Original statement: Though the Japanese were influenced by western civilization, they were still able to maintain a strong center of national pride which was certainly justified by their previous accomplishments. In short: the Japanese rightfully maintained their own culture, but were still influenced by foreign powers.
The reading changed my view quite a bit, as it seems that the success of the Japanese was not just pure skill and talent, but also a little bit of luck. With a growing industry and literacy rate already in place before attempts to manipulate Japan, they were able to make the switch to a more economic society fairly easily. Of course, the change was mainly due to a short civil war, and the changing of hands the government system underwent. This civil war would not have happened had it not been for the difference between social classes in Japan, as happy citizens do not rebel. The want for both status and money surely upset many, as shown by the disregard by peasants shown to decrees restricting their dress. If Japan hadn't been ready and waiting for a change, I doubt it would have gone over so well.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I completely agree that Japan had been nicely set up for a rebellion by their growing civilization, but I don't think it had much to do with luck. The main factor that contributed to the effectiveness of the Meiji Restoration in my mind was that the shogunate submitted to the treaties proposed by the Europeans. People who want to run their government free from any other nation feel that they need to do something more passionately. Yes, there were many problems with the shogunate, but the threat of another nation was what really united the Japanese.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Robby about the luck. I believe that it more strategy and less luck. The new government was well thought out, and did not just occur on a whim. I disagree with Robby about the threat being the thing that really united the country. I feel that new technology also played a factor in bringing a country together.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with Catharine on the luck, but I don't think she argued/explained it well. I saw luck in that Japan was lucky not to be the main focus of the Europeans in invasion and colonization. Even if you might argue that this wasn't luck at all, that the acquisition of China and the Ottoman Empire would be much more advantageous, Japan is still important from the standpoint of geography. It could have been a second access point to China and Russia from which battles could be staged (as the Japanese did in fact do later), working like a stepping stone. Japan was very lucky that Europeans didn't consider this or didn't think it useful enough.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Robby and Frannie though, that the treaties helped to both preserve Japan's strength and unite its people (albeit against the government).
I like your post and think you make a lot of valuable points, especially about Japan getting lucky. However, I'm not sure I agree with you about Japan being ready for a change. The change went over well, definitely, but the culture itself was so traditional that I don't think the citizens themselves were hoping for any huge change.
ReplyDeleteI disagree with Danko. I, like Catherine, think that Japan was ready for change. They may have been very traditional, but the book certainly put emphasis on the whacky social hierarchy. The higher class citizens need to borrow money from lower class citizens most certainly created a sense of unrest and a desire to change.
ReplyDeleteThis doesn't count as one of my three comments but I had to say I love the title. I have no idea what it means but it's very creative and stood out from the others.
ReplyDeleteI like the reference to Taylor's thesis of "happy people don't rebel." I don't agree with your thesis though that luck played a large role in Japan's rise in power. They weren't lucky that they already had high literacy rates and a growing industry, that's because of their own skill and Japan deserves to be proud of that.
ReplyDeleteI like how you observed the luck involved in building the japanese government, but I also agree with Robby and Frannie in that it was very well thought out and luck played a more minor role.
ReplyDelete