Matt Fike
Mr. Angus
World History II
The Japanese carried out this modernization by “very deliberate study, borrowing, and adaptation of Western political, military, technological, economic, and social forms.” (Columbia University) These deliberate choices allowed for a massive overhaul of many older systems. They were able to re-structure their political system, overhauling their education system, end feudalism, and expand their industry. All of this changes were able to take place in only fifty years, with minimal bloodshed. This is extremely impressive because historically revolutions often occurred with massive bloodshed and major destruction to the earth.
With these modernizations came western influence. Japan had to modernize to keep up with the West. After the samurai were defeated using western firearms, the military needed to modernize. Japan had no choice but to westernize because they were seeing an influx of missionaries, merchants, and other countries to the shores of Japan. This caused the emperor great uneasiness. By opening the doors of Japan, the influence to the culture was inevitable; the western influence bled into Japan’s culture. New styles of paintings, western fashion design, and the practice of going out to eat for a social event. Japan was required to use many western inventions in order to modernize including new western firearms. Japan used western societies to model their reform in many areas, therefore, western influence was ingrained within Japan’s modernization.
Another of the areas Japan was able to modernize, and westernize, is their fashions and urban environment. In 1872, a regulation ordered the substitution of western dress for the ceremonial robes of court nobles. (Columbia University) By this time even the Emperor had been seen making appearances in western attire. During the Bakumatsu period the army had switched over to western style military uniforms. Usually traditional wear was used because of the traditions of removing shoes and other garments before entering a home. The western styled fashion included high button up styles, which made the western fashion choices less suited for these traditions. The Western styles were also less sustainable and more expensive than the traditional Japanese garments. (Japan Visitors) Another area where westernization can be seen, is in Japan’s urban structure. Houses changed from dirt and tatami, and were replaced by houses with wood and paper sliding panels. These were able to be constructed due to the influx of workers. Japan also switched from grapeseed lamps, to kerosene. This subtle change made houses warmer and brighter. The rise in living conditions made houses more clean and sanitary. In Tokyo, westernization came in the form of large concrete skyscrapers, which was an engineering feat that originated in America. (Columbia University) This construction and improved sanitation saw westernization improvements in Japanese social structures. Since the city streets were brighter, many people adopted the western tradition of going out to eat, and many public restaurants were beginning to open. Another aspect of western culture that was assimilated during this period was the introduction of public hairdressers and bathhouses, these shops allowed for more people to look like the richer class of citizens. These shops caused the divide of the socioeconomic class to shrink as a result. (Columbia University)
Another aspect of western culture that Japan used as a model during their modernization, is the adoption of western style education, art, literature, and sports. In 1872, Japan saw the creation of the Mombusho in their Fundamental Code of Education. This education code unified primary, secondary, and university level schools under the Japanese government and saw obligatory school attendance regardless of gender, or class. Education was eventually made free by the beginning of the 1900s. This educational system viewed teachers as servants of the state, and curriculum was designed to teach morals and increase national identity. This system began to affect the economy by allowing people to specialize and take jobs which increased worker effectiveness. The Japanese government also passed the 1890 Rescript on Education, which employed foreign teachers, and increased education related to law. These education system overhauls strengthen the Japanese Government by allowing a better law education. (Columbia University)
