Episode 17 – The Tokugawa of Japan

03/27/23 • 21 min

The Tokugawa shogunate in Japan prohibited ocean going vessels or travel between Japan and most countries. Japan rejected offers to commence trade with the West. Commodore Perry forced a first treaty on a reluctant Japan. The Samurai and country wanted to resist, but instead Japan began to open up and build a navy and build up a more western military. American desires for a new trade treaty uncover fractures among the Bakufu and with the Imperial Court.

Image: "Samurai" by Tekniska museet is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

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Image: "Samurai" by Tekniska museet is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Previous Episode

Episode 16 - Chinese Women Overseas

During the 19th century, there were far more Chinese men abroad than women. Mui Tsai women were bonded to affluent Chinese families as maidservants or concubines. Amahs worked as paid domestic servants overseas. Some lived in collective sisterhoods and refused to couple with men. China Mary was a pioneer woman in Sitka, Alaska. Oei Hui-lan was the daughter of a Javanese sugar merchant and married the future Chinese Ambassador to Great Britain and the United States. Chinese women overseas had influence and made their mark on their new communities, including in Malaya and Singapore.

Image: "Portrait of a smiling, elderly Chinese woman" by simpleinsomnia is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

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Next Episode

Episode 18 - The Fall of the Tokugawa

Choshu rebels attack foreign ships and suffer the consequences. Choshu and Satsuma reach a secret alliance. The Bakufu plans a punitive expedition against Choshu but is out-maneuvered. The sudden death of the Emperor and a coup in the Imperial Court leads to Choshu receiving an amnesty. Choshu and Satsuma use the Imperial Pennants to defeat the Bakufu. The Tokugawa era ends in Japan with the final shoguns of Japan. The Meiji Restoration ends 265 years of Tokugawa rule in Japan.

Image: "DSC21873, Honmaru Palace, Nijo Castle, Kyoto, Japan" by jimg944 is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.