Japan under the Shoguns: Japan under the Shoguns

• Shoguns rule Japan with iron fists
• Japan's Shoguns keep everyone in their places
• The end of Japan's isolation
• Tokugawa Shogunate is overthrown

One of the best (and most fun) ways of learning history is to read historical fiction. Check out these books in our library.

Shogun: The title for a military commander in ancient Japan (8th century to 12th century A.D.), and later for a ruler of Shogunate Japan (12th century to 1868).

A shogun is essentially a military general. During the Shogunate period, however, the emperor of Japan was a mere figurehead, while the shogun wielded actual power over the country. The shoguns lost power after the Meiji Restoration in 1868.

The word "shogun" comes from the Japanese words sho, meaning "commander," and gun, or "troops."

from: http://asianhistory.about.com/od/glossaryps/g/GlosShogun.htm

This excellent PBS site contains a timeline, maps, background information and teaching resources to support the documentaries. 

Commanding shoguns and fierce samurai warriors, exotic geisha and exquisite artisans—all were part of a Japanese renaissance between the 16th and 19th centuries when Japan went from chaos and violence to a land of ritual refinement and peace. But stability came at a price: for nearly 250 years, Japan was a land closed to the Western world, ruled by the shogun under his absolute power and control. Japan: Memoirs of a Secret Empire brings to life the unknown story of a mysterious empire, its relationship with the West, and the forging of a nation that would emerge as one of the most important countries in the world. 


EPISODE ONE: THE WAY OF THE SAMURAI
Tokugawa Ieyasu unifies Japan and establishes a dynasty that will rule Japan for over 250 years. 


EPISODE TWO: THE WILL OF THE SHOGUN
The grandson of Ieyasu, Tokugawa Iemitsu, tightens control over Japan's warlords and expels all foreigners. 


EPISODE THREE: THE RETURN OF THE BARBARIANS
Isolated from the West, 18th century Edo flourishes culturally and economically, becoming one of the liveliest cities in the world. But foreign forces are coming. 

• Learning by Design, Shogunate Japan,  Prue Gill, Stephen Ahern, 2011  – These wonderful people have written and published a whole Aust Curriculum Unit of Work. I love how it has a teacher and a student column. http://cglearner.com/learning_element/show_both/815.html
• Asia for educators http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/tps/1750_jp.htm#modernization
• Mr Donn-  Japan provides lesson plans  http://japan.mrdonn.org/index.html
• Imaging Japanese History is an online curriculum designed to enhance students’ visual literacy skills, historical thinking skills, and knowledge of Japanese history. Various modules including Tokugawa and Meiji  http://www.colorado.edu/cas/tea/curriculum/imaging-japanese-history/tokugawa/index.html
• PowerPoint  – http://www2.rcscsd.org/cpettinato/ppt/PP%20Japan,%20Unit%20XXIII.ppt
•  How did the Tokugawa Shogunate centralize the Japanese government? Global ed.org have a developed a series of lessons called the Japan Project. Within this project there are lessons such as this one. http://globaled.org/japanproject/lessons/lesson19_1.php
• Document based activities on Shogun Japan http://www.dedicatedteacher.com/samples/DDTr/sstzp235es.pdf  is an extract from a book/website on primary sources and Japan, it is useful because of the questions it contains and then the links it sends you to such as this (Click on Shogun Japan) http://www.socialstudies.com/c/worldlinks.html?s@PW5jguy8cwjNU#5
• A fun experiential lesson on Japanese Feudalism  – a good starting activity http://ncta.osu.edu/lessons/japan/history/netter-japan.pdf

Click on the cover to read.