The Edo period also called Tokugawa period took place between 1600 and 1850 in the history of Japan. The period can be defined as having two phases. The first phase occurred at around 1600-1720. The stage was characterised by a reasonably high population growth rate and rise in agricultural production. After the death of Hideyoshi in 1598, Tokugawa Ieyasu became the greatest man in Japan. Ieyasu established his government in Edo which is today’s Tokyo. He encouraged foreign trade and relations. In 1963, international relations were forbidden in Japan, and Japan isolated itself from the rest of the world. Regardless of the isolation, during the Edo period, trade, agriculture, culture, population, and education improved.
The other phase occurred between 1720 -1850. The phase was characterised by very little population growth and practically no rise in agricultural production. However, there was significant growth in manufacturing. Several critical factors leading to these changes. The first factor was in 1720, the ban that was placed on Western literature was lifted. As a result, numerous modern philosophies entered Japan from other countries such as Europe and Japan. New schools were established that merged Shinto and Confucianist fundamentals. The new forms of scientific knowledge encouraged the growth of the manufacturing industry.
The deterioration of the financial state of the government was another factor. There was a steady deterioration in the financial situation of the government that resulted in increases in taxes. Taxes were about 40% of the harvest which caused farmers to sell even what they have not harvested. Together with riots among the farming population, this resulted in no growth in farm production. Also, Japan experienced natural disasters and long famine durations. They led to nearly no increase in population due to low birth rates. It also triggered rebellions that resulted to further economic difficulties for the primary government and even to the daimyo. Another factor for changes in Japan was the breakdown of the social hierarchy. The decline came as a result of the merchant class that had begun to grow more and more powerful. Some of the Samurai happened to be reliant on the merchants financially too.
Another factor for the decline in Japan was deterioration of morals in the government. During the second half of the era, there was an increase in corruption, moral degradation and ineffectiveness which brought about problems in the government. At the end of the 18th century, there was an external pressure which became an essential problem in the country. The problem began when Russians first attempted to create trade relations with Japan but with no success. After the Russians, nations in Europe followed and the Americans followed by the 19th Century. Commodore Perry eventually in 1853 and 1854, compelled the government to unlock several ports to be used for international trade. The trade, however, continued to be extremely limited.
As a result of the above factors, negative feelings against the government were rising. Furthermore, other organisations rose for the requirement of the re-establishment of the imperial authority and anti-western opinions. The movements arose particularly amongst the ultra-conservative samurai in more independently operating territories, for example, the Choshu and Satsuma. However, a lot of people later identifies the vast benefits brought about by the Western countries in military and science. The new attitude encouraged full opening up of Japan to the rest of the world which affected Japan regarding arts, design and crafts. They also adopted western manufacturing methods in response to rising western demand for Japanese products.
