ABSTRACT
Yoshimune mitigated the ban upon foreign culture and opened a way to the further introduction of Occidental science, which stimulated the intellectual life of the nation in various ways. Despite these strict measures, the growth of the merchant class in wealth gave impetus to their ambition, while the Samurai, in spite of their rank, were often obliged to bow before wealth. The Samurai were compelled to live a life of frugality, partly due to their ethical teaching and in consideration of others opinions, but largely to their fixed income in emolument. The training of the Samurai in literary and military arts was systematically encouraged and superintended. Thus the censorship seemed successful, but the tranquillity was only superficial, being peace and order in the iron fetters of oppression. The exhilarating spirit of the Genroku renaissance had long before passed away, and the Epicureanism of the peaceful reign had further been modified by the interferences of the sumptuary laws.
