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Henry Li

Instructor: Maddie Roepe

Writing 2 Spring 2024

06 June 2024

Writing Project 1: Translation

Part I

Connecting Social Stratification in Contemporary Japan

and the Sengoku Period

Contents

Overview: Two eras, one nature

Background: The Sengoku period

Battle of Komaki and Nagakute: Hierarchy

Christianity In The Sengoku period: Stratification and Landscape of socioeconomic

status

Yodo-dono: Female social status

Overview: Two eras, one nature

Social stratification, a sociological concept, encompasses a spectrum of relational

social inequalities spanning ideological, political, economic, and social realms. It is a

system of categorizing individuals into groups based on shared socioeconomic wealth

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and power. When these factors vary among individuals, leading to some enjoying status,

power, and privilege over others, we witness social stratification. This phenomenon,

with its generational transmissibility and potential for change, serves as a mirror

reflecting the qualities of a society. Its persistence across generations should prompt us

to reflect on its implications and strive for a more equitable future.

The Sengoku period, in which daimyo from all over the world constantly fought

for land and resources through wars, led to the displacement of many people from the

lower classes and social unrest. During this period, people's living conditions were tied

to their social status and the power they wielded, and social stratification became more

pronounced. Five hundred years later, on the same land, today's Japanese society is

stratified in terms of educational class, age, generational oppression, the social status

of women, and the Landscape of socioeconomic status, and has significant implications

for the lives and opportunities of different groups of people. It is a sign that social

stratification in Japan has retained its essence throughout the ages.

Background: The Sengoku period

The Sengoku period, a testament to the resilience of the Japanese people, is a

crucial epoch in Japanese history. It set the stage for the subsequent trajectory of

Japanese history and social stratification. This era, often referred to as the Sengoku

Rebellion of 1467 under the Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimasa, spanned over 120 years of

political strife and power division, primarily due to the overwhelming influence of the

daimyo.
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The Battle of Onin during the Onin War (1467-1477) by Utagawa Yoshitora.

The Sengoku period saw significant events that shaped Japan's history. It began

with Oda Nobunaga's rise to power, which set the stage for the emergence of

Toyotomi Hideyoshi. After Oda Nobunaga's death, Toyotomi Hideyoshi ended the

civil war in 1590, marking the first unification of the country since the Einin

Rebellion and the start of the Azuchi-Momoyama period. The period of political

stability was further solidified when Tokugawa Ieyasu defeated the Toyotomi family

at the Battle of Sekigahara and the Battle of Osaka, leading to the downfall of the

Toyotomi family and the start of the Edo period, a time of peace and prosperity.

Battle of Komaki and Nagakute: Hierarchy

On June 21, 1582, during the Honno-ji Incident, Oda Nobunaga, Japan's most

potent daimyo and the first of Japan's three unifiers, disappeared from the world as a

result of his betrayal by one of his retainers, Akechi Mitsuhide. The sudden death of
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such a powerful man meant the entire kingdom was left without a leader, and a power

vacuum ensued.

Honno-ji Incident, Nobukazu Yosai, Created in the Meiji era, owned by Nagoya City,

from Wikipedia

Though born a pariah, Toyotomi Hideyoshi was valued by Oda Nobunaga and

dramatically raised his social status due to his outstanding political and war abilities.

Upon hearing the news, he quickly returned and defeated Akechi Mitsuhide. After

eliminating his political enemies, he became the man of force among the vassals of

the Oda family. Toyotomi Hideyoshi supported Oda Nobunaga's son, who was only

three years old, to become the head of the Oda family as a political puppet,

convincing the daimyo loyal to Oda Nobunaga that he was carrying on Oda

Nobunaga's legacy. Because of this, Oda Nobuo (the oldest living descendant of Oda

Nobunaga) was highly dissatisfied with Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and in 1583, Nobuo and
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Tokugawa Ieyasu joined forces to fight Hideyoshi in what is known as the Battle of

Komaki and Nagakute.

Battle of Komaki and Nagakute, from Wikipedia

Sakakibara Yasumasa was a vassal of Tokugawa Ieyasu, a military general and

daimyo. He knew very well whether Toyotomi Hideyoshi was sensitive to his origins.

