Foreign faith and rising state: An examination of state-building dynamics in late 16th-century Japan

Abstract

Abstract How does a ruler implement state-building at the local level? This paper examines state-building in late 16th-century Japan by focusing on Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s land surveys, which were crucial for establishing a centralized regime. We argue that Hideyoshi strengthened control over the locality via land surveys as a strategic response to the perceived threats emanating from Catholic missionaries. Using various empirical strategies including spatial econometrics, sensitivity analysis, and an instrumental variable approach, we find that the presence of Catholic churches significantly increased the likelihood of a locality being surveyed. These results highlight the importance of information-gathering beyond fiscal purposes for security objectives and emphasize the role of threats from foreign religious institutions in state formation processes.

Matched Nanban terms

• people Toyotomi Hideyoshi

Provenance

• openalex (W4411919906)
  2026-04-30T19:58:31.120701+00:00

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