# Japanese Basic Course, Lesson 132

Narration and the written language

Source: https://1732studios.com/courses/ja/130. Data: https://1732studios.com/courses/ja/130.json.

## Isolation, foreign pressure and restoration · Narration

### Two centuries of isolation

*徳川幕府だけでも 二百六十年 続き、その間 鎖国政策が とられた* means "The Tokugawa shogunate alone lasted 260 years, and during that time a policy of national isolation was followed."

The Tokugawa period lasted until the Meiji Restoration. The isolation policy closed ports and restricted overseas travel, entry, and trade.

### Rule returns to the Emperor

Perry pressed Japan to open its ports in 1853. His visit had a great influence on Japanese politics.

*幕府は 政権を 天皇に かえさなければ ならなくなった* means "the shogunate had to return political power to the Emperor."

The Restoration of 1868 returned government to the Emperor and led to the abolition of the feudal system.

### Kanji: 総

New kanji in these lines. Read down: the kanji, its reading, then the words it makes.

### Kanji: 策

New kanji in these lines. Read down: the kanji, its reading, then the words it makes.

### Kanji: 勝

New kanji in these lines. Read down: the kanji, its reading, then the words it makes.

### Kanji: 保

New kanji in these lines. Read down: the kanji, its reading, then the words it makes.

**1** 武家政治の 期間を 総合すると、源頼朝の 鎌倉幕府に 続いて、室町幕府、徳川幕府と 六百七十年も 続いた。  
ぶけせいじのきかんをそうごうすると、みなもとのよりとものかまくらばくふにつづいて、むろまちばくふ、とくがわばくふとろっぴゃくななじゅうねんもつづいた。  
Taken together, warrior government continued for as long as 670 years, from Minamoto no Yoritomo’s Kamakura shogunate through the Muromachi shogunate and the Tokugawa shogunate.

**2** 徳川幕府だけでも 二百六十年 続き、その間 鎖国政策が とられた。  
とくがわばくふだけでもにひゃくろくじゅうねんつづき、そのあいださこくせいさくがとられた。  
The Tokugawa shogunate alone lasted 260 years, and during that time a policy of national isolation was followed.

**3** つまり 徳川は 法律によって 港を 閉じて、日本人の 海外渡航も、又 外国人の 入国や 貿易も 自由勝手に 許さなかった。  
つまりとくがわはほうりつによってみなとをとじて、にほんじんのかいがいとこうも、またがいこくじんのにゅうこくやぼうえきもじゆうかってにゆるさなかった。  
In other words, the Tokugawa closed the ports by law and did not freely permit Japanese people to travel overseas or foreigners to enter the country and trade.

**4** この 政策の ため、日本は 西洋文明に たちおくれ、日本の 発展に 害をしたと 言う人も あるし、又 鎖国によって 日本は 自国 独特の 文化を 保つ事が 出来て よかったと 言う人も ある。  
このせいさくのため、にほんはせいようぶんめいにたちおくれ、にほんのはってんにがいをしたというひともあるし、またさこくによってにほんはじこくどくとくのぶんかをたもつことができてよかったというひともある。  
Some people say that because of this policy Japan fell behind Western civilization and its development was harmed, while others say that national isolation was good because it enabled Japan to preserve its own distinctive culture.

**5** 一八五三年、米国の 海軍 提督 ペリー氏は、日本の 君主に あてられた 米国大統領の 通商、友好の 書翰を 持って 日本を たずね、開港を せまった。  
せんはっぴゃくごじゅうさんねん、べいこくのかいぐんていとくペリーしは、にほんのくんしゅにあてられたべいこくだいとうりょうのつうしょう、ゆうこうのしょかんをもってにほんをたずね、かいこうをせまった。  
In 1853, Commodore Perry of the United States Navy came to Japan carrying a letter about trade and friendship from the President of the United States addressed to Japan’s ruler, and pressed Japan to open its ports.

**6** ペリー提督の 日本訪問は、日本の 政治に 大きな 影響を 与えた。  
ペリーていとくのにほんほうもんは、にほんのせいじにおおきなえいきょうをあたえた。  
Commodore Perry’s visit to Japan had a great influence on Japanese politics.

