Class and Contradiction: Merchants and Expression of Wealth in the Tokugawa Period

Abstract

Class and Contradiction explores the society of the merchant class in Tokugawa Period Japan, focusing mainly on the evolution of the merchant class from a lowly social rank, marginalized by the government, to a wealthy, developed group. Despite their wealth, the merchant class was denied power during the Tokugawa Period because of their low status in the social hierarchy. Meanwhile, the samurai, members of the elite warrior class, became increasingly poor and indebted to the merchants in order to keep up with the extravagant lifestyle encouraged by the shogunate. A glaring and unintentional contradiction developed where the samurai had governmental power but little money, and the merchants were wealthy but had no power. In order to cope with the restrictions placed on them, the merchants created their own culture and art form where they could express themselves freely. The paper aims to expose the merchant class' frustration with the Tokugawa system as it was depicted in the art of woodblock printing, otherwise known as ukiyo-e. Why was ukiyo-e so popular? How did the merchants represent themselves and their social situation? How did they portray the samurai? The answers to these questions create an understanding for the mindset of the merchant during this frustrating time in history.