This image is called "Meiji Restoration". Can you explain why?
This week, because of the Anzac Day Holiday, we are having a virtual tutorial rather than meeting face to face. The topic is The Rise of Japan and you have already had the lecture on this by Adam Clulow in Week 7. The readings for this week are on pp.107-115 of the unit reader and are very accessible. You might also like to check out two youtube clips located on the right under Useful (and interesting) links:
First Sino-Japanese War
Meiji Restoration
The question that you should respond to by comment is:
"What role did war, and preparations for war, play in the cementing of Japanese national identity in the Meiji period (1868-1912)?"
Erin Brodie
ReplyDeleteIn preparing for war, the Imperial precepts to soldiers and sailors announced in 1882 show firm beginnings of nationalism. The essential duty of the soldier was loyalty to the Emperor. In addition, soldiers were also reminded of their unique Japanese history and the cultural honour linked to this was a unifying element for all Japanese people. War itself spurred to life Japanese patriotism, both among soldiers, through their sense of duty, and in the homeland. The production of visual media representing the Sino-Japanese and Russo-Japanese wars intensified within society and the use of Shinto arches as centres of war memorials, engraved another deep link between Japanese culture and the new nation. Japan’s two consecutive victories cemented national identity through pride.
Emma Incerti
ReplyDeleteWith the establishment of regional domains in 1871, a national identity began to be formed with a unified Japan. Education played a major role in indoctrinating citizen loyalty such as the Imperial Rescript on Education (1890), which outlined how one had to be an obedient, loyal subject. This aided in the preparations for war as it ideologically unified the people in fighting on behalf of their Emperor.
The first national Japanese conscript army was introduced in 1872, which replaced the need for military service by the ruling class Samurai. This was instrumental in cementing Japanese national identity, as it allowed all men to be part of the army instead of a privileged minority. This also allowed Japan to begin to assert itself as a powerful foreign power. In its preparations for the Sino-Japanese War, it soon began to believe it was no longer subordinate to China.
Japan and China’s fight over Korea, illustrates how Japanese national identity changed from being an isolated, powerless nation to a modern, westernized Imperial power. The fact that Japan was able to claim easy victory in the Sino-Japanese War (1894-95,) transformed its national identity to the point where Japan believed it was a modern power in league with the West. It also gave weight to the notion that Japan was more civilized than China. While the Russo-Japanese War proved to be only marginally successful a decade later; Japanese national pride still remained in tact.
Preparation for the Sino-Japanese war was instrumental in the development and consolidation of Japanese identity. The social and economic upheaval during the Meiji period was complimented by a drastic modernisation of the military and a fundamental change in the way the Japanese viewed themselves, both in relation to their neighbours such as China, and also the West, who they admired for their technological advancements and sophisticated military. The period was also charaterised by intense patriotism and disdain for other inferior cultures such as the Chinese. At the same time the Japanese sought to acheive parity in military capability and economic modernisation thus using the Sino-Japanese war to display the might of a modernising Japanese to the West and specifically Russia.
ReplyDeleteBoth the Sino-Japanese War and Russo-Japanese War led to a huge development in the sense of collective Japanese National Identity. From the outset, each soilder was trained to consider loyalty to the country and the Emperor as their essential duty particularly throughout their presence during the War. This fighting itself, for a common aim, against a common enemy, further developed the sense of nationalism not only for these men in the army, but for the everyday citizen back home.
ReplyDeleteThe success of both Wars led to the introduction of many things; a huge growth in cultural production (involving both advertisers using references to the War and War hereos to sell all types of products and the widespread printing of glorified scenes of battle and war hereos ), public memorials to war casualties, public celebrations (celebrating the triumphant return of soilders) and annual days of commeroration (to remember the most celebrated battles). Each of these events clearly further echoing the dedicated war effort and thus the increase in the sense of pride in Japanese nationalism.
By preparing for both the Sino-Japanese war and the Russo-Japanese war, Japan started to form a greater national identity. The enemies to the west of Japan have always been areas of civilisation and until the war with China the general consensus in Japan was that China was far superior. However with victory via the Western improvements Japan began to learn that it was a true power in eastern Asia able to rival China. This new found power led to a greater push for the unification under one emperor via removal of the many districts, governed by local lords. This helped to form Japan’s idea of itself as a nation and bring together the all of its peoples.
ReplyDelete