Shōtoku (正徳)
1711 — 1716
Start Date
1711-06-11
End Date
1716-08-09
auto_stories Origin & Meaning
Words wishing for the ruler's virtue and national peace were selected from Chinese classical literature. The selection of an era name was an extremely important ritual influencing the fate of the nation. Intellectuals examined Chinese classics to propose phrases indicating auspicious omens or the ruler's virtue. The two chosen characters embodied the ruler's prayer to sever ties with past calamities and guarantee tranquility.
event_upcoming Key Historical Events
The various events that occurred during this period brought about essential transformations in the social structure and the spiritual world of the people. Power struggles and policy shifts redefined the power balance of the ruling class and had broad impacts reaching the living standards. Furthermore, natural disasters and epidemics were feared as warnings from heaven, serving as catalysts for the rise of new faiths.
theater_comedy Social & Cultural Atmosphere
The first century of the Edo period laid a rock-solid foundation for the most stable and peaceful era in Japanese history. The Tokugawa clan shifted from rule by force to rule by law and bureaucracy. Through the Laws for the Military Houses and the institutionalization of alternate attendance, the nation's daimyo were placed under powerful control. Simultaneously, the "Sakoku" system secured an internal space for Japan to foster its unique culture. It was a powerful dawn period that transitioned from the early, wild "Kabukimono" culture to an orderly society, seeing the birth of a nationwide economic network centered on the highways and water transport.
history Historical Context & Timeline
When future historians look back on this era, it becomes clear how decisive the few years recorded here were. Even if it seemed to be in a state of temporary stability or confusion, the formation of a new order was steadily progressing beneath the surface. The responses of rulers to the challenges they faced were inherited as lessons for the next generation.
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