A. Transformation of Edo

In Japan, as in China, Confucian values influenced ideas about society. According to Confucius, the ideal society depended on agriculture, not commerce. Farmers, not merchants, made ideal citizens. In the real world of Tokugawa Japan, however, peasant farmers bore the main tax burden and faced more difficulties than any other class. Many of them abandoned farm life and headed for the expanding towns and cities. By the mid-1700s, Japan began to shift from a rural to an urban society. Edo (Tokyo) had grown from a small village in the year 1600, to perhaps the largest city in the world with a population of more than one million.

Limiting the Power of the Nobility

Throughout history, powerful leaders have attempted to limit the power of the nobility in attempts to create a more centralized state. Looking back at France during the Age of Absolutism, Louis XIV weakened the power of the historically rebellious nobles by excluding them from his councils. In contrast, he increased the power of the government agents called intendants, who collected taxes and administered justice. To keep power under central control, he made sure that local officials communicated regularly with him.

At the Palace of Versailles where King Louis resided, there stood at least 100 of the most privileged nobles at court. They were waiting to help the great king get dressed. Only four of the nobles would be allowed the honor of handing Louis his slippers or holding his sleeves for him. Meanwhile, outside the bedchamber, lesser nobles waited in the palace halls and hoped Louis would notice them. A kingly nod, a glance of approval, a kind word— these marks of royal attention determined whether a noble succeeded or failed.

Having the nobles at the palace increased royal authority in two ways. It made the nobility totally dependent on Louis. It also took them from their homes, thereby giving more power to the intendants and other government agents. Louis required hundreds of nobles to live with him at the splendid palace he built at Versailles, about 11 miles southwest of Paris.

Similar to Louis XIV, Tokugawa Ieyasu also made efforts to limit the power of the nobility...