What Were Peasants In Japan?

What Were Peasants In Japan? Peasants (heimin) were sixth on the Tokugawa class hierarchy and first of the commoner classes. Peasants were held in high regard as commoners by the Tokugawa because they produced the most important commodity, food. According to Confucian philosophy, society could not survive without agriculture. What were the social classes in

Who Were The Merchants Of Japan?

Who Were The Merchants Of Japan? Under the Tokugawa shogunate, merchants were members of the “shomin” caste, at the bottom of the social order. For their dealings with money, they were scorned as parasites of society. Many prominent families became merchants after the samurai class was dissolved in the 1870’s. Why were artisans important in

How Might Japanese Culture Have Developed Differently Without Chinese Influence?

How Might Japanese Culture Have Developed Differently Without Chinese Influence? Japanese liked Zen’s emphasis of self-discipline, simplicity and meditation. How might Japan’s culture have developed differently without Chinese influence? They would have had a more difficult time forming their government and they would not have known what they would learn how to do. What are

Why Was Japanese Expansion So Important?

Why Was Japanese Expansion So Important? Although the most important reason for Japanese expansion was the country’s need for goods and resources, there were other reasons for Japanese expansion after the Russo-Japanese War. One was Western racism against the Japanese and the rise of Japanese nationalism. Why did Japan want to expand into the Pacific?