江户时代(1603～1867年)

Edo period

日本历史上的文化期，相当於德川幕府（Tokugawa shogunate）统治的政治时期（参阅Tokugawa shogunate）。江户（Edo，今东京）被德川家康（Tokugawa Ieyasu）选定为日本的新都，进而成为当时最大的城市之一，也是城市文化兴盛的地点。在文学方面，江户时代见证了松尾芭蕉手中俳句（haiku）的发展，还有匠心独具的喜剧式连环诗作及井原西鹤（Ihara Saikaku）的幽默小说。在戏剧方面，歌舞伎（kabuki，由演员现场演出）和文乐（bunraku，由人偶演出）为镇民提供了娱乐（被禁止看戏的侍常乔装赴会）。多色彩印刷技术的发展，使平民能够取得受欢迎歌舞伎演员或鼓动风潮之廷臣的木刻板画（参阅ukiyo-e）。旅行见闻录（travelogue）颂扬了遥远省份一些地点的风景之美或历史趣味，而到远方朝拜或朝圣开始流行起来。在学术方面，国学（National Learning）让人们注意到日本大部分的古诗和年代最久远的书面历史。尽管日本与欧洲的交流极为有限，却发展出荷兰学（Dutch Learning，对欧洲及其科学的研究）。新儒学（Neo-Confucianism）也开始流行。亦请参阅Genroku period。

English version：

1603～1867年

Edo period

Cultural period of Japanese history corresponding to the political period of governance by the Tokugawa shogunate. Edo (present-day Tokyo), chosen by Tokugawa Ieyasu as Japan's new capital, became one of the largest cities of its time and was the site of a thriving urban culture. In literature, the Edo period saw Basho's development of the haiku and the virtuoso comic linked-verse compositions and humorous novels of Ihara Saikaku; in theater, both kabuki (with live actors) and bunraku (with puppets) entertained the townsmen (samurai, for whom theatergoing was forbidden, often attended in disguise). The development of multicolored printing techniques made it possible for ordinary people to obtain woodblock prints of popular kabuki actors or trendsetting courtesans (see ukiyo-e). Travelogues extolled the scenic beauty or historic interest of spots in distant provinces, and temple or shrine pilgrimages to distant places were popular. In scholarship, National Learning called attention to Japan's most ancient poetry and oldest written histories. Dutch Learning, the study of Europe and its sciences, became popular despite extremely limited intercourse with Europe. Neo-Confucianism was also popular. See also Genroku period.