The Rise of the Tokugawa Shogunate

The Edo period began in 1603 with the ascension of Tokugawa Ieyasu, marking a time of peace, isolation, and cultural growth. This era, spanning over 250 years, witnessed the development of kabuki theater, ukiyo-e art, and the samurai code, bushidō.

Life in Edo: The Floating World

The urban culture of Edo (modern-day Tokyo) thrived with a flourishing merchant class. Entertainment districts, tea houses, and geisha culture shaped what was known as the 'Floating World' – a place of transient beauty captured in woodblock prints and poetry.

The Decline and Meiji Restoration

The Edo period ended in 1868 as the Meiji Restoration dismantled the shogunate system. Japan opened to Western influence, industrialized rapidly, and transitioned into a modern nation, leaving behind centuries of feudal tradition.