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17th Century Asia

© Maria Christensen

As with most timelines, this is an arbitrary list which leaves out some important events, while at the same time includes some less well known ones. Some major political happenings are here, but I have also attempted to focus on the culture of a few regions during the seventeenth century in Asia. This is meant to be nothing more than a very broad overview which hopefully will entice readers to learn more.

1600 - Ieyasu Tokugawa maneuvers himself into the position of supreme ruler in Japan and he moves the capital from Kyoto to Edo.

1605 - The Mogul Emperor of India, Akbar, dies, and is succeeded to the throne by his son Jahangir. Ieyasu Tokugawa steps down as ruler of Japan and passes the reigns to his son Hidetada.

1611 - Dutch merchants only are permitted to trade in Japan from the island of Deshima in Nagasaki.

1611 - In the Philippines, The University of Santo Tomas is founded in Manila.

1616 - China is invaded by the Tartars of Manchu.

1623 - The famous Hindu poet, Tulsi Das, dies.

1624 - All Spanish merchants and traders are expelled from Japan and trade with the Philippines is put to an end.

1627 - China turns Korea into a tributary state.

Shah Jahan (1592-1666) succeeds his father Jahangir to become Great Mogul of India.

1629 - Shah Jahan orders the most expensive piece of furniture in history, the Peacock Throne, to be built.

1636 - The Ch'ing Dynasty is proclaimed at Mukden by the Manchus.

1637 - Christianity is banned in Japan, foreign booksand European contacts are prohibited

1638 - Christians in Japan start the Shimabara Rebellion, revolting against the harsh treatment. They lost.

1645 - The building of the Dalai Lama's residence is underway in Lhasa, Tibet

1650 - Japanese "No" drama, while not new, undergoes a new stage of modern development.

1651 - Yetuna, the new shogun of Japan, overcomes two rebellions in Edo

1652 - Hayashi Shunsai (1618-1680) publishes "O-Dai-Ichi-Ran," a history of Japan

1655 - Chinese scientist and naturalist Ch'en yuan-lung publishes "Ko-chih-ching-yuan," a book about new inventions

1657 - Around 100,000 people died in a two day Tokyo fire and the resulting famine. Legends claim the fire started when a priest tried to burn a cursed kimono to destroy the bad luck.

1658 - Aurangzeb imprisons his father, Shah Jahan in the Red Fort, and succeeds him as Mogul Emperor

1661 - With no rain for two years, there is famine in India.

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