Theorizing Japan

Class Theory: Though the Japanese were influenced by western civilization, they were still able to maintain a strong center of national pride which was certainly justified bu their previous accomplishments.

While my theory from class was fairly accurate, my idea of what led up to the outcome that I saw in the documents was greatly changed. Comparing Japan's strength in the face of change and its adaptability to a new way of life with China's collapse under British influence, I would have expected a history of recent events that was the complete opposite of China's. This wasn't true at all though. Where I expected an overall sense of complacency with the Japanese government, there was rising unrest - the people were discontented with the unfair distribution of power. Soon enough, an uprising with some small similarities to the French Revolution took place. This, I thought, would weaken the country as peasant revolts had weakened Ming China for an easy invasion by the Manchu. It has quite the opposite affect. Perhaps this revolutionary atmosphere gave the Japanese a stronger sense of nationalism and loyalty, to give them more strength rather than chaos. It was this and investment in wisdom rather than blind defiance that prepared them for the coming of westerners to their island. Contrary to my theory, the Japanese did capitulate to many European demands, but this allowed them to continue much as they had before, only with wider borders. They observed what had passed in China and judged that some allowances were necessary to existence and power. The opening of the doors to the outside world strengthens my original point - through exposure they had the opportunity to prove themselves and gain respect both from the outside world and from their own people. This was necessary with a young government in power. All the while that they grew stronger for the future, they were ignored by the Western world and thus kept safe.