What is the Regency in Shogun?

IN ShogunThe Western world and the mysterious context of feudal Japan are destined to come face to face. Across ten chapters, the Disney+ series takes a deep dive into how the leaders of the various territories pitted themselves against each other. But also, as an Englishman (played by Cosmo Jarvis), he will find himself at the center of a series of increasingly complex intrigues.

Little by little, what begins as a narrative about a specific event in the complex politics of the territory will become increasingly ambitious. Especially by expanding the focus of conflict to such difficult and strange places as love. search for purpose and even religion.

But in addition to its undoubted technical and visual capabilities, the series also talks about a historical event of great interest to Japanese culture. We are talking about what happened around the Tokugawa shogunate, the third and most important in extending its power to all of Japan. Led by the warrior Tokugawa Ieyasu. It was a social and cultural event that changed the perception of power in the region.

A complex story about clans

At the same time, organize the relationship – gradual and never simple – between Japan and the rest of the world. In fact, thanks to this controversial historical figure, some direct oral evidence from the time survives. In particular, the way politics was understood in the midst of complex succession events. The topic that Shogun He explores and shows in detail, based on a first-rate reconstruction of the period and its surroundings.

In the production, Lord Toranaga (Hiroyuki Sanada) is a fictional interpretation of Tokugawa Ieyasu. But beyond this, just like in the book from which it is taken, it remains to be seen what surrounded the mysterious character. The latter was the founder of the Tokugawa clan and a descendant of the influential Matsudaira, which consisted of famous samurai. Little by little, the young man turned from a student into a man whose goal was to rule Japan.

Tokugawa Ieyasu lived in difficult times. The shogunates themselves were small enclaves with their own hierarchy, customs and aristocracy. They only answered to the Emperor and also exerted social, military and cultural influence. But over time, the imperial figure began to be considered only a spiritual and moral guideline uniting the nation. However, real power belonged to those who had the army and weapons to maintain their hegemony.

Shogun: political influence

For 264 years they presided over the Tokugawa clan, an unbroken line of 15 leaders. . But in addition to the peace that he managed to establish in his territory, various rulers expanded the size of their territory. He also unified the country after the bloody interim clashes of the Sengoku era. At the same time, the clan was responsible for deepening the class system, in which shogunthey took the top. Moreover, little by little, the clan made decisions that would determine the pace of life and influence of Japan in the future.

It was during this period that absolute isolation from the rest of the world, known as “sakoku,” was proclaimed. The decision entailed the expulsion of foreigners and any outside cultural or social influence. There were also killings based on religion and class. which gave rise to a whole new sense of nationalistic goals in Japan.

Events in the center of mythical Japan

This era is known as the Edo or Tokugawa period. In the case of Tokugawa Ieyasu, as the series tells it, he had to face opposition to achieve the throne. Particularly while in Japan, various clans sought to wield their influence at court in the midst of a regency situation. However, the rest of his story is different from how fiction tells it.

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Although the warrior became a rival of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, heir to the mythical Oda Nobunaga, he eventually laid down his arms and declared his allegiance. This ended a dangerous period of instability that later resurfaced after his death.