On the eve of the war, Sakakibara Yasumasa succeeded in provoking Toyotomi

Hideyoshi by setting up banners satirizing Toyotomi Hideyoshi as a man of lowly

birth who had succeeded only because he had seized the inheritance of Oda

Nobunaga. Thus, the battle turned from a quick struggle envisioned by Toyotomi

Hideyoshi into a protracted one. Tokugawa Ieyasu was the child of a daimyo. The

daimyo and retainers under his command were all pudai daimyo who had served the

Tokugawa family for generations. Tokugawa Ieyasu made full use of this to win

various political battles and also considered that his third son, Tokugawa Hidetada,

although militarily weaker, had better relations with the Pudai Daimyo and had the
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potential to become a political powerhouse, and therefore chose him to become the

second shogun, laying the groundwork for the continuation of the Edo period of the

Tokugawa family. On the contrary, however, Toyotomi Hideyoshi had the support of

many daimyo, but his peasant origins and the fact that he had "taken away"

Nobunaga's previous achievements made some of them reluctant to follow his orders.

The daimyo under Toyotomi fought for fame and fortune without regard for the

greater good, and the army was utterly uncooperative and did whatever it wanted.

This led to chaos during the war and ultimately triggered Toyotomi Hideyoshi's defeat

in the battle against an army that had about twice the strength of Tokugawa Ieyasu.

In contrast to the turbulent living conditions of the Warring States period, the

development of science and technology has brought about tremendous changes in our

lives. Technology has changed how humans live and communicate, but the basic

competition pattern for power, wealth, and resources has remained unchanged. Today,

the primary measure of individual potential and social value is no longer martial arts

but the level of education. However, utilizing data from SSM Surveys conducted in

Japan from 1955 to 1995, the fundamental social mechanisms have remained

remarkably similar despite the shift in emphasis. Both eras, the Warring States period

and the present, have valued some form of competitive advantage, be it martial arts

ability or education, as a critical factor in personal success and social mobility. In

essence, society still values the ability to outperform one's peers. The real difference

lies not in the intrinsic value of the skills themselves but in the specific demands and

challenges posed by the historical context in which they are combined. This
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continuity underscores the relevance of historical lessons in understanding and

navigating modern society.

Tokugawa Ieyasu has never been surpassed in power by anyone since he became

head of the family, ceding the position of shogun to Hidetada and becoming an ogosho

(an ancient Japanese honorific for a retired or reclusive prince or regent father, which

later became a term of honor for a shogun who was in power before abdicating);

however, during the period when Hidetada had just become a shogun his political

talents had not yet exploded his political talent, and he had to defer to his father for

virtually all decisions are subject to their father's advice, meaning that Tokugawa Ieyasu

still controls almost all of Japan. In modern Japanese society, the control and

suppression of the younger generation by the older ones still exists. In some Japanese

workplaces, a system of chronological order of merit prevents young employees from

achieving significant advancement in a short period of time, even if they have

outstanding abilities; instead, age is used as a criterion for salary and position

advancement of employees. The deep-rooted concepts of superiority and inferiority in

Japanese society require young people to show respect and obedience to those who are

older. This cultural climate leads to a situation where young people tend to passively

and even habitually defer to the wishes and decisions of older people in their social

socialization and decision-making processes (this hierarchical and age-based

suppression has also led to air crashes in Japan), and this situation has its parallels in

the Japanese family as well.

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Christianity In The sengoku period: Stratification and

Landscape of socioeconomic status

On the eve of the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600, because Tokugawa Ieyasu's

power and ambition were exposed, wanted to conspire to crush him, Ishida Mitsunari

implemented a hostage policy, threatening Tokugawa Ieyasu by taking the families of

his allies living in Osaka as hostages. Hosokawa Garasya, the third daughter of

Akechi Mitsuhide (the man who betrayed Oda Nobunaga), was Hosokawa Tadahide's

wife and was a threat to be a hostage.

Battle of Sekigahara, from Wikimedia

Still, at that time, the Hosokawa Garasya refused to become a hostage, so as the

army surrounded the Hosokawa mansion, the Tadahide's retainers burned down the

house because Hosokawa Garasya Christianity could not be suicidal, and so decided

to ask her retainers to assist in the killing of themself. The story of her and
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Christianity has been passed down and is a frequent character archetype in movies,

TV dramas, and games.

