| 1600–1868 |
Tokugawa (or Edo) Period |
| 1603 |
Title of shogun acquired by Ieyasu |
| 1637–38 |
Shimabara Rebellion: a peasant uprising in Western Kyushu in which many Christians participated. |
| 1639 |
The last in a series of edicts designed to control contacts between Japan and the outside world is passed. Japanese cannot travel abroad; foreign contacts are limited primarily to trade with Dutch and Chinese ships at Nagasaki, trade with Korea via Tsushima han, and smuggling. |
| 1641 |
Dutch factory moved to Deshima at Nagasaki. |
| 1715 |
Arai Hakuseki, Seiyō kibun (A Report on the Occident) Ogyū Sorai, Bendō (Distinguishing the Way); establishment of the Sorai School |
| 1774 |
Maeno Ryōtaku, Sugita Genpaku, et al., Kaitai shinsho (New Book of Anatomy), a Japanese translation of Kulmus’ Ontleedkundige Tafelen (The original German text is Anatomische Tabellen) |
| 1778 |
Russians arrive at Hokkaido, requesting trade with the Matsumae han. |
| 1790 |
Supremacy of Senior Councilor Matsudaira Sadanobu, who prohibits all teachings except Neo-Confucianism at the Yushima Seidō shrine. |
| 1804 |
Arrival of Nicholai Rezanov at Nagasaki. |
| 1808 |
HMS Phaeton, Britain’s Royal Navy, intrudes into Nagasaki Bay. |
| 1824 |
Philipp Franz Jonkheer Balthasar von Siebold, German physician and scientist, opens a school in Nagasaki (expelled from Japan in 1829). |
| 1825 |
Bakufu orders to repell all foreign ships |
| 1835 |
Fukuzawa Yukichi born in Osaka. |
| 1837 |
Rice riot in Osaka led by the Confucian scholar Ōhio Heihachirō. |
| 1838 |
Ogata Kōan opens a school of Western Learning in Osaka. |
| 1839 |
Painter Watanabe Kazan and physician Takano Chōei, both scholars of Western Learning, incarcerated by the Bakufu. |
| 1853 |
Arrival of Commodore Perry at Uraga. |
| 1854 |
Treaty of Kanagawa with the United States. |
| 1858 |
Treaty of Amity and Commerce with the United States. Fukuzawa opens school of Dutch Learning in Edo (later Tokyo). |
| 1859 |
Ports of Yokohama, Nagasaki, and Hakodate opened to foreign trade.
Fukuzawa starts his study of English. |
| 1860 |
Fukuzawa joins Japan’s first mission to America. |
| 1861 |
Fukuzawa joins bakufu “foreign ministry” (Gaikokugata) as a translator. |
| 1862 |
Namamugi Incident (Richardson Incident). Ordered to go to Europe as an official translator for the government, Fukuzawa visits France, England, Holland, Prussia, Russia, and then Portugal. |
| 1863 |
Bombardment of Shimonoseki. |
| 1865 |
Imperial ratification of treaties with foreign powers. |
| 1866 |
Yoshinobu (d. 1913), fifteenth and last shogun. Conditions in the West (Vol. 1, 1866; Supplementary Vol., 1868; Vol. II, 1870) |
| 1867 |
Enthronement of Mutsuhito (later Emperor Meiji). Fukuzawa’s second visit to America as attendant to an official delegation to receive delivery of a warship. |
| 1868–1912 |
Meiji Period |
| 1868 |
January 3, Restoration of Imperial Rule; the separation of Shinto and Buddhism.
Fukuzawa ends employment at bakufu “foreign ministry.” Conditions in the West, Outside Volume (Supplementary Vol.) |
| 1868 |
ca. May: Fukuzawa names his school Keio-gijuku (later Keio University). |
| 1869 |
Return of han (domain) to the Emperor. |
| 1871 |
The abolition of the domain and the establishment of prefectures. |
| 1872 |
Fukuzawa begins the publication of An Encouragement of Learning. |
| 1873 |
New national military conscription law; new land tax system; establishment of the Home Ministry. 1873–76: The abolition of samurai and their pensioning off. |
| 1874 |
Public Party of Patriots led by Itagaki Taisuke presents its demand for an elected national assembly. |
| 1875 |
April: the establishment of the Senate, Supreme Court, and the Assembly of Provincial Governors. June: Japan exchanges with Russia Sakhalin for the Kuriles.
October: An Outline of a Theory of Civilization |
| 1877 |
Satsuma Rebellion takes place. |
| 1878 |
Popular Discourse on People’s Rights
Popular Discourse on the Rights of Nation |
| 1879 |
On a National Diet |
| 1880 |
Fukuzawa founds Kōjunsha (social club). |
| 1881 |
A Critique of the Trend of the Times |
| 1882 |
Founding of the daily newspaper, Jiji Shinpō
“On the Imperial House”
The Trends of the Times |
| 1884 |
Gapsin Coup occurs in Korea; Fukuzawa provides sanctuary for the enlightment reformers, Kim Ok-kyun and Pak Yonghyo. |
| 1885 |
On Japanese Women |
| 1887 |
Government bans 570 opposition leaders from having residences within three miles of imperial palace. |
| 1888 |
“On Honoring the Emperor” |
| 1889 |
Promulgation of the Meiji Constitution. |
| 1890 |
Promulgation of the Imperial Rescript on Education.
First national election held and first Diet convoked.
Fukuzawa writes a preface to the reprint of Dawn of Western Science in Japan by Sugita Genpaku. |
| 1892 |
“The Future of Our National Assembly” |
| 1894 |
Sino-Japanese War |
| 1898 |
Publication of the Complete Works of Fukuzawa Yukichi in 5 volumes. |
| 1899 |
Autobiography
A Critique of “The Great Learning for Women”
The New Great Learning for Women |
| 1900 |
On Moral Code |
| 1901 |
Fukuzawa dies at 68. |
