Thursday, April 2

[The Japan quiz will be this Friday, April 3; a Study Guide is posted.]

Assignment: Reading #23: "The Samurai-Merchant Divide in Late Tokugawa, and Tokugawa Popular Art"
                      Reading #24: "Cities Commerce and Lifestyle" (through Oncourse)

On Thursday, we'll focus on the growing role of urban and commercial life during the Tokugawa era (1600-1868), and particularly on the dynamic tension that grew between the samurai and "merchant" classes during this era.  We will discuss Tokugawa society through its art.  Your reading for Thursday consists of a set of webpages on the E100 site (Reading #23), which will discuss some basic themes of Tokugawa society and present an "exhibit," focusing on Tokugawa art, and a particularly well written discussion of greater length (Reading #24) which will not be the basis of quiz questions on Friday (but will be part of your reading preparation for the final exam).

Study Questions for Reading #23

1. What class became the competitor of the samurai?
2. How did that class gain power during the Tokugawa?
3. What were some of basic values of urban merchant culture which the samurai found distasteful.
4. What does the term ukiyo-e denote; what cultural features are reflected in ukiyo-e art.


Study Questions for Reading #24

1. What were the origins of the Mitsui merchant family?
2. What three cities dominated Tokugawa  trade?
3. How did Tokugawa Japan compare with contemporary Europe in terms of urbanization?
4. How did daimyo local economic needs contribute to the development of commerce?
5. What sorts of financial services did bank-like institutions provide during the Tokugawa?
6. Why did "castle towns" founded by daimyo become centers for commoners?
7. How did economic growth affect agriculture?
8. What sorts of foreign trade patterns characterized the Tokugawa era?
9. How did the Tokugawa shogunate enforce "rule by status?"
10. How did the "standard of living" change in the Tokugawa and what classes were affected?