizoshi have appeared in literature. For the first time, Japanese culinary experts began to widely use soy sauce and miso seasoning. In towns and villages, it has become traditional to celebrate the festivals of matsuri and dances, for example, on the Obon holiday.

In the 15th century, the era of great geographical discoveries began in Western Europe. A hundred years later, its inhabitants - merchants, missionaries and the military - began to penetrate into East Asia. In 1543, the first Europeans reached the Japanese island of Tanegashima. They handed over firearms to the islanders, the production of which was soon established throughout Japan. In 1549, the Jesuit Francis Xavier arrived in the city of Kagoshima, who first introduced the Japanese to Christianity. For a century, Portuguese and Spanish merchants visited Japan and acted as intermediaries in East Asian trade, exchanging Chinese and European goods for Japanese silver. As Europeans arrived from the southern colonies, the Japanese called them "southern barbarians."

The samurai landowners of Western Japan were interested in trade with foreigners, and therefore they gladly accepted missionaries and merchants, sometimes even converted to Christianity. Thus, the first Christian landowner from the island of Kyushu, Omura Sumitada, granted the Society of Jesus the city of Nagasaki, which later became the Japanese "window to Europe." With the assistance of local rulers, the Jesuits opened churches in Yamaguchi, Kyoto, Sakai and other Japanese cities. At the end of the 16th century, there were about 300 thousand Christians in the country. The most influential of them went in 1582 to the first Japanese embassy to the Pope, which was received with great honors in Europe.

Unification of Japan

In the first half of the 16th century, the feuds of the samurai families did not subside in the Japanese archipelago. When the fragmentation of the country became the norm of social and political life, forces appeared that tried to restore the former unity. They were led by Oda Nobunaga, owner of the small but prosperous province of Owari. Using the shogun, he captured the capital of Kyoto in 1570 and eliminated the powerless Muromachi shogunate in three years. Thanks to the patronage of Christianity and the massive use of firearms, Nobunaga managed to conquer the capital region of Kinki and all of Central Japan in 10 years. He gradually implemented the plan to unite the "Celestial Empire": he mercilessly suppressed the secular and Buddhist decentralizing forces, helped to restore the authority of the imperial house and raised the economy destroyed by wars.

In 1582, Nobunaga fell at the hands of his general, never being able to realize his plans. However, the unification course was continued by one of his talented subordinates - Toyotomi Hideyoshi. He defeated the opposition of the late overlord's elders and liquidated the independent tribal states of the provincial rulers. In 1590, Japan was finally united by the forces of Hideyoshi, who began to single-handedly rule the country. On his instructions, the All Japan Land Cadastre was compiled, which eliminated the system of private estates and determined the level of land productivity. The land was transferred to peasants who had to pay tribute to the government in accordance with this level. Hideyoshi also carried out social reform, dividing the population into military administrators and civilian subjects by confiscating weapons from the latter. At the end of his life, Hideyoshi began persecution of Christians and a war with Korea, which cost his descendants power.

Momoyama culture

Japanese culture of the second half of the 16th - early 17th centuries is usually called the Momoyama culture, after the name of one of the residences of Toyotomi Hideyoshi. This culture was based on ideas of greatness, wealth and power. The most typical examples of their incarnation are Japanese castles with majestic main towers in Azuchi, Osaka, Momoyama, Himeji and other cities. Externally, these buildings were decorated with gilding, and inside - paintings by the then first-class artists Kano Eitoku, Kano Sanraku, Hasegawa Tohaku and others. The castles became theatrical stages for no performances, where famous actors from the Kanze and Komparu companies were invited, and tea ceremony rooms attended by masters such as Sen no Rikyu.

Among ordinary people, especially in large cities, hedonistic sentiments and a fashion for everything bright and new have spread. It was in the folk environment that the "eccentric" dance of kabuki was born, which later developed into a separate type of theatrical art. Together, a new genre of rhymed prose, joruri, appeared, which was performed to the accompaniment of the shamisen musical instrument that had recently come from Kyushu.

One of the main features of the Momoyama culture was its openness to European influences. Thanks to the Jesuits, Japan got new knowledge in the fields of astronomy, medicine, printing, sea navigation and painting. The Japanese were so fond of foreign things that they often began to wear European clothes and even made "southern barbarians" the themes of their paintings and stories. The Japanese language has also been enriched with a number of Portuguese and Spanish words.

