History of Japan Episode 526 - The Outside World and Tokugawa Japan
Apr 5, 2024
Japan's Sakoku policy during the Edo period is explored, revealing the nuanced foreign relations often mistaken for isolation. The influence of Dutch trade is pivotal, transforming Japanese medicine through significant texts. Tensions with Russia and encounters with the British Royal Navy expose vulnerabilities in diplomatic strategies. Finally, the role of the Tokugawa Shogunate is discussed, showcasing cultural and political changes that paved the way for Japan's modernization and future imperial ambitions.
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Tokugawa Foreign Policy
- The Tokugawa shogunate's "closed country" policy (Sakoku) wasn't absolute.
- It aimed to control foreign interaction for stability, targeting Christianity as subversive and monopolizing trade.
Korean Envoys
- Korean envoys visited Edo regularly, impressing Japanese scholars with their poetry.
- One envoy, Shin-Yu Han, was even mobbed for his writing, though he criticized Japan's lack of Confucian worship.
Japan-Korea Relations
- Despite seemingly friendly relations, underlying tensions existed between Japan and Korea.
- Japanese sources often misrepresented Korea's status and downplayed past conflicts.