Japan experienced westernization in their literature and art sectors. The introduction of the German designed printing press allowed for the mass production of translated western textbooks and other literary art. By 1890 there were 715 newspapers with circulation numbers over 500,000. Some of the notable newspapers were Tokyo Nichi-Nichi Shimbun which published the first Japanese daily editorial and the Yomiuri Shimbun, which used furigana (a Japanese reading aid) to reach out to a larger popular base. (Japan Visitor) Japanese poetry began to include more modern and western prose, most notably used by poet Natsume Soseki (1867-1916). (Columbia University) Japanese art began to mimic Western style oil paintings which was practiced most notably by Kawakami Togai and Takahashi Yuichi . Japanese appreciation of western art was noticed by painters such as Van Gogh when he organized an exhibition of Japanese prints in Arles, which he referred to as "his [Van Gogh’s] Japan." Western music was also introduced into Japan, where Japan adapted and changed the western music into more distinct Japanese styles. (Japan Visitor) Westernization can also be seen within the recreational sector of Japanese culture with the introduction of western sports like baseball, cricket, football, athletics, and rowing at new foreign institutions such as the Kobe Regatta and Athletic Club established in 1870 and the Yokohama Country & Athletic Club founded in 1868. (Japan Visitor)
The Japanese government experienced modernization and westernization, with the introduction of western style law. The Meji reform provided for the establishment of land and tax laws, which is one of the ways Japan was able to modernize with ease. This allowed for Japan to undergo agricultural and economic advances. This period of governmental reform included the formation of a constitution and the eradication of the caste system. Another of the ways this government was westernized was the reduction of power given to the emperor. The emperor now serves only as an Imperial symbol to rally Japan under. Another law that was adopted from Germany was the right to free trial, and the abolition of torture. Most of Japan’s changes were done to try to gain favor with western countries so they could have access to more western machinery and industrial equipment. The 1889 Constitution and the 1873 Land Tax Revision made private property taxable which allowed for the government to fund its larger scale projects. (Columbia University.) One point brought up by the historian Hobsbawn is: many structural aspects of the government also reflected westernization, a Constitution, a modern army, mass education and what Hobsbawn sees as "that comparatively recent historical innovation, the nation with its associated phenomena: nationalism, the nation state, national symbols and histories"(Hobsbawn).
These are the most notable examples of Japanese westernization during the Meji period. This industrial revolution is one of the most successful because there was a very low casualty count, high economic and educational growth, as well as an overhaul of the government and leadership positions. All of these aspects of westernization and modernization point towards an economic powerhouse. Japan is now a world country that is a leader in industry and it would have been left behind by more developed western countries if it wasn’t able to properly industrialize.
Mr. Angus
World History II
Westernization and Modernization In Japan.
There were many revolutions carried out through history. Many were led by violence, and
terror, but one revolution was led with civility, and the well-being of its citizens. Japan’s Meji
revolution was marked with the westernization of traditional Japanese culture, and the complete
modernization of Japan’s industry and education. Japan was in a unique position to modernize with
relatively low violence because of its wealth, and a series of tax laws. With modernization also came
western influence, there are five big ways modernization and westernization can be seen in Japan.The Japanese carried out this modernization by “very deliberate study, borrowing, and adaptation of Western political, military, technological, economic, and social forms.” (Columbia University) These deliberate choices allowed for a massive overhaul of many older systems. They were able to re-structure their political system, overhauling their education system, end feudalism, and expand their industry. All of this changes were able to take place in only fifty years, with minimal bloodshed. This is extremely impressive because historically revolutions often occurred with massive bloodshed and major destruction to the earth.
With these modernizations came western influence. Japan had to modernize to keep up with the West. After the samurai were defeated using western firearms, the military needed to modernize. Japan had no choice but to westernize because they were seeing an influx of missionaries, merchants, and other countries to the shores of Japan. This caused the emperor great uneasiness. By opening the doors of Japan, the influence to the culture was inevitable; the western influence bled into Japan’s culture. New styles of paintings, western fashion design, and the practice of going out to eat for a social event. Japan was required to use many western inventions in order to modernize including new western firearms. Japan used western societies to model their reform in many areas, therefore, western influence was ingrained within Japan’s modernization.
