1.
early modern period; pre-modern era
In Japanese historiography, the period roughly from the late 16th century through the mid-19th century, corresponding to the Azuchi-Momoyama and Edo periods. In Western historiography, the early modern period generally spans from the Renaissance to the Industrial Revolution.
近世の日本は鎖国政策をとった。
Early modern Japan adopted a policy of national isolation.
近世文学の授業で松尾芭蕉を学んだ。
I studied Matsuo Basho in my early modern literature class.
近世から近代への移行期は、社会に大きな変化をもたらした。
The transition from the early modern to the modern period brought great changes to society.
近世 is a historical periodization term. In Japanese history, it refers specifically to the Azuchi-Momoyama period (1568-1600) and the Edo period (1600-1868).
Japanese historical periodization:
- 古代 (ancient period)
- 中世 (medieval period)
- 近世 (early modern period)
- 近代 (modern period — Meiji onward)
- 現代 (contemporary period — post-WWII)
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 近世文学 (early modern literature)
- 近世史 (early modern history)
- 近世社会 (early modern society)
Not to be confused with 近代 (modern period), which in Japanese usage typically begins with the Meiji Restoration (1868).