FlintlockThe flintlock was a long-ranged weapon that was taking the world by storm in the 1600s onwards. It was introduced to Japan by Portuguese traders and the samurai took advantage of it and added it to their arsenal of weaponry. However, due to the power and long-ranged nature of this weapon, it made the samurai's other skills redundant. It was this weapon that contributed partly to the death of the samurai. This weapon also gradually evolved to the point where it became the weapon that we all today know as the gun.
The weapon worked by placing gunpowder and a lead ball into the muzzle of the weapon. It would then be driven in firmly by pulling back the ramrod. Some powder is poured into the pan and the frizzen is then closed over it. Once you have done this, you would pull back the hammer, which would strike the flint and cause a spark. This would ignite the gunpowder in the pan, causing a small explosion within the gun. The lead ball is then propelled outward, able to reach a distance of 100 metres. |
Treaty of kanagawaThe Treaty of Kanagawa was Japan's first agreement with a Western nation. It was made between Commodore Matthew Perry and the Tokugawa Shogunate. It was this deal that ended Japan's 200 years of seclusion from the outside world. It was made on March 31, 1854.
The deal was proposed by Matthew Perry, who showed up in Japan with a fleet of warships. The reason was that the US wanted to be able to trade with Japan. He told them that he would give them time to think about it and returned to America. Japan didn't have much choice but to sign it. Shogun Tokugawa Ieyoshi was the one who made the agreement with Perry. This was because it was strange for the Emperor to interact with a foreigner. Later, when the treaty had been worked out, it was reluctantly signed by the Emperor and ratified in 1985. |
sakokuSakoku was a foreign relations policy that Japan held from 1639 to 1853. It essentially said that anyone who tried to enter or leave the country would be penalised with death. It was made during the reign of the Tokugawa Shogunate and ended when Commodore Matthew Perry came with a fleet of ships and forced a trade agreement between the US and Japan. It was still illegal for the Japanese to leave the country until the Meiji Restoration though.
Japan wasn't completely isolated from the outside world. They had five trade agreements with nearby countries, including China and Korea. There were very specific conditions that they traded under and they were handle cautiously. |
LEGACYThough Feudal Japan has ended, the legacy it left behind carries on to this day. There are martial arts schools based on the unarmed combat that samurai used, such as karate, judo and aikido. Some blacksmiths still know the secrets of forging the legendary katana, a sword that combines iron and steel to make a lethal edge.
The samurai and ninja have become a major part of pop culture with TV shows and movies built around them. Just last year, the tale of the 47 Ronin was made into a movie. Though the two groups have become exaggerated and highly fictionalised. All of this is evidence that Feudal Japan and the samurai have had a lasting effect on the world and modern pop culture. And I think that it will endure for years to come. |