The "Peaceful State" of the Edo Period. The Third Shogunate and the Policy of "Isolation"

After the death of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Tokugawa Ieyasu took the place of the all-Japanese leader. In 1600, having enlisted the support of the majority of the nobility, he defeated the opposition of the Toyotomi clan in the battle of Sekigahara and over the next 15 years eliminated this clan. In 1603, Ieyasu received the post of shogun from the Emperor and established a new shogunate in the city of Edo. The time of the existence of this last samurai government is called the Edo period (1603-1867).

During the reign of the shogunate, Japan was a federation. One fourth of all the land in the country belonged to the Tokugawa shoguns, and the rest to three hundred regional daimyo rulers. The latter were divided into groups of "relatives", "ancient vassals" and "new vassals", depending on the level of dependence on the shogun. All of them had their own autonomous khans, the size of which was determined by the central government. To prevent uprisings, it limited the political rights of subordinates by the "Laws for military houses", and also drained the finances of their autonomies by obligatory business trips to the government residence in Edo. The shogunate also confiscated all the land holdings of the imperial court, pledging to maintain it at its own expense.

At the beginning of the 17th century, the samurai government was interested in contacts with European countries and stopped the persecution of Christians. In an effort to expand international trade and concentrate in their hands the lion's share of the profits from it, the shogunate introduced in 1604 the licensing of Japanese ships that were sent abroad, mainly to the countries of Southeast Asia. However, the confrontation in Japan between Protestant England and Holland on the one hand and Catholic Spain and Portugal on the other, threatened to drag the Japanese government into the conflict between these states. In this regard, Japan led a course of limiting contacts with Europe and its colonies, which later became known as sakoku.

In 1614, the shogunate banned Christianity, seeing it as an instrument of foreign political influence. Tens of thousands of Japanese Christians were persecuted, and it became impossible for Japanese to travel abroad, where they could potentially be baptized. Therefore, in 1637, part of the peasants and samurai of the island of Kyushu, who professed a forbidden religion, raised an anti-government uprising in Shimabara. The shogunate suppressed it in a year, and in 1639, in order to finally destroy Christianity, forbade all European and American ships from entering Japan. Holland was an exception to this rule. her ships, which assisted in the massacre of the rebels, received a monopoly right to trade on the artificial island of the Dejima Reservation in Nagasaki.

During the 17th - mid 19th centuries, despite the break with the West, Japan continued to maintain diplomatic and trade ties with its traditional partners: China, Korea, Ryukyu. The government traded with them in Dejima, Tsushima, Satsuma and southern Hokkaido.

Socio-economic development

Japanese society of the Edo period was class-based and consisted of 4 large groups: military samurai, peasants, artisans and merchants. The country was ruled exclusively by representatives of the first estate. Outside the estate system, there were pariahs who were engaged in non-prestigious jobs: waste disposal, cleaning, prison service. The dominant religions were Shinto and Buddhism. There was a system of registration of the population at Buddhist monasteries at the place of residence. Christianity was banned, so its followers were underground. The role of the country's official ideology was played by neo-Confucianism, which became especially important during the reign of Tokugawa Tsunayoshi and the period of activity of the scholar Arai Hakuseki. He was studied at the State Academy founded by Hayashi Radzan. Under the influence of neo-Confucianism, the Bushido code of samurai honor was formed.

The Japanese economy of the Edo period was semi-natural. Local gold and silver coins were in circulation in the country, but taxes and wages were paid in rice. In this regard, the village played an important role, the main supplier of rice and the unit of taxation. Japanese villages had leaders, but decisions were made collectively. In the village, there was a system of mutual responsibility and mutual assistance. To preserve the village, the authorities forbade the peasants to sell their plots and move to cities. Thanks to this policy, during the 17th century, the peasants doubled the area of ​​all arable land in the country, invented new tools and began to grow industrial crops - hemp, cotton, tea, rapeseed and various dyes.

The development of agriculture contributed to the development of industry and transport. The leading industries are forestry, salt production, pottery, and the manufacture of consumer goods. A network of sea and land routes was established, and the All-Japan Postal Service of Messengers appeared. For two centuries, Japanese society did not know social cataclysms, therefore the Edo period is called the era of the "Tokugawa world."

The function of the centers of the political, economic and socio-cultural life of Japan was performed by cities. The largest of them were the "capitals" of certain autonomous possessions and had castles on their territory. The largest group of city dwellers were samurai. They were served by artisans and merchants who were called bourgeois. Kyoto was considered the capital of Japan, the main city of the government was Edo, and the most powerful economic center of the country was Osaka.

