Far-reaching changes transformed the lives of the Japanese people during the second half of the 19th century. In 1853-1854, ships from the United States appeared in Edo (Tokyo) harbor and forced the Tokugawa shoguns to end the policy of isolation they had enforced for more than two centuries. For the next 15 years, the country was racked by political turmoil and economic crisis, the latter development a result of Japan’s sudden plunge into the global economy. Finally, in 1867-1868, the daimyo from two of the largest domains, Satsuma and Choshu, joined forces to overthrow the rule of the shoguns in the name of “restoring” the full authority of the emperor.Having just come to the throne, the emperor chose the name Meiji (Enlightened Rule) for his reign, which lasted until 1912. As he was in his mid-teens and too young to lead the Japanese state, a coalition of mostly younger samurai, many of who came from Satsuma and Choshu, quickly grasped the levers of power and began to rule on behalf of the “restored” Meiji emperor. In an astonishing turnabout, the new leaders of the country dismantled the essentials of the Tokugawa system—ending the privileges of the daimyo and the samurai—and launched Japan on a course of thoroughgoing modernization.
Learning much from study missions to the United States, Western Europe, and Russia, the Meiji oligarchs established a modern system of banking, constructed a railway system, organized a national army and navy, founded a Western-style system of education, and in 1889 put in place a system of constitutional rule. Two brief and victorious wars, against China in 1894-1895, and against Russia 10 years later, demonstrated that Japan was now a major force in international relations. No other country outside the West so transformed itself in the 19th century.
How do the documents I have listed below illuminate important aspects of Meiji Restoration, suggesting that there were both major achievements and some significant new problems?
A Gentleman's Five Pleasures (read #20)
The Charter Oath, 1868 (read #18)
Okubo Toshimichi: On the Role of the State in Industrialization, 1874 (read #10, pgs. 321-322)
Farmers, Silk Workers, and Miners During Industrialization
Yamagata Aritomo: A Letter on Japanese Foreign Policy, August 1914
After reading the five documents, I would like you to consider and discuss the following: How does the excerpt from Sakuma Shozan (“A Gentlemen’s Five Pleasures”) illustrate leading ideas of the Meiji Restoration? In what ways did the Charter Oath break with Tokugawa tradition? Do you see any continuities? Why did Okubo favor the development of modern industries? What did he think the government should do to stimulate the process of industrialization? What similarities and differences did Okubo see between Japan and England? What themes do you see in the passages on working conditions in Meiji-era factories and mines? How do the Japanese conditions compare with those in England during the long 19th century? What foreign policy issues did Yamagata think were most important? What were Japan’s objectives regarding China and the United States? How does Yamagata’s letter suggest some of the causes of World War II? What characteristics of Japanese life during the Tokugawa period may have contributed to the success of the Meiji Restoration? How do the results of the Meiji Restoration compare to those of the French Revolution? What is the difference between a restoration and a revolution? Why was Japan the only country outside the West to experience modernization in the 19th century? Your thoughts…
9 comments:
In the first document, I thin k it's just saying how Japan wants to keep their own culture alive, yet gain western techniques with the military, gov, ect. In document 2 they say that a government based on new laws and a constitution must be created while destroying classes. All of Japan must stick together to make the country as a whole work. Those two documents are pretty much reviews of what we learned today, but the last three were the ones that really show negative changes to the state of Japan.
In document 3, it says that the country depends on the wealth of its people, who depend on the amount of available products; it wants peace for its people, however, it says that it's the job of the government to guide and control its people. I kind of saw that as an opposition to the Laissez-faire idea. It sounds like they want good changes but still want to have a major say in everything that goes on, but that might not be a bad thing.
Document 4 was so sad.
It said how during the industrial revo. of Jpana, the factory workers were in great debt. Women who worked in factories had terrible lives. They worked sun-up to sun-down and were'nt fed. They were also beaten and stripped if they did something wrong. I thought it was ridiculous that kids had to work through the night as well. Japan stopped caring for its people and started caring for the money to industrialze and nothing more.
Document 5 says that a war of races is inevitable. It also states that China better not do anything to aggrivate the U.S., and that the Japanese must be-freind them to keep their identity. I think this was the start of this revolution and really causes Japan to become a "Plastic."