Ruin Hosokawa Tadahide, from Wikimedia

In modern Japanese society, some positions are influenced by the LANDSCAPE

OF SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS, which complements the social status of the clergy

when Christianity was introduced to Japan in 1549. Because of the frequent changes

in power, daimyo in various regions resorted to different means to consolidate their

position and power. In the Kyushu region, some daimyo chose to be baptized and

converted to Christianity to win returns and secure their rights in the southern

barbarian trade. They began to protect missionaries by allowing them to preach freely

in their territories, dramatically raising the social status of missionaries.

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Some industries, ideologies, or individuals always benefit from the development

of the times. Those daimyo hoped to win trade benefits with European countries such

as Portugal by converting to Catholicism and increasing their military power by

utilizing their military technology and firearms. An active supporter of Christianity,

the daimyo baptized herself. It actively advocated for converting her men and the

people in her domain, even inviting Jesuits to establish churches and schools to spread

Western scientific and cultural knowledge. These communities remained religiously

united and developed a particular social and economic influence. Just as in today's

Japanese society, with the aging of the Japanese population, the demand for medical

and nursing care is increasing, which allows these companies to increase their profits.

It also provides a more stable income for related professionals, such as doctors,

nurses, and caregivers, who are respected for their significant contributions to society.

Yodo-dono: Female social status

Chacha Asai, known as Yodo-dono, was born into a family of significant

influence. Her father, Asai Nagamasa, was a renowned Japanese warlord, and her

mother, Oda Ichi, was the sister of Oda Nobunaga. From a young age, this familial

background immersed Yodo-dono in the intricacies of power games and politics.

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Lady Yodo-dono, from Wikimedia

Yodo-dono's adulthood was marked by her marriage to Toyotomi Hideyoshi, a

union that would shape her life. Through this marriage, she not only became a

sidekick to one of the most influential figures in Japan's Warring States period but

also the mother of the later Toyotomi Hideyori. Following the death of Toyotomi

Hideyoshi, Yodo-dono assumed the role of the figure who controlled the real power

of the entire Toyotomi family through her son's lineage as Toyotomi Hideyori was

young. However, her decisions were sometimes seen as failures, during the summer

battle of Osaka, Yodo-dono, her son Toyotomi Hideyori, and their loyal cronies were

driven to extinction. They chose to commit suicide, an event that marked the end of
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the Toyotomi family and the beginning of the Edo period. Her story remains an

integral part of Japan's Warring States history, demonstrating the unique influence of

women in history.

The Summer Battle of Osaka Castle, Wikipedia Commons

During the Sengoku period, there were not many women like Yodo who were able

to wield power. Even when these women had high social status, it was usually because

their spouses or families held prominent power. The female similar to Yodo-dono that

they came primarily from the daimyo and samurai classes and were often used by their

fathers in political alliances. They were usually well-educated, proficient in literature,

calligraphy, and the arts, and played an essential role in the family, being responsible

for their children's education.

In modern Japanese society, despite significant improvements in the legal and

social status of women, many social and cultural structures still reinforce traditional

gender roles. Women face problems of gender discrimination and career advancement

in the workplace, and the ratio of men to women in top management and decision-

making positions in Japanese society today is similar to the ratio of men to women in
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the daimyo of The Sengoku period - the number of women tends to be lower. In addition,

as previously mentioned, in the Sengoku period, women were usually responsible for

child-rearing figures. The traditional division of gender roles still exists in

contemporary Japanese society. In most families, women have a more significant

burden in working at home, and balancing family and job is undoubtedly a challenge

for women in the process of developing in the workplace.

Part II
Analytical essay

This article is based on an academic article, "Guest Editor's Introduction: Trends

in Social Stratification in Contemporary Japan," by Toru Kikkawa, which focuses on

the characteristics and changes in social stratification within contemporary Japanese

society.