**7** 日本は もう 武家政権では、西洋の 文明諸国と 対等に 交渉する事が 出来なくなり、幕府は 政権を 天皇に かえさなければ ならなくなった。  
にほんはもうぶけせいけんでは、せいようのぶんめいしょこくとたいとうにこうしょうすることができなくなり、ばくふはせいけんをてんのうにかえさなければならなくなった。  
Japan could no longer negotiate on equal terms with the civilized nations of the West under warrior rule, and the shogunate had to return political power to the Emperor.

```
Edo Period (1615-1868)

Tokugawa Ieyasu was the most influential man in the country at this time.

After Toyotomi Hideyoshi died, Ishida Mitsunari plotted to oust Ieyasu, and in 1600, he rose in arms against him.

In the famous battle of Sekigahara, Mitsunari was defeated by Ieyasu, and three years later, Ieyasu was appointed Sei-i-Taishoogun (Generalissimo) and established his Bakufu in Edo.

In two more battles, one in the 19th year of Keichoo (1614) and the other in the first year of Genna (1615), he annihilated the Toyotomi and their adherents, who made their last stand at Osaka Castle.

Efforts were then directed towards the readjustment and consolidation of the various administrative system and institutions, with the result that the Bakufu was placed on foundations as secure as could be wished for.

The social structure of the Edo Period may be defined as consisting of strata called Kuge (court nobles), buke (warriors), farmers, and choonin (townsmen).

The nobles occupied the most exalted social ranks, but had little political power and economic influence.

The warriors, on the contrary, wielded real power and great influence in political and economic affairs; and with the Bakufu as their central authority, there were altogether about two hundred and seventy daimyoo, or feudal lords, with their families, who divided the whole country among themselves as their domains or fiefs, which they governed with the assistance of their retainers or subordinates.

Subject to the rule of this military class, the townspeople engaged in trade and industry, and the farmers in agriculture.

Thus, the feudal system of Japan was founded and organized.

The period of Tokugawa Shoogun prevailed for two hundred and sixty years until the Meiji Restoration.
```

```
Meiji Restoration

The Meiji Restoration ushered in the dawn of modernization of Japan; it paved the way for Japan’s entry into the family of modern nations.

In other words, the Restoration of 1868 forms a most conspicuous landmark in the long history of the country.

But the government innovations consequent upon the Meiji Restoration were simply along the lines of restoration of the time-honored government by the Emperor.

In March 1868, the Emperor Meiji issued the administrative Oath of Five Articles.

The general policy of the government was thus firmly established.

In July of the same year, the Emperor visited Edo and changed its name to Tokyo.

He returned to Kyoto for a while, but in the spring of the following year settled in Tokyo, which became the capital of the country.

Shortly after this, the feudal barons throughout the country returned their status and fiefs to the Emperor’s government.

Thereupon, the government officially abolished the feudal system and set up a new form of administrative government.

Feudalism gave place to centralization of power.

Reform after reform was instituted, including the adoption of educational and military systems.
```

| word | gloss |
|---|---|
| 武家 | military family; warrior |
| 政治 | government; adminis-tration; politics |
| の | See Grammar Notes |
| 期間 | period; duration |
| を | particle denoting direct object (See Pattern Drill) |
| と、 | and (See Gram. Notes) |
| 幕府 | Shoogunate; military government |
| に | on (See Gram. Notes) |
| 六百 | 600 |
| 七十 | 70 |
| 年 | year (See Grammar Notes) |
| も | as much as, as many as (See Grammar Notes |
| だけ | only, just (See Grammar Notes) |
| で | --is and -- (See Grammar Notes) |
| 二百 | 200 |
| 六十 | 60 |
| 間 | between |
| 鎖国 | national isolation; exclusion of foreigners |
| 政策 | policy |
| が | but (See Gram. Notes) |
| つまり | in short, in another word |
| は | leaves |
| 法律 | law |
| 港 | port, harbor |
| 人 | people |
| 入国 | entry, entrance into a country |
| や | and---among others (See Gram. Notes) |
| 自由 | freedom |
| 西洋 | occident, the West |
| 文明 | civilization |
| し | city |
| 言う | to say |
| ある | certain, some |
| 自国 | one’s own country |
| 文化 | culture |
| 保つ | maintain; keep |
| 一 | one |
| 八 | eight |
| 五 | five |
| 三 | three |
| 提督 | commodore |
| 君主 | ruler; sovereign |
| 通商、 | commerce; trade |
| 友好 | friendly relations |
| 書翰 | letter; correspondence |
| 開港 | the opening of a port |
| 大きな | big, large (See Gram. Notes) |
| もう | already (See Gram. Notes) |
| 政権 | political power; administrative power |
| 天皇 | emperor |
| なら | if it is (See Gram. Notes) |

## Warrior rule and national isolation · Questions 1 of 2

### The effects of national isolation

The questions ask how long warrior government lasted, what national isolation restricted, and why Perry came to Japan.

