 |
|
 n order
to understand why so many people consider Hideyoshi to be the most powerful,
influential, and significant figure in Japanese history, it's important
to see what he feared and why. Hideyoshi was the homeless son of a peasant.
He came from less than nothing to become the master of Japan. He was so
low in stature he didn't even have a last name. (He began to use the family
name Toyotomi, "Abundant Provider," late in life.) If he could climb his
way from homeless peasant to ruler of Japan, he was afraid another man would
do the same and take away his power. Because of this fear, he established
feudalism in Japan, enacting restrictive measures such as the barring of
social mobility. This form of government was founded on the old feudal system
of personal loyalties rather than administrative centrality. While he pacified
the country, he did not fundamentally change the Japanese way of life. Hideyoshi
rose through the military ranks to become a general for Nobunaga Oda, who
was successful in uniting Japan and capturing the capital in 1568. Nobunaga
also rose from poverty to glory as a general and beyond. Hideyoshi had a
special loyalty to Nobunaga because they shared similar pasts. In 1582,
Nobunaga was murdered by General Akechi. Hideyoshi reacted brilliantly and
defeated Akechi to regain control. Hideyoshi fought for almost eight years
and eliminated all the remaining opposing clans. When he defeated the Hojo
family in 1590, Japan was finally reunited and Hideyoshi was the master
of all Japan.
|