The core of this academic article is presenting a series of conclusions based on a

survey of Japanese society. This article aims to translate this "dry" presentation of

conclusions, which requires specialized knowledge, into a popular history genre that

can be read and understood by the general public or by those interested in Japanese

history or society. The translation of this academic article, a "dry" statement of

conclusions for people with specialized knowledge, into a popular history genre that

can be read and understood by the general public or people interested in Japanese

history or society. In order to make complex sociological and historical concepts

understandable, I have set my article in the historical context of the Sengoku period.
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This period has had a major impact on present-day Japan. This period is a well-

publicized period of history, full of stories of class systems and struggles for power,

which vividly explains the core of the present-day social stratification in Japan and

not only enhances the readability and appeal of the article but also makes it more

accessible and attractive. Readability and attractiveness also allow the reader to

understand the central thrust of the academic article more easily.

One of the main challenges I encountered in the translation process was ensuring

historical accuracy while keeping the content lively and exciting and reflecting the

stratified nature of today's Japanese society. Therefore, in looking at The Sengoku

period, which spans more than one hundred years, I chose the most distinctive

decisions and events, such as the story of Yodo-dono, who took control of the

Toyotomi family, but whose political skills indirectly led to the rise of Tokugawa

Ieyasu, and the Battle of Komaki and Nagakute, where Toyotomi Hideyoshi and

Tokugawa Ieyasu faced off against each other, to reflect the importance of social

stratification to people in Japan, which continues to the present day. From these

historical events, it is clear that the social stratification that characterizes Japan today

has impacted people and the course of history. This will help readers better

understand the importance of several of the conclusions listed in the scholarly article

to Japanese society and people's lives today.

Incorporating Reading Material

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In Navigating Genres, Dirk states that genre functions not only in terms of form

but also in terms of what it can accomplish. I applied Dirk's concept of the function of

the genre to make a point of the academic paper by telling specific historical stories

and characters. Dirk also mentioned that genre is dynamic and flexible, and

considering that my target audience could be any general public that can

read, I avoided the appearance of too many new historical characters in the historical

section of the writing, and throughout the whole essay, all the historical characters

that appeared were related to Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Tokugawa Ieyasu. Throughout

the article, all the historical characters appear to be related to Toyotomi Hideyoshi and

Tokugawa Ieyasu. This avoids discouraging readers from reading about new names

that they do not know and have no connection to each other.

In Teaching Two Kinds of Thinking, Elbow emphasizes the importance of two

ways of thinking: creative thinking and critical thinking. Creative thinking helps us

generate new ideas and solve problems, while critical thinking helps us evaluate and

validate the soundness and accuracy of those ideas. Through creative

thinking, I conceptualized the structure and content of the events of my history,

making the stories compelling and achieving continuity from one panel of the story to

the next. Through critical thinking, I thought about how to connect and summarize the

social stratification of today's Japanese society with the content of The Sengoku

period.
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Bunn mentions in How to Read Like a Writer that reading as a writer can help us

better understand and apply writing skills. I have improved my writing this way by

translating the historical science fiction genre by reading through many historical

novels, Wikipedia, historical blogs, and other media. Historical novels use a lot of

dialog and fictionalized plots or inner thoughts of the characters to bring historical

figures and events to life. In contrast, Wikipedia-type ones are more of an accurate

exposition of history as a spectator in a bi-scholarly way. Studying their forms of

expression, I found a general synthesis of writing methods that allowed me to

fill my essays with storytelling without lacking accuracy.

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Works Cited

Books

Ryotaro Shiba, Tokugawa Ieyasu: 覇王の家

Websites

Oda Nobunaga, Wikipedia

available form: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oda_Nobunaga

Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Wikipedia

available form: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyotomi_Hideyoshi

Tokugawa Ieyasu, Wikipedia

available form: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokugawa_Ieyasu

Battle of Komaki and Nagakute, Wikipedia

available form: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Komaki_and_Nagakute

Articles

Mike Bunn, “How to Read Like a Writer”

Writing Spaces: Readings on Writing, Volume 2, Parlor Press

Kerry Dirk, “Navigating Genres”

Writing Spaces: Readings on Writing, Volume 1, Parlor Press

Elbow, Peter, “Teaching Two Kinds of Thinking by Teaching Writing”

Embracing Contraries: Explorations in Learning and Teaching. New York:

Oxford University Press, 1986

Toru Kikkawa. “Guest Editor's Introduction: Trends in Social Stratification in

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Contemporary Japan”

International Journal of Sociology, Vol. 28, No. 1, Social Stratification in

Contemporary Japan (Spring, 1998), pp. 3-10 (8 pages), Jstor