*鎖国と 言うのは どんな 事ですか* means "What does national isolation mean?" An answer describes the restrictions on ports, foreign travel, entry, and trade.

Another answer states that isolation enabled Japan to preserve its distinctive culture.

**8** 日本歴史（二）  
にほんれきし（に）  
(1200-1867)

**9** 武家政治は 何年ぐらい 続きましたか。  
ぶけせいじはなんねんぐらいつづきましたか。  
About how many years did warrior government continue?

**10** 徳川幕府は どのぐらい 続きましたか。  
とくがわばくふはどのぐらいつづきましたか。  
How long did the Tokugawa shogunate continue?

**11** その 間 どんな 政策が とられましたか。  
そのあいだどんなせいさくがとられましたか。  
What kind of policy was followed during that time?

**12** 鎖国と 言うのは どんな 事ですか。  
さこくというのはどんなことですか。  
What does national isolation mean?

**13** 鎖国によって どんな いい 事が ありましたか。  
さこくによってどんないいことがありましたか。  
What good came from national isolation?

**14** 米国海軍提督の ペリー氏は 何のために 日本に 来ましたか。  
べいこくかいぐんていとくのペリーしはなんのためににほんにきましたか。  
Why did Commodore Perry of the United States Navy come to Japan?

| word | gloss |
|---|---|
| （二） | two |
| ぐらい | about |
| か。 | either--or-- (See Gram. Notes) |
| どの | which (pre-substantive) (See Notes) |
| どんな | what kind of; what sort of |
| と | and (See Gram. Notes) |
| です | to be (See Gram. Notes) |
| いい | good (See Gram. Notes) |

## Foreign pressure and imperial restoration · Questions 2 of 2

### From foreign pressure to imperial rule

The questions connect Perry's visit with the end of warrior government and the Meiji Restoration.

*それで 幕府は どうしなければ ならなくなりましたか* means "So what did the shogunate have to do?" The answer states that it had to return power to the Emperor.

The final questions ask when the Restoration occurred and what government began with it. An answer names administration by constitutional monarchy.

### Kanji: 位

New kanji in these lines. Read down: the kanji, its reading, then the words it makes.

**15** 鎖国によって どんな 害を しましたか。  
さこくによってどんながいをしましたか。  
What harm came from national isolation?

**16** ペリー 提督の 日本訪問は 日本の 政治に 大きな 影響を 与えましたか。  
ペリーていとくのにほんほうもんはにほんのせいじにおおきなえいきょうをあたえましたか。  
Did Commodore Perry’s visit to Japan have a great influence on Japanese politics?

**17** 日本は 武家政権では、西洋の 文明諸国と 対等に 交渉する事が 出来なくなりましたか。  
にほんはぶけせいけんでは、せいようのぶんめいしょこくとたいとうにこうしょうすることができなくなりましたか。  
Was Japan no longer able to negotiate on equal terms with the civilized nations of the West under warrior rule?

**18** それで 幕府は どうしなければ ならなくなりましたか。  
それでばくふはどうしなければならなくなりましたか。  
So what did the shogunate have to do?

**19** 明治天皇が 位に つかれて、どんな 運動が ますます 盛んに なりましたか。  
めいじてんのうがくらいにつかれて、どんなうんどうがますますさかんになりましたか。  
When Emperor Meiji ascended the throne, what movement became increasingly active?

**20** 明治維新は いつですか。  
めいじいしんはいつですか。  
When was the Meiji Restoration?

**21** 明治維新より どんな 政治が 始まりましたか。  
めいじいしんよりどんなせいじがはじまりましたか。  
What kind of government began with the Meiji Restoration?

| word | gloss |
|---|---|
| 運動 | movement |
| ますます | more and more |
| いつ | when? |
| より | than (See Gram. Notes) |

## Government, isolation and travel words · Word list 1 of 3

### Government and closed borders

These words name warrior government, national isolation, travel, and civilization.

