In 1615, the Tokugawa Shogunate enacted sumptuary laws that strictly regulated clothing, hairstyles, and consumption patterns based on social class. These regulations aimed to maintain the neo-Confucian hierarchy and reinforce social distinctions in Edo-period Japan. The laws reflect the cultural values of the time and the shogunate's efforts to control societal behavior and promote stability.

The Sumptuary Laws of the Tokugawa Shogunate in 1615 spurred the development of playful Haikai and Chonin poetry. Poets like Matsuo Basho cleverly coded critiques of political restrictions within their descriptions of everyday luxury goods, reflecting the tension between societal norms and artistic expression.