Western influence and pressure in the history of China and Japan in the 19th and 20th Century should not be dismissed, because they are often the impetus, if not the main driving force, of important internal events. China and Japan’s own situation and internal forces, then, temper how each country responds to these Western pressures and influences. China, already under the yoke of the Manchurian Jun Hsien rule, wrestled repeatedly with Western values. Japan, on the other hand, perhaps more self secure with its wholly indigenous culture, could adapt Western methods while preserving Japanese values with less violence.
Opium War (1840s, China) 1st real source of pressure.
China:
* Before this, mutual respect caused no pressure. Start of era of disrespect. West starts to see China as barbaric.
* Foreign criminals let off lightly. Condescension.
* Top traders smuggle opium to redress balance of payments. Govts didn’t intervene.
* China in turn sees this disrespect as barbaric. Sees Feng Chien West as militaristic and superstitious cos of religion (contrast to Jun Hsien)
* Lin Tse Hsu forced to retaliate. In vain.
* Led to bitter unequal treaties. Forced to open up more ports for trade they didn’t need, and had to grant extrality.
* After this, continual Jun Hsien – Fen Chien value clash. Mutual disrespect.
Japan:
* Perry arrives in 1853, just after Opium War.
* Japanese also Fen Chien.
The Essay on Military Structures Of Qing China And Tokugawa Japan
Military Structures of Qing China and Tokugawa Japan The history of the world gives us a great insight on the way that the affairs of today should be conducted. The Chinese and the Japanese empires were very provident empires of the past that had many developments which still are useful today, of course with certain changes. Learning from the mistakes of the past, can help us overcome them now. ...
* Indigenous (no struggle of nationalism)
* Fears Western control after seeing terrible defeat of China, and wants Western respect
* Inherent tradition of borrowing and copying in culture
* Allows for adapting of Western methods, not necessarily with their values.
China: Wrestling between Jun Hsien and Western values extreme. All or nothing.
Taiping Rebellion (1850s – 1860s)
* Hung Hsiu Ch’uan’s Christian driving force is 1st major borrowing of ideas for a revolution, and it was the biggest Chinese revolution in 19th C.
* Wanted to transcend Chinese past and set up Christianity in China. This new ideology gave them belief in change.
* Effective army and mobilization cam from Western Feng Ch’ien values.
* Western monotheism as opposed to Chinese atheism or Eastern pantheism.
* Sense of nationalism, as opposed to current culturalism pushed by foreign Manchu rulers.
* 1st introduction to equality for women. The Hakkas mobilized more women than any other rebellion. Women got equal land and could sit for exams.
* Hung took the Feng Chien title of King , rather than emperor.
* But with Jun Hsien history although it was declining, couldn’t integrate Christianity and revival of decentralized Feng Chien.
Self Strengthening Movt (1870s – 1880s)
* Used Western methods and tech, but fought their ideals that were surfacing in China.
* “Enrich the State and strengthen the military” is Feng Chien, but only to solve economic problems and to put down rebels. Still will not and cannot explore Western values.
* This resistance of Feng Chien rejected govt intervention. Their policies and this movt therefor failed. (partly)
Reform Movt (1898) K’ang Yu Wei
* Elite opposition, with last ditch attempt to REVIVE positive Confucianism. Not seek elsewhere.
* Adopted Western Science and tech, active govt in economy.
* Still no transcendent change. Anti military and secular. Still hail to Jun Hsien. Empress Dowager later undid reforms after initial success.
When Jun Hsien was finally rejected, it was total and extreme denouncement. 1st references to China inWestern terms came from rebel leaders who were educated overseas. Education often comes with its influential bias.
The Essay on The Great Encounter of China and the West
The book "The Great Encounter of China and the West, 1500-1800" was written by History Professor D.E.Mungello. His work provides us many information and ideas of the intercultural exchanges and interactions between Ming, Manchu and the West, through the last two dynasties of China. This book also shows us the acceptance and rejection of cultures, Christianity, and Confucianism of Chinese and ...
1911 Revolution. Sun Yat Sen.
* Sun educated in Hawaii and later lived in various countries.
* Radical (maybe too much so) ideas. T’ung Meng Hui Principles were nationalism, democracy and People’s livelihood. Wanted new concept of Republic.
* Army modeled after Western strength, but under opposition. Not govt.
* Many more went to study overseas under Ch’ing educational reforms.
May 4th Movt. 1915 – 1924. Chen T’u Hsiu, Lu Hsun and Hu Shih
* Total denouncement and critique of Chinese culture and history.
* Both Feng Chien and Chun Hsien seen as traditional.
* Intro of Chinese socialism. Start to see China in Western terms.
* Youth and women who studied abroad came back as leader rebels.
* Lead to appeal of Marxism, cos of its belief in transcendence and success of Communism in Europe. Intellectual imperialism from West (?)
Japan: More painless. Adopt what’s fashionable.
Meiji Restoration. 1868 – 1870s.
* Industrialization. MEG.
* Military devt.
* Social Darwinism ideology. Follow the fittest and strongest society or phase out.
* Felt Western superiority, unlike China who saw Feng Chien West as barbaric.
* Borrowing tradition of Japan
* More stable than China at the time.
* No struggle of Nationalism.
* Feng Chien stage, like West.
* Start to wear Western military garb, suits, umbrellas, watched, eat meat. Refer to Beefeater. But still inherently “Japanese.”
* Conscious of public behavior.
* Interest in literary translations.
Imperialism and Facism. 1910 – WW2.
* Adopt Western science and strong military
* On its feet but still no respect from West. Needs to assert itself outwardly. Not just absorb.
* Follow wave of future according to the West. Liberalism in 1920s.
* Then in 1930s with Great Depression, fascism takes over. Japan follows.
Trickles down to now. Japan is metropolitan but distinct Japanese culture. China is Communist, but loosening up around the edges. Reflective of Japan from outside/ somewhat in, and China resistance inside but slowly seeping out.