ABSTRACT
The Genroku (1688–1703) and Shotoku (1711–15) periods were times of gradual change in the policy of the Bakufu from militarism to intellectualism, with the bushi class as the centre of this gradual transformation. Genroku-Shotoku is often referred to as the Japanese Renaissance because of its brilliant achievements in literature and in the arts. These accomplishments came out of an era of political calm and of a burgeoning urban society which provided a new framework for the many cultural advances. Moreover, in a period of peace, both internal and external, the samurai, bastion of Tokugawa control, were officially encouraged to turn their energies from increasingly sterile military involvements to the pursuit of scholarship. According to Sansom:
By this time the various economic changes … had brought the commoners to a position of real importance which the military class no longer enjoyed. The samurai still had their dignity, the consciousness of high social standing; but the commoners [chonin] had most of the money and most of the fun. 1