*武家政治* means "military government" and *鎖国* means "national isolation" or "exclusion of foreigners."

*海外渡航* means "travel abroad" or "foreign tour."

**22** 武家政治  
ぶけせいじ  
military government

**23** 総合する  
そうごうする  
combine; total

**24** 鎖国  
さこく  
national isolation; exclusion of foreigners

**25** 政策  
せいさく  
policy

**26** つまり  
つまり  
in short; to sum up

**27** 海外渡航  
かいがいとこう  
travel abroad; foreign tour

**28** 入国  
にゅうこく  
entry, entrance into a country

**29** 自由勝手に  
じゆうかってに  
freely; at will

**30** 文明  
ぶんめい  
civilization

**31** たちおくれる  
たちおくれる  
lag behind

| word | gloss |
|---|---|
| 武家政治 | military government |
| 総合する | combine; total |
| 海外渡航 | travel abroad; foreign tour |
| 自由勝手に | freely; at will |
| たちおくれる | lag behind |

## Trade, diplomacy and commerce words · Word list 2 of 3

### A letter about trade and friendship

These words cover harm, national identity, diplomacy, trade, correspondence, and opening a port.

*通商* means "commerce" or "trade," and *友好* means "friendly relations."

*開港* means "the opening of a port."

**32** 害を する  
がいをする  
harm

**33** 自国  
じこく  
one’s own country

**34** 保つ  
たもつ  
maintain; keep

**35** 提督  
ていとく  
commodore

**36** 君主  
くんしゅ  
ruler; sovereign

**37** あてる  
あてる  
address; direct

**38** 通商  
つうしょう  
commerce; trade

**39** 友好  
ゆうこう  
friendly relations

**40** 書翰  
しょかん  
letter; correspondence

**41** 開港  
かいこう  
the opening of a port

| word | gloss |
|---|---|
| 害をする | harm |
| あてる | address; direct |
| 通商 | commerce; trade |

## Negotiation and restoration words · Word list 3 of 3

### Negotiation and restored imperial rule

These words cover political pressure, negotiation, imperial restoration, movements, and constitutional monarchy.

*王政復古* means "restoration of Imperial Rule." *立憲君主政治* means "administration by constitutional monarchy."

### Kanji: 王

New kanji in these lines. Read down: the kanji, its reading, then the words it makes.

### Kanji: 憲

New kanji in these lines. Read down: the kanji, its reading, then the words it makes.

**42** --を せまる  
--をせまる  
press for; urge

**43** 対等に  
たいとうに  
on equal terms

**44** 交渉する  
こうしょうする  
negotiate

**45** 位に つく  
くらいにつく  
to ascend the throne

**46** 王政復古  
おうせいふっこ  
restoration of Imperial Rule

**47** 運動  
うんどう  
movement

**48** ますます  
ますます  
more and more

**49** 立憲君主政治  
りっけんくんしゅせいじ  
administration by constitutional monarchy

```
Guide for Free Conversation and Exercise

1 Topics;

a Discuss the following topics with your classmates in Japanese.

(1) Period of military government.

(2) Policy of Tokugawa Shogunate.

(3) Visit of Commodore Perry to Japan.

(4) Meiji Restoration

2 Exercise;

a Match the words in Column (A) with those of Column (B) and insert the letters of Column (B) in the spaces provided in Column (A).

1 鎖国

2 幕府

3 提督

4 開港

5 通商

6 王政復古

a commerce

b policy

c military government

d restoration of Imperial rule

e letter

f commodore

7 明治維新

8 軍政

9 書翰

10 政策

g Shogunate

h national isolation

i Meiji Restoration

j opening of the port
```

```
Homework

1 Study the Narration thoroughly and memorize the vocabulary.

2 Read the Guide for Free Conversation and do the exercises given.

3 Learn to read and write the new Kanji.

4 Read the Cultural Notes.
```

| word | gloss |
|---|---|
| --をせまる | press for; urge |
| 対等に | on equal terms |
| 交渉する | negotiate |
| 位につく | to ascend the throne |
| 王政復古 | restoration of Imperial Rule |
| 立憲君主政治 | administration by constitutional monarchy |