EAS103H1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 9: Ihara Saikaku, Bunraku, Satin
Document Summary
Ea cities as convergence of networks (people, knowledge, commerce, power) Children grew up together in edo: same culture. Make sure power doesn"t stay in hands of warlords. Many struggled with finances and making a living. Successive conquered states from the north made it the capital. Edo: ran factories, designed houses, sold buddhist relics. Consumption and food habits evolved from sankin kotai. Details travel of korean merchants who go to beijing to sell horses. Advice on how to negotiate price of horse. Korean traveler discusses what he should buy in beijing to bring home. Chestnuts, satin, cotton, books (book of songs, writings of hanyu, zhushi"s. Gives us idea of how economy worked (silver economy) 85% of silver came from europe (from americas) 1542- chinese government seized ship from japan with silver. Ban on foreign trade, but demand for silver so high that it had to be smuggled. Silver was cheap in japan, but worth a lot in japan.