Arrival of Europeans to Japan.

In the 15th century, a period of great geographical discoveries began in Western Europe. In the 16th century, Europeans - traders, missionaries, and the military - turned their attention to East Asia.

In 1543, European representatives reached the Japanese island of Tanegashima. They gave the Japanese firearms, which were soon installed throughout the Japanese archipelago. In 1549, the Jesuit missionary Francis Xavier arrived in the city of Kagoshima, who was the first to inform the Japanese about Christianity.

Japan 16th century

Spanish and Portuguese traders began to visit Japan, acting as resellers in the East Asian trade, exchanging goods from Europe and China for Japanese silver. Since Europeans came from settlements in the south, the Japanese called them "southern barbarians."

Ship of Portugal (17th century)

Dozaki Church (Goto, Nagasaki)

The Japanese rulers were profitable from trade with foreigners, so they gladly met with merchants and missionaries, sometimes even became Christians. For example, Omura Sumitada, the first Christian ruler from the island of Kyushu, granted the Society of Jesus the city of Nagasaki, which later became the Japanese "window to Europe." With the support of regional rulers, Christians built churches in Yamaguchi, Sakai, Kyoto. In the second half of the 16th century, about 300,000 Christians lived in Japan. The most senior of them sent a Japanese delegation to the Pope for the first time in 1582, which

Unification of Japan 16th century

At the beginning of the 16th century, feuds between samurai clans continued on the Japanese islands. After the disunity of the state became a socio-political norm, there were people seeking to unite Japan. They were led by Oda Nobunaga, the wealthy ruler of the Owari province. With the help of the shogun, he took Kyoto in 1570 and destroyed the weakened Muromachi shogunate within three years. Through the support of Christianity and through the use of firearms, Nobunaga was able to capture the most important region of Kinki and the entire center of the Japanese archipelago in a decade. Over time, he carried out the plan to unite Japan: ruthlessly pacified the decentralizing indignation of the aristocracy and Buddhists, helped to revive the authority of the imperial power and restore the economy undermined by civil strife.

Nobunaga (16th century)

Extermination of rebellious Buddhists

In 1582, Nobunaga was assassinated by his general, never realizing his plan. However, the policy of unity of Japan was renewed by his gifted subject - Toyotomi Hideyoshi. He defeated the opposition of the elders and took over the autonomous tribal states of the regional rulers. In 1590 Hideyoshi completely unified Japan, and began to personally lead the state. On his orders, the Japanese General Land Registry was written, destroying the system of private holdings and establishing the degree of land efficiency. Land plots were given to peasants, who were obliged to pay tax to the state in accordance with this degree. In addition, Hideyoshi carried out a social transformation by dividing the inhabitants into military commanders and civilian subjects by seizing weapons from civilians. At the end of his life, Hideyoshi entered into a military conflict with Korea and persecuted and exterminated Christians, which cost the power of his offspring.

Osaka, "the capital of Hideyoshi"

Momoyama culture 16th - 17th century

The culture of Japan in the late 16th and early 17th centuries is called the Momoyama culture, after the name of Toyotomi Hideyoshi's residence. This culture was based on the principles of wealth, majesty and power. The most original examples of their implementation were Japanese castles with monumental higher towers in Osaka, Azuchi, Himeji, Momoyama. Outside, these buildings were finished with gilding, and inside - with paintings by the best artists of that time, Kano Sanraku, Kano Eitoku, Hasegawa Tohaku.

Himeji Castle

"Chinese Lions" by artist Kano Eitoku

The castles were transformed into theatrical venues for Noh theater productions, featuring famous actors from the Kanze and Komparu companies, and tea ceremony venues run by masters such as Sen no Rikyu.

In the society of commoners, in particular in big cities, hedonistic teachings (pleasure is the goal of life) and fascination with everything bright and unusual have gained popularity. It was in the popular society that the "eccentric" Kabuki dance was invented, which later became an independent type of theatrical creativity. At the same time, a new style of rhymed prose, joruri, was founded, which was read to the sound of the shamisen musical instrument brought from Kyushu.

The main feature of the Momoyama culture was its openness to the influence of Europe. The Jesuits brought new knowledge to the Japanese islands in the fields of medicine, astronomy, printing, maritime navigation and the visual arts. The Japanese were very interested in foreign affairs, and even some began to wear European clothes and make "southern barbarians" the heroes of their paintings and stories. In addition, a number of Spanish and Portuguese words have entered the Japanese language.