Although Hideyoshi had unified Japan, his origins prevented him from holding the shogunal title and left him dependent on a less secure set of offices and loyalties. That vulnerability coincided with Japan's break from the Ming tributary system and restricted access to official trade. Together these pressures help explain both his need to manage powerful lords and his interest in war beyond Japan. His strategic ability had brought him to power, but reliance on a nephew and the late arrival of a son made succession and personal security continuing concerns.
Notable Point · 17:21-18:48
Hideyoshi's insecure power and the Ming order
Hideyoshi's inability to claim the shogunate, rival daimyo, and Japan's exclusion from Ming tributary trade form the political background to his continental ambitions.