Tokugawa Ieyasu: Know when to prepare – and when to act

Samurai and statesman Tokugawa Ieyasu founded the dynasty that unified Japan in the early 16th century. His house ruled the country for more than 250 years. He’s a towering figure from the nation’s history – a man capable of ruthless, decisive action, but who at other moments actively sought to avoid conflict and waited for his enemies to make mistakes. AdIn this episode, Christopher Harding – senior lecturer in Asian history at the University of Edinburgh, and author of books including A Short History of Japan – guides Mike Soutar through the apparent contradictions of Tokugawa Ieyasu’s story, and reveals the lessons that this feudal lord can impart for the 21st century. Watch below or listen to the full interview, ad-free:AdFor more on the life and legacy of Tokugawa, don’t miss our curated collection of articles, podcasts and videos