Roberts_Tokagawa

7th =__** Tokagawa Period: Social Classes **__= The Tokugawa Period was one of a diverse range of peoples within the social classes. The four social classes were Samurai, Farmers, Artisans, and Merchants and each class had a certain way of living in this society at the time. Though there were different classes who had different life styles, the people did in fact mix in certain areas and there wasn't really a need for class separation. The woodprint below represents this form of mixed classes. It is a woodprint by Meisho Yedo Hiakkei, from the "One Hundered Views of Edo" seires. [|"One Hundered Views of Edo"] The first class of peoples that where not only well respacted but feared, were the Samurai. The Samurai were specially trained worriors for their Daimyo to protect them. They were required to wear two swords and forbiden to preform any of the duties of the people lower than them. Like every one though, they had a fixed income. There where also Lady Samurai. The picture below represents two Samuari. If you look at the one standing, he has two swords. So the one on the floor is in training. The farmers in this society, like any other farmers, provided the food source for Japan. They where hard workers and ended up providing Japan with not only a food supply, but also a means of payment, rice. Farming was and still is a life style of a lot of work. Now, days of farming is a bit easier due to a more advanced technology. Fisherman were also incluted in that rank. The picture below shows the work of a fisherman. [|"One Hundered Views of Edo"] The next on the list are the Artisans. They focused on the entetain ment for the people of Japan such as Music, Dancing, Art and Acting. Tokagawa had banned any theaters for acting to be built permanently. So, they built these temps to please every one and they lasted up to five years or less. The picture below shows a Sharaku actor with a fan in his hand acting. Merchants where also a big help for Japanies society. They arranged trade and goods to circulate giving much to Japan's profit. In some cases, infact, Samurai would have to get loans from Merchants because the Samurai were starting to get a lesser amount of money than before. This picture shows the type of shop that the Merchants would trade goods with. This shop is a Cotton Goods Shop.

[|Cotton Goods Shops] In all, Japan did have social classes, but they never where really divided. Because of the woodblock prints, in a way, they became united by understanding, which brough unity to Japan all together. Togetherness is what can be seen in this picture. People are surrounding this area with the good hearted intent to just have a good time. [|"Fireworks at Ryogoku"]