Another of the areas Japan was able to modernize, and westernize, is their fashions and urban environment. In 1872, a regulation ordered the substitution of western dress for the ceremonial robes of court nobles. (Columbia University) By this time even the Emperor had been seen making appearances in western attire. During the Bakumatsu period the army had switched over to western style military uniforms. Usually traditional wear was used because of the traditions of removing shoes and other garments before entering a home. The western styled fashion included high button up styles, which made the western fashion choices less suited for these traditions. The Western styles were also less sustainable and more expensive than the traditional Japanese garments. (Japan Visitors) Another area where westernization can be seen, is in Japan’s urban structure. Houses changed from dirt and tatami, and were replaced by houses with wood and paper sliding panels. These were able to be constructed due to the influx of workers. Japan also switched from grapeseed lamps, to kerosene. This subtle change made houses warmer and brighter. The rise in living conditions made houses more clean and sanitary. In Tokyo, westernization came in the form of large concrete skyscrapers, which was an engineering feat that originated in America. (Columbia University) This construction and improved sanitation saw westernization improvements in Japanese social structures. Since the city streets were brighter, many people adopted the western tradition of going out to eat, and many public restaurants were beginning to open. Another aspect of western culture that was assimilated during this period was the introduction of public hairdressers and bathhouses, these shops allowed for more people to look like the richer class of citizens. These shops caused the divide of the socioeconomic class to shrink as a result. (Columbia University)
Another aspect of western culture that Japan used as a model during their modernization, is the adoption of western style education, art, literature, and sports. In 1872, Japan saw the creation of the Mombusho in their Fundamental Code of Education. This education code unified primary, secondary, and university level schools under the Japanese government and saw obligatory school attendance regardless of gender, or class. Education was eventually made free by the beginning of the 1900s. This educational system viewed teachers as servants of the state, and curriculum was designed to teach morals and increase national identity. This system began to affect the economy by allowing people to specialize and take jobs which increased worker effectiveness. The Japanese government also passed the 1890 Rescript on Education, which employed foreign teachers, and increased education related to law. These education system overhauls strengthen the Japanese Government by allowing a better law education. (Columbia University)
Japan experienced westernization in their literature and art sectors. The introduction of the German designed printing press allowed for the mass production of translated western textbooks and other literary art. By 1890 there were 715 newspapers with circulation numbers over 500,000. Some of the notable newspapers were Tokyo Nichi-Nichi Shimbun which published the first Japanese daily editorial and the Yomiuri Shimbun, which used furigana (a Japanese reading aid) to reach out to a larger popular base. (Japan Visitor) Japanese poetry began to include more modern and western prose, most notably used by poet Natsume Soseki (1867-1916). (Columbia University) Japanese art began to mimic Western style oil paintings which was practiced most notably by Kawakami Togai and Takahashi Yuichi . Japanese appreciation of western art was noticed by painters such as Van Gogh when he organized an exhibition of Japanese prints in Arles, which he referred to as "his [Van Gogh’s] Japan." Western music was also introduced into Japan, where Japan adapted and changed the western music into more distinct Japanese styles. (Japan Visitor) Westernization can also be seen within the recreational sector of Japanese culture with the introduction of western sports like baseball, cricket, football, athletics, and rowing at new foreign institutions such as the Kobe Regatta and Athletic Club established in 1870 and the Yokohama Country & Athletic Club founded in 1868. (Japan Visitor)
The Japanese government experienced modernization and westernization, with the introduction of western style law. The Meji reform provided for the establishment of land and tax laws, which is one of the ways Japan was able to modernize with ease. This allowed for Japan to undergo agricultural and economic advances. This period of governmental reform included the formation of a constitution and the eradication of the caste system. Another of the ways this government was westernized was the reduction of power given to the emperor. The emperor now serves only as an Imperial symbol to rally Japan under. Another law that was adopted from Germany was the right to free trial, and the abolition of torture. Most of Japan’s changes were done to try to gain favor with western countries so they could have access to more western machinery and industrial equipment. The 1889 Constitution and the 1873 Land Tax Revision made private property taxable which allowed for the government to fund its larger scale projects. (Columbia University.) One point brought up by the historian Hobsbawn is: many structural aspects of the government also reflected westernization, a Constitution, a modern army, mass education and what Hobsbawn sees as "that comparatively recent historical innovation, the nation with its associated phenomena: nationalism, the nation state, national symbols and histories"(Hobsbawn).
These are the most notable examples of Japanese westernization during the Meji period. This industrial revolution is one of the most successful because there was a very low casualty count, high economic and educational growth, as well as an overhaul of the government and leadership positions. All of these aspects of westernization and modernization point towards an economic powerhouse. Japan is now a world country that is a leader in industry and it would have been left behind by more developed western countries if it wasn’t able to properly industrialize.
No comments:
Post a Comment