independence; self-reliance; independence (e.g. of a nation); freedom; separation; isolation
surrounding countries; neighboring countries; neighbouring countries
merger; joining into one; amalgamation; melding; merging; annexation
at that time; at that moment; then; on that occasion
circumference; outskirts; environs; (computer) peripheral
above; up; top; summit; surface; before; previous
Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica)
house (e.g. of Tokugawa); family
the House of Tokugawa; the Tokugawas
country in civil war; country disarrayed by war; Warring States period (Japan, China); competiton in which there are several evenly-matched participants; hotly-contested game (match, market, etc.)
leading; foremost; preeminent; outstanding; one of the best
large; big; great; prominent; -sized; as big as; university
daimyo (Japanese feudal lord)
to surround; to encircle; to enclose
daimyo in the Warring States period
pluralizing suffix (esp. for people and animals; formerly honorific)
until (a time); till; to (a place or person); as far as; to (an extent); up to
success in life; getting ahead; successful career; promotion; climbing the corporate ladder; eminence
to accomplish; to achieve; to carry out; to do ... completely; to do ... entirely
to send (a thing); to dispatch; to take or escort (a person somewhere); to see off (a person); to bid farewell (to the departed); to bury; to spend (time)
friend; ally; supporter; taking sides with; supporting; standing by
to think; to consider; to think (of doing); to plan (to do); to judge; to assess; to imagine
at that time; in those days
biggest; greatest; largest; maximum
influence; power; might; strength; potency; force
certainly; of course; even if; no matter (who, what, when, where, why, how); without even; without so much as; at the (least, earliest, etc.)
equality (esp. of status); equal footing; equal terms
diplomacy; selling (e.g. door-to-door); canvassing
war; fighting; fierce competition
to start; to begin; to challenge; to pick (a fight); to set (traps); to plant (explosives)
overbearing; coercive; pushy; forcible; high-handed
attitude; manner; behaviour; attitude (towards an issue, etc.); position; stance
future years; in (one's) later years
vigilance; caution; alertness; precaution; being on guard
though; notwithstanding; although
appointing to a responsible post; making much of
using freely; making full use of; having a good command of; working (someone) hard; driving (someone) on
two times; twice; two degrees
repulse; repelling (e.g. the enemy); driving back