Shogun Explore medieval Japan from different and always interesting perspectives. But without a doubt one of the most unique is the influence of the Portuguese Empire in the midst of a battle between feudal lords to take over the most prestigious shogunate in the region. From the language (missionaries in the area speak only Portuguese) to the importance of Christianity in political decisions in the territory. The series shows a dimension of the Japanese country in the Middle Ages that has rarely been shown in similar productions.
The story, written by Rachel Condo and Justin Marks, begins in the middle of an extreme territorial situation. Namely: the declaration of a civil war that will occur for control of the most influential shogunate in the country. Taiko Toyotomi Hideyoshi (Yukijiro Hotaru) has just died and his only heir is a small child, unable to rule. This allows the fiefdom to become the subject of disputes over a more toxic succession filled with dark interests. All this would lead to a brutal transition between 1598 and 1600.
Just like the true story it’s based on, Yoshi Toranaga (Hiroyuki Sanada) a total war begins, which will allow him to take control of the remaining regents overseeing the fate of the heir. At the same time, establish a new era in the region.
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But one of the strangest aspects of this complex political scenario is that, in addition to everything related to the internal stability of the shogunate, the characters have something else to deal with. That is: Spanish and Portuguese priests involved in making difficult internal decisions. What makes both countries have more influence than the rest of Europe in the region? Why are the kingdoms of England and Spain at war?
Geopolitics in Shogun
Just like in the book, the plot Shogun It’s based on three different things. First, all the events that led to the advent of the Edo Dynasty. Including death Taiko Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the regency of five powerful figures around his son and the transfer of power between them. Secondly, the battle of daimyo Toranaga achieve absolute control. Finally, like everything before, it was under pressure from relations with foreign countries, which the country was trying to balance at the time.
These three scenarios demonstrate a huge transformation of politics and culture. Especially in the way the missionaries, who at the same time were in a sense cultural ambassadors, moved in different directions. Of course, the context allowed for such a confrontation.
While in Japan the imperial figure became a spiritual rather than a political figure, with consequences in the regional center, the Protestant Reformation began in Europe. This caused a confrontation between Martin Luther and his clique, John Calvin and the English King Henry VII. All of the above led to a brutal war between England, which broke with the church, and Spain, which was strictly Catholic.
To this moment of social upheaval in Europe must be added the expansionist intentions of King Philip II, whose goal was to impose the Counter-Reformation. At that time, the most important thing was the destruction of Christianity, which led to the unification of several crowned heads for one purpose. Expand your faith to as wide an area as possible. Spain was annexed by Portugal. Together they colonized much of Central and South America. So the next goal was Asia, a place that Portugal would reach in 1543. They knew influence techniques that would allow them to influence the country.
Blind Battle
The mission of this group, which spoke only Portuguese, had wealth to distribute, and special attention from the courts of Spain and Portugal, was to evangelize as many Japanese as possible. In the meantime, intervene in all kinds of decisions that can promote the spread of the Christian Gospel throughout the territory. Therefore, they usually supported various feudal lords, whose friendship could benefit their plans.
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However, contrary to what is shown in Shogun, missionaries did not have the power to change the minds of political leaders. What they could do was influence their decisions in a way that would benefit Christianity and the few Europeans in the region. Which is, in fact, what happened during most of the transition to the Edo period.
Source: Hiper Textual
