The years from 1600 to 1868 are known as the Tokugawa, or Edo, period (Sonnier 30). During this era it was unusually peaceful. Although one problem was that the shoguns had isolated Japan from the rest of the world (Sonnier 30). American forces during this period forced Japan to accept trade agreements that were unfavorable to Japan. Beginning in the nineteenth century, Japanese scholars believed that Shinto could and should be separated from Buddhist influences (Sonnier 30). From this development the Meiji Restoration of 1868 began. With this new political system the government of Japan came under central authority. The foundation of this system was the political philosophy called State Shinto. State Shinto used Shinto beliefs combined with elements of Confucianism to create a religiously based monarchy (Sonnier