Sakuma Shozan says that family, the ability to take care of family, shintoism and conucianism, western-style education, and combining of Japanese morals with Western sciences are the gentleman's 5 pleasures. This is reflective of selective borrowing, and the attitude that Japanese had toward modernization. In the Charter Oath, the public role in government is stressed, as is the rights of the common people. The attitude towards imperialism is somewhat similar to the Tokugawa shogunnate because the oath states that the purpose of western learning is to facilatate expansion and the increase the global position of Japan. Okubo was a samurai who studied in the West to modernize Japan. He believed that Japan, even though it was a small island, could reach the global presence and power of Britain through the same process as Britain- industrialization. Okubo states that industrialization will create wealth and create surplus products for the people. He fails to discuss the negative social implications that come with industrialization, but these are genuinely reflected in the set of farmer, silk worker, and miner documents. I assume that in these documents the state has sold industry. Obuko suggests that a plan is created so that industrialization is not too quick or sudden, but comes in healthy quantities. Children labor is present, silk workers are beat for being inefficient, girls are paraded around factories naked for stealing, miners are beaten in front of other miners to show that relaxing is not an option, and farmers are in debt because they can't pay monetary taxes. This is strikingly similar to the social implications of industrialization in Britain. Okubo did not note these similarities, rather he pointed out the similarities in geography and topography. The documents of the workers clearly shows that these side effects of industrialization were not restricteed to Britain; perhaps these effectives are impossible to avoid. Yamaga, also a samurai who studied the West, suggested that becuase war between racial groups is taking place in Europe, that it was essential for Japanese to be trusted by Chinese. If this did not happen, Yamaga believed that the Chinese would seek an alliance with the powerful U.S. Yamaga suggests that U.S. Japanese relations must be fixed, and he talks about the problem of racial hostility because of Japanese immigration into California. Japan had the goal of preserving its influence in China without provoking the United States. The translation of the Daimyo to prefects contributed to the success of the Meiji Restoration. The results of the Meiji Restoration were politically, militarily, and econmically related, and did not have the callibur of social implications of the French Revolution. While the daimyo and samurai classes were abolished, many were still powerful governors and administrators. The difference between a Revolution and Restoration is the image. Restoration seems smoother and less radical than Revolution, and Restoration suggests political stability. Japan modernized succesfully becuase it accepted that modernization was neccessary early. The introduction of the Meiji government facilitated and did not oppose reformation. Succesful imperialism, where Russia and the Ottomans failed, detracted from the social implications of industrialization.
The Japanese want to keep their identity and not lose who they are as a result of westernization. But they know that they have to in order to survive in this new world. The Charter Oath tries to equalize the people a bit and give everyone a say in issues concerning the country. They probably realize that previously, the commoners, daimyo, samurai, etc who dont get a say normally end up revolting so to make everyone happier, they should get a say. No one knows whats best for their type of people besides those who are living it. Okubo says that Japan can compete with the west easily. Although not all places have the advantage of raw materials and locations, the support of the govt will lead to its prosperity. They use Great Britain as an example of how an island nation can do well like them, showing the people that it is possible and there is no excuse to fall behind.
The working conditions were very similar to those in the West after Industrialization took place. The workers were treated harsh and in the mine, when someone died of cholera, the person would be burned. The person who wrote the article even referred to the guards who carried out the punishment as devils.
The last document talks about China and how Japan is urging China to form a kind of alliance and influence. Japan is in this race against America in order to gain China. China has what Japan needs (such as raw materials) therefore it is important to get them. The document also talks about racism being on the rise. Japan kinda says that them and China need to stick together as the orients to battle the whites who will increasingly have a problem with racial uprising.
he first document represents the Meiji restoration because it shows how the attitude is starting to get away from the family as being a source of pleasure/pride. The second document shows the changes the government made with the laws.
In the first document s about how the settup of the family has changed. Japan no longer has a very tight family unit like they used to. The kids no longer care for the parent as they grow older as much. The second document talks aboutthe changes made to the government.
omg mr prill i loved class today!!! The i loved the mean girls concept. And with the pictures you showed us today it really is true. They ended up losing some aspects of their culture and kept becoming more like Great Britain, or "Regina George" lol.
This is a bit shocking to me in a way. In the Gentleman's Five Pleasures, the guy writes first about basic Japanese customs that should be followed, these are the first three. This document looks more like a set of rules to me, then on the 4th and 5th he talks of European science? We must copy the West, this will bring wisdom to ourselves and prosperity to our country. It sounds more like reform to me. Then on the document Charter Oath, it makes Japanese people take an oath to that all Japanese people with get together and have a public discussion of the state. Every class will unite to work their hardest for administration of affairs in the state. This is a constitution, this is Europe. They even compare themselves to England. We should be like them to survive they say. They are so small and an island as well, but why are they so prosperous? Why aren't we? Japan knows what to do and they copy Europe like a maniac on crack.
i think that japan losing some (most) of its cultural identity is a price they were willing to pay in order to not be conquered and to keep up with the west.
im sorry but in that first document those are some weird pleasures that i would never have but it is just showing how japenese people are tryin to keep there culture togther and not go anywhere and the second document is showin how the laws are changed
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