Tokugawa period would experience an unprecedented time of peace after centuries of nearly continuous warfare. The rigid feudal hierarchy imposed by the Tokugawa family influenced the literature and the function of the literary critiques during the time. Their hierarchy rested on neo-Confucian thought and ethics which mandated a severe and rigid code of behavior for all Japanese. As such, the literary critic of the times had the function of praising those works that lived up to such a code of behavior, while condemning those that did not. In this way, they functioned as a reminded to the people of the values of the Tokugawa period. Studies of the Chinese Five Classics and Buddhism were encouraged during this period, and literature comprised of principles and ideologies similar to these was highly praised. The Five Classics were works in the Confucion canon originated under the Han dynasty. These works were important for helping educate the Japanese education during the Tokugawa reign.
Political and social philosophy would take an unprecedented position in Japanese literature during this period because of the rise of the merchant class. The merchant class had traditionally been at the bottom of the Japanese social structure before this time. However, their position was elevated when they suddenly began to flourish during this period. Suddenly, they had the wealth and leisure to turn to the arts and a whole new class of Japanese literature would emerge. An entirely new culture developed known as the “floating world” in which entertainment and theater were given primary importance. New literature focuses on politics and social aspects of Japanese society and shopkeepers were a central focus of this literature, including their lifestyles and relationship to society. Suddenly, activism was originated in the sense that social and political issues that were of central importance became subjects in literature. Thus,
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