How come the Japanese managed to become so socially and civilly developed during the Tokugawa shogunate despite completely blocking themselves off from the outside world. They seem to have been essentially a society with medieval technology yet the administration and complexity of at least the Victorians.
>>1428540
They didn't
Their financial institutions were good by their technology standard but nowhere near Western Europe. Several countries in Western Europe still have debt from I believe the 17th century. Now as far as I can tell Edo Japan had few joint-stock companies, less usage of bills of exchange, no stock market etc etc.
What did happen during their isolation is that information from outside Japan still flowed in through the Dutch and the merchant class in Japan grew in prominence. Whereas they used to be the lowest of the low they made quite a decent profit during the long period of peace to the point where they now rivaled some samurai in wealth. Some samurai were even massively in debt with said merchants.
>>1428540
HOW ARE ISOLATIONISM, AND CIVILITY, MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE, ACCORDING TO YOU?
Samurais were the ruling class at that time. But basically they were not aristocrat but warrior. And their culture was based on zen Buddhism whose ideal was simple life. So they didn't build gorgeous palaces nor collect arts. Instead they sat on a really tiny hut and sipped bitter green tea.
>>1428692
>They didn't build gorgeous palaces nor collect art
>>1428692
Samurai were not the ruling class
>>1428692
>Gentlemen were the ruling class at that time. But basically they were not aristocrat but warrior. And their culture was based on Protestant Christianity whose ideal was simple life. So they didn't build gorgeous palaces nor collect arts. Instead they sat in a really tiny cabin and sipped earl grey tea.
That's basically the quality of your analysis.
>>1428741
>tiny cabin
Should have used "gazebo" here.
>>1428745
That would invite /tg/ memes.
That little trade post in The south with The dutch
>>1428692
>not aristocrat but warrior
Aristocrat doesn't just mean 'rich guy'.
>>1428692
>But basically they were not aristocrat but warrior. And their culture was based on zen Buddhism whose ideal was simple life. So they didn't build gorgeous palaces nor collect arts. Instead they sat on a really tiny hut and sipped bitter green tea.
All of this is wrong.
Holy shit who told you about Japanese history?
>>1428540
Because there was peace and the country was united.
>>1428692
Ah, so Kim Jong Un emerges.
