By LAI KA YING (inktomi.hknet.com - 202.67.238.253) on Thursday, November 09, 2000 - 05:36 pm:

Why did Japan abandon the seclusion policy in the mid-19th century? How did the opening of Japan affect Tokugawa rule up to 1868? (1997)

Ans: In the mid-17th century, Japan practiced the seclusion policy. That is to say, foreign trade is not allowed. Commercial activities were rare in the country. The government especially foreign trade discouraged trade so that the agrarian economy can be maintained. However, Japan abandoned the seclusion economy policy facing the foreign threat. It was a turning point in Japanese History. It affected the rule of Tokugawa. In the following, let's discuss how important was the seclusion policy before explaining why did Japan abandon the seclusion policy.

Seclusion policy could protect the Tozama from influencing by foreign countries. Under the feudalism in the country, Tozama, which was a traditional enemy, was distributed away from Edo. They were put in the remote area. In a geographical situation, it is easy for tozama to seek for foreign help because those remote areas acted as a door for foreign countries. It would be a potential risk if tozama and foreign countries joined together to evoke uprising. So, seclusion policy could secure the position of the government and the shogun that had a real power.

Economically, seclusion policy was used to maintain agrarian economy in Japan. The basis of Tokugawa economy was the land tax imposed on the peasantry. The policy could put a stop to foreign trade, which would commercialize the Japanese econmy. There were no foreign markets to stimulate on a large scale, so, the expanding Japanese economy would never break out of its existing feudal structure. The government income could be ensured as a result.

The seclusion policy could also keep the social stability. Since commercial activities were not encouraged and the seclusion policy limited the foreign trade, merchants were hardly accumulating wealth. They suffered a low social status. Due to the policy, the peasants were pleased because they enjoyed high social status. They enjoyed with the Sakuko because agrarian economy can be maintained. They could also maintained a high social status. The social structure rigid so that the social stability could be maintained

For the ideological aspect, seclusion policy acted as an instrument to prevent intellectual from influencing by the western idea. In the ancient Japan, absolute loyalty was emphasized. No democratic idea was allowed as it was regarded as a harmful idea toward the rule of Tokugawa. The seclusion policy could ensure the isolation of the western idea such as democratic idea and communist idea. All people were only indoctrinated by Neo-Confucianism, which emphasized on absolute loyalty to the hierarchical society.

Above all, we can see how important was the seclusion policy. However, Japan abandoned seclusion policy in the mid-19th century because of the coming of Perry in 1853. He was represented the US in order to knock the door of Japan. Because of the industrialization and commercialization, they needed to search for far-east market in order to sell their product and exploit the raw material. Japan abandoned the seclusion as a result.

Firstly, the shogun considered about the military inferiority of Japan. The US, being a powerful country in both economic and military field, requested Japan, which was poor-industrialized and backward military power to open the door. In 1854, Perry brought with him 8 ships. It was very easy for him to impose starvation upon its inhabitants over a million since the bulk of the food supplies for that city came by boat through the narrow entrance of the bay which Perry could easily block. Also, in view of the Opium War and Dutch learning, the shogun realized his own weakness and the powerful military field of the US.
Secondly, the increasing growth of the money economy lowered the military power of Japan. A large proportion of the samurai was concentrated at Edo, They began to adopt luxurious and extravagant habits, thus they lost their martial spirit because of prolonged peace it lowered the only people able to fight. The shogun adopted the policy of Japan finally.
The opening of Japan was a turning point in Tokugawa rule. It changed the period from Tokugawa to Bakumatsu period. It brought an adverse effect to Japan in political, economic, social and ideological aspects.
The opening of Japan helped to shift the political power from the shogun to the emperor. The prestige of the shogun had reached its lowest point for the 'barbarian-suppressing great general ' had now openly denied his own title my surrendering to foreign threat. Also, the shogun was forced to consult both the Fudai and Tozama daimyo on important national affairs and also report current events to the Imperial court. The power of imperial court was increasing taking advantage of the decreasing influence of the shogun. The Sonno-joi movement was an example. It aimed at collating power to the emperor. Besides, there were a few tozamas increasing influence though they had not received foreign support after the adoption of open door policy. Choshu and Satsuma were an example. They could affect the government affairs such as the participation the Kobu-Gatti movement. It path a way for the Meiji Oligarchy after 1868. The political system was affected by the open door policy.
For the economic aspect, the economy changed its nature. It was obvious to see that the economy was changed from agrarian to commercial after the abolition of seclusion policy. Th open door policy allowed foreign markets in the countries were easily found. The merchants accumulated their wealth through trade. However, the government income became inadequate because the income of peasantry was lower. The main taxpayers suffered from the commercialization. It helped to break down the agrarian economy.

For the social aspect, the stability was hardly be maintained. As a result of open door policy, merchants accumulated wealth. They became a debtor of samurai and government. However, they still suffered a low social status .In view of the peasantry, they no longer maintained high social status because of the decreasing influence of agricultural activities. It led to the social instability due to the redistributed social status.

Finally, it brought an adverse effect to the ideological field after the adoption of open door policy. The US, being influenced by democratic idea, helped to bring a new idea to Japan such as democracy. It may arouse the public awareness on such idea so that they would demand democracy.

In conclusion, seclusion policy was a part of Tokugawa rule. When Japan abandoned the policy, it helped to speed up the break down of control system or feudalism. All aspects were badly affected by the open door policy. It paved the way to the end of the rule of Tokugawa.
BY LAI KA YING