Jōō (Edo period)

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Glossary Timeline

Jōō (承応), alternatively romanized as Jō-ō or Shōō, was a Japanese era name (年号,, nengō,, lit. "year name") after Keian and before Meireki. This period spanned the years from September 1652 through April 1655.^[1] The reigning emperors were Go-Komyo-tennō (後光明天皇) and Go-Sai-tennō (後西天皇).^[2]

Change of era

• 1652 Jōō gannen (承応元年): The era name was changed to Jōō (meaning "receiving answers"), which was to mark the death of the third shogun, Tokugawa Iemitsu. The previous era ended and a new one commenced in Keian 5, on the 18th day of the 9th month.

The name of this new era came from the Book of the Jin: "The Xia and the Shang dynasties follow their destinies, so the House of Zhou came when it was time." (夏商承運、周氏応期)

Events of the Jōō era

• October 3, 1653 (Jōō 2, 12th day of the 8th month): A violent fire destroyed a large part of the Imperial palace and many temples which were nearby. Shortly thereafter, several girls, aged 12–14 years, were imprisoned for having started this fire and others in Heian-kyō.^[3]
• August 18, 1654 (Jōō 3, 6th day of the 7th month): A famous priest, Ingen, arrived at Nagasaki from China. His intention was to reform the practice of Buddhism in Japan.^[3]
• October 30, 1654 (Jōō 3, 20th day of the 9th month): Emperor Go- Kōmyō died of smallpox; and his funeral ceremonies were at Sennyū-ji (泉涌寺,, senyō-ji) on the 15th day of the 10th month.^[4]

Sakoku(鎖国): Before and after 1653

Within the Jōō period, Japan was implementing the Sakoku policy which adopted by Tokugawa Bakumatsu. “Sakoku” means closed country in Japanese. Japan was adopting this policy from 1639 to 1868.^[5] There was barely any foreign trade from other countries, with exception to Chinese and Dutch merchant. Japanese residences were strictly monitored by the Government. People were not allowed to leave the country, with consequence of death penalty. Foreigners were in the same situation, anyone who attempted to enter Japan’s territory would be killed by the soldiers right away.^[6] The entire country was dictated by Tokugawa government. The Sakoku policy was adopted by the ruler for preventing invaders, and keeping their national characteristics and national religion. This policy was banned after the Edo Period (1603-1868). The country was re-opened to the world in 1868.^[7]

For many Japanese, Edo period was the most prosperous time, which had brought peace to them. The country reached a steady state, where there were no changes to the country. Japan was stabilized by the Sakoku policy economically and politically. People produced their living necessities and contributed a portion of that to the rulers as tax. The society was full of prosperity and peaceful. Shops were everywhere; people were busy working and enjoying their life. When peace came, samurai were losing their usefulness; therefore, the government gave them special privileges. Within the social hierarchy, the emperors were on the top, Samurai ranked second, playing a role as police, followed by the farmers and the merchants were at the bottom.^[8] The samurai were the only social group allowed to carry weapons daily, mostly were katana.

Notes

References

• Nussbaum, Louis Frédéric and Käthe Roth. (2005). Japan Encyclopedia. Cambridge: Harvard University Press. ISBN 978-0-674-01753-5; OCLC 48943301
• Porter, Robert P. (1918). Japan: The Rise of a Modern Power. Oxford: Clarendon Press. OCLC 3881028
• Screech, Timon. (2006). Secret Memoirs of the Shoguns: Isaac Titsingh and Japan, 1779-1822. London: RoutledgeCurzon. ISBN 978-0-203-09985-8; OCLC 65177072
• Titsingh, Isaac. (1834). Nihon Odai Ichiran; ou, Annales des empereurs du Japon. Paris: Royal Asiatic Society, Oriental Translation Fund of Great Britain and Ireland. OCLC 5850691

External links

• National Diet Library, "The Japanese Calendar" -- historical overview plus illustrative images from library's collection
• Sennyuji Temple Museum -- funereal ceremonies for Emperor Go-Kōmyō
• Imperial Household web site -- link to image of Emperor Go-Kōmyō's official Imperial misasagii (in Japanese)