Sam Yamashita Japan Day 1

I found an article on the internet about Japan and feudalism. Since I found it on the internet, it must be true, right?

Feudalism is a class structure where people are generally stuck in their class. The question raised yesterday was, "Is Tokugawa Japan feudalistic?" Despite my lack of expertise on the subject, I think feudalism fits just fine in the description of Tokugawa Japan. I believe the movie, "Twilight Samurai" also shows the taboo of mixing it up between classes and how every family is assigned to a role in society.

European revolutions came out of the enlightenment ideas of fighting for equality. Though I don't see the same type of struggle in Japan's westernization, you can make an argument for the feudalistic style of Tokugawa Japan. Below is the article I found. Again, since I found it on the internet, it must be true.

Fuedal Japan's Class Structure

Konichiwa,

Keepers:

Yamashita's Principle =Hierarchy, Fixity, propriety and containment.

US Goals in openning Japan = 1. Order in world- knowable things, 2. Uniformity in world (our system is best), 3. Interdependence of nations, 4. History is progressive: Vanguard advances, must drag others along towards progress (for their own good and ours).

Perry's main goals for treaty = 1. better treatment of ships and castaways, 2. No tariffs and more trade.

Warrior government understood negotiating from position of strength and its potential outcome.

Gifts from Americans to Japanese = Colt revolvers, model train, Hill rifle, telegraph lines, Audobaun society prints of birds.

British gifts = yacht

Japanese gifts to Americans = cloth, laquerware, swords, boxes of dried beans and eggs (symbols of wealth and fertility).

Highest Japanese military technology at time = multi-firing crossbow.

2 indexs for measuring Tokugawa power/control - 1. Power of senior elders strong = Shogun power declines. 2. More decentralized feudal domains = Shogun power declines.

2 causes of economic crisis - 1. Natural disastors. 2. Poor fiscal policies (tax collection and policies)

5 "actors" in Political crisis. 1. Emperor. 2. Shogun. 3. Lords. 4. Loyalists. 5. Foreign powers.

National Learning Movement - late 1600's restoration movement led by intellectuals in particular from Mito Domain. Spread to peasantry. Taught Emperor rule.

China ruled by officials, Japan ruled by warriors.

Early Meijii can be compared to 3rd world nation today trying to catch up.

Never clear during process that Meijii restoration would hold.

5 class order of Shogunate - 1. Warrior, 2. Farmer, 3. Artisan, 4. Merchant, 5. Others.

Meijii 4 class order - 1. Nobles, 2. Shizoku (gentry), 3. Sotsu (ordinary warrior), 4. Heimin (general population).

"Dirt farmers", new warriors taught to use rifles.

Restoration factions arguments- 1. Fukko - Returning to past (Analects/Confucius) 2. Ishin - Rennovation (Great learning). #2 Wins

Installation of new Meijii system takes approx 20 years. U.S. Reconstruction period lasts 4 years (conflict), 30 years Jim Crow laws +

Meijii philosophy - "Civilizing society" means becoming more in tune with the west (dress, uniforms, technology etc.)

Economy main problem of new regime. 1. No tariff autonomy. 2. Unequal treaties.

1878-1880 100% inflation

1869-1881 $341m trade deficit

Takes Japan 25 years to produce quality cloth for a world market.

Railroads a military imperative

Taiwan first Japanese colony in 1880's

By 1911 Japanese known in Korea as "cruel colonial masters"

By 1911, Japan had arrived as "Western style" power.

I most enjoyed the 3 Act description of the fall of Tokugawa power! Put into a perspective like that, it was easier to follow the progression of events and overlap of ideas and alliances!

The Meijii Restoration was a whirlwind of change! Politically, economically and socially, all at once!!!! It must have been katai (hard)! I think if it weren't for the strong tradition of obedience established by the Tokugawa and the religious system of Buddhism and Confucian ideology, the nation would have self-destructed!

Thanks for the hand-outs to help keep the events in order. The vocabulary is TREMENDOUS!!!

Arigato Gozimasta Sensei Yamashita San!!!!!!

M-W[Edit by="jmorgan on Aug 10, 10:37:04 PM"][/Edit]

I have a few issues/ideas regarding Japan/Korea which I wanted to float:

I’m curious as to the utility of the Tokugawa social facets concerning hierarchy, propriety, fixity on Japanese history. Theses facets seem to have served Japan well relative to social stability and centralized government during Tokugawa Shogunate and during the Meiji Revolution/Restoration but seem to have been a determent during the build-up to WWII and WWII. It also seems as though strong political centralization served China well. Basically, I’m wrestling with the idea of strong political centralization in East Asia and how Western Europe diverges from this course.

Are there any documents which illustrate Japanese Social Darwinism as validation for their imperialistic tendencies? Any examples of Japan trying to civilize the people of East and Southeast Asia?

