Summary
- Japan’s struggle for recognition and equality with Western nations
- period of modernization; major economic, political and social changes took place
- Japan strengthened itself enough to not just remain sovereign, but also become a colonizing power in its own right
- set up the eventual failure of democracy in Japan.
Historiographies
- Tokugawa Japan: An Introductory Essay – Marcia Yonemoto
- comprehensive overview of Tokugawa period
- The Meiji Restoration and Modernization – AFE
- comprehensive overview of Meiji period
- refer to end of intro slides for guiding questions
Context
- political instability in neighboring China (1839-1842, 1856-1860 Opium Wars)
- powerful European nations take advantage → force China to sign unfair treaties granting access to and control over Chinese ports
- 1853 July: U.S. Navy sails into Tokyo Bay
- they wanted a treaty to permit trade and for Japan to open ports for American ships
- Commodore Perry was willing to use gunboat diplomacy, if necessary
- Japan was forced into entering trade with the U.S.
- they wanted a treaty to permit trade and for Japan to open ports for American ships
Source: Commodore Perry
“For years several countries have applied for trade, but you have opposed them on account of a national law. You have thus acted against divine principles and your sin cannot be greater than it is. What we say thus does not necessarily mean, as has already been communicated by the Dutch boat, that we expect mutual trade by all means. If you are still to disagree we would then take up arms and inquire into the sin against the divine principles, and you would also make sure of your law and fight in defence. When one considers such as occasion, however, one will realize the victory will naturally be ours and you shall by no means overcome us. If in such a situation you seek for a reconciliation, you should put up the white flag that we have recently presented to you, and we would accordingly stop firing and conclude peace with you, turning our battleships aside.”
–Commodore Matthew C. Perry, 14 July 1853, Sent in Connection with the Delivery of a White Flag
- 1854: Japan signs a trade treaty with the U.S. ^1854-us-treaty
- Britain, Holland, Russia soon gained similar trading rights
- 1889 February 11: Meiji Constitution comes into effect ^constitution
- aimed to be accepted by “advanced nations” (i.e. Western nations)
- established mechanisms for sharing power, but drew boundaries around the legislative initiative
- emperor reserved sovereignty
- Japanese people were given limited political voice → elected the lower house of the Diet
- Diet: House of Representatives
- BUT: “Expected bureaucrats and generals to continue to rule without significant accountability to the general populace.” (Gordon)
- Japanese people were given limited political voice → elected the lower house of the Diet
- 1968: Meiji Restoration, start of Modern Japan
- Shogun lost power; 👤 Emperor Meiji restored to power over government
- Emperor Mutsuhito took on the name Meiji, meaning "enlightened rule"
- emperor still didn’t rule directly; he had to accept advice from the group that overthrew the shogun
- Shogun lost power; 👤 Emperor Meiji restored to power over government
Ideology
- civic ideology centered around the emperor → united the Japanese nation
- Emperor = symbol of Japanese culture, historical continuity AND head of Shinto religion
- the Japanese believed the emperor to be semi-divine
Economic Modernization
- Japan sent academics and other officials to the U.S. and Europe to learn how Western nations ran their governments, economies and armed forces
- playing catch-up with the West
- primarily for security; Japan sought to avoid:
- a repeat of its 1850s U.S. encounter
- China’s fate post-Opium Wars
- feudalism abolished
- policies were all based on Fukoku Kyohei → strengthened Japanese economic foundations + enabled building a strong military to protect against foreign invaders
- Fukoku Kyohei: Enrich the Country, Strengthen the Army
- industrialized its economy using Western technology
- production increased rapidly
- infrastructure boom – railroads, banking systems set up to support Japan’s crazy production rate
- zaibatsu established
- zaibatsu: powerful and large corporations
- opened to global trade + exported goods to other countries
- e.g. silk yarn, cotton
Political Changes
- 1889: Japan accepts the Meiji Constitution
- Japan becomes a constitutional monarchy
- Insert hierarchal diagram here
Colonialism & Expansion
- 1894: First Sino-Japanese War over Korea (👤 Ito Hirobumi)
- Japan won and took Korea and Taiwan as colonies
- 1895: Treaty of Shimonoseki; Triple Intervention
- France, Russia, Germany pressure Japan to give up rights on the Liaotung Peninsula
- lesson learnt: Japan needed a strong military to protect sovereignty and receive equal treatment in international affairs
- 1900: Creation of Rikken Seiyukai
- 1901: Creation and ban of of Social Democratic Party
- 1904-1905: Russo-Japanese war over Korea
- Japan achieved dominance over Korea
- Japan established itself as a colonial power in East Asia
Achievements
| Tokugawa period’s end | Meiji period’s end |
|---|---|
| controlled by hundreds of semi-independent feudal lords | a highly centralized, though bureaucratic, government |
| constitution establishing an elected parliament | |
| reliable & effective transportation network | well-developed transport and communication system |
| feudalistic, though commoners were literate and educated | highly-educated population free of feudal class restrictions |
| primarily agricultural, little technological development | established and rapidly growing industrial sector based on latest technology |
| militarily weak | powerful army and navy |