Also, was wondering why Japan didn’t just occupy Pearl Harbor…

Per Korea, I think it’s fascinating that Korean women had relatively more power/freedoms—inheritance, divorce, ancestor responsibilities—than most women in the world until the eighteenth century. In textbooks that I have encountered, most point to Middle Eastern women as having relatively the most power/freedom in the world from 800-1800. But I think we have to throw Korean women into the lot.

Lastly, I was aware of modernization movements occurring in Turkey and India in the late nineteenth century but not the Self Strengthening Movement and Independence Club in China/Korea. Cool to have a greater perspective as to how these anti-imperialistic ideas were also taking shape in East Asia.

There are lots of interesting learning about Japan. During the Tokugawa period, the social order, based on inherited position rather than personal merits, was rigid and highly formalized. At the top were the Emperor and then Shogun After that elders and council were built under and then some classes after. When professor Yamashita mentioned eta(non-humans) and hinin who were butchers and street cleaners, or prostitutes. I felt especially sorry for the bride to be. I supposed she had good personality and as good as educational background , so the gentleman would like to marry her. However, after the surveillanceof her background, the groom’s parents disowned her because she came from one of the classes that people did not want to have any connection with.

See my responses with *** next to them

I have a few issues/ideas regarding Japan/Korea which I wanted to float:

I’m curious as to the utility of the Tokugawa social facets concerning hierarchy, propriety, fixity on Japanese history. Theses facets seem to have served Japan well relative to social stability and centralized government during Tokugawa Shogunate and during the Meiji Revolution/Restoration but seem to have been a determent during the build-up to WWII and WWII.
***

It also seems as though strong political centralization served China well. Basically, I’m wrestling with the idea of strong political centralization in East Asia and how Western Europe diverges from this course.

***The idea of a separation/division of powers inherent in democracies coupled with a free market economy makes East Asia during this period very different from Europe.

Are there any documents which illustrate Japanese Social Darwinism as validation for their imperialistic tendencies? Any examples of Japan trying to civilize the people of East and Southeast Asia?
***This is a good question. The fact that it was an assimilationist model should tell us something. On page 340 of East Asia it saws that ..."gaining colonies compensated for the humiliation suffered in accepting unequal treaties, put Japan on the side of the civilized world by exporting enlightenment to the backward peoples of Asia, and demonstrated Great Power status."

***
Also, was wondering why Japan didn’t just occupy Pearl Harbor…

***Did the Japanese have the resources to occupy Pearl Harbor?

Per Korea, I think it’s fascinating that Korean women had relatively more power/freedoms—inheritance, divorce, ancestor responsibilities—than most women in the world until the eighteenth century. In textbooks that I have encountered, most point to Middle Eastern women as having relatively the most power/freedom in the world from 800-1800. But I think we have to throw Korean women into the lot.

Lastly, I was aware of modernization movements occurring in Turkey and India in the late nineteenth century but not the Self Strengthening Movement and Independence Club in China/Korea. Cool to have a greater perspective as to how these anti-imperialistic ideas were also taking shape in East Asia.

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I did not realize that other cultures are so very much like us. It was a revelation that the samurai were not always so very honorable. I believe that I will let my students know about t his and that the primary Tokugawa byword was order. systems and retribution and consequences. . .my 10 year olds should be able to understand that. But, respect for institutions they can understand by the honor their dads and moms have for the corps.

Professor Yamashita’s statement that “historians clean up the messiness of history.” True ndeed.
The Tougawa Settlement would bring about a new period of oreder to Japan with the new oranization of the geogrphic and sociopolitical order in the country for the next two centuries starting in 1603 with the codified order of the Tougawa Socail Hierarchy and the self-sufficency of an insular well organized demi-feudal order based on honor, discipline and dedication to the local family name and elight run by the local diamyo which was allegiant to the Shogunal government, but autonomous in local matters. The shogunate sought to integrate Japan with road improvemnts and toll roads, and imrpoved communication through the opening of postal stationgs. There was relative peace during much of this period and agricaulture and the economy improved as material excess created a market for more luxury goods and an interest, through the Dutch, in the development of sciences in the West. Agricultural advancements in science were applied to fields and farming in Japan experienced a green revolution in farming and a much greater abundance in food production.One aspect of the West that was not allowed, was the continuance of Christian evagelical missionaries or the Christian religion in Japan.
The later period of the Shogunate is the subject of the movie "The Last Samauri" and of course "Twilight Samauri". The effective organization of Edo Japan would not be enough however to sustain a culture of a stratified and impovershed number of indolent male warrior class looking for work in the cities. and the unfair collection of taxes and corrupted liens to support the system.

Kelly[Edit by="khoover on Aug 25, 6:26:24 PM"][/Edit]