Introduction to Modern Japanese History
Dr. Ethan Mark
6 Feb.
Japan → distinct site in a global modern history
Modernity → global phenomenon or global system
Bakumatsu (1853-1868) → the end of the Tokugawa shogunate (aka bakufu, from 1603) →
military government which ruled Japan from 1185 (until 1868)
Japan saw christianity from Europe as a threat, therefore they only traded with The Netherlands.
Actors
- Tokugawa bakufu (during Edo period, from 1603) → allies (fudai) and relatives (shimpan)
- Bakumatsu → outerlords/domains (tozama) → Satsuma, Chôshû & Tosa
- Imperial Court in Kyoto (still present today)
- middle/lower samurai patriots (shishi)
- foreign “barbarians”
The Tokugawa knew enemies, such as the anti-bakufu in the south, and in the north too were
domains which were against the Imperial government.
Bakumatsu pressure points
- economy & trade → inflation, impoverishment, foreign competition
- extraterritoriality & other foreign insults
- divided loyalties → bakufu, Imperial Court, domains and nation
- defense matters → weak when the foreigners appeared
- modernization/westernization → tension & debate
- class/status → samurai vs lower samurai, commoners & merchants
The merchants class was the lowest class, very looked down upon as “dirty parasites”
- nevertheless, this class eventually gets more and more power
The bakufu had 260 domains each with a lord (daimyo)
- somewhat autonomous with an own system, taxes, currency
- loyalty to the tokugawa
Bakufu was in control for a good 250 years → 250 years of feudal rule
- advanced, civilized, peaceful, prosperous
- there was loyalty to the bakufu, however of course not everyone was thrilled about them
The Imperial Court, the emperor, was above and beyond politics
, The samurai became frustrated with the bakufu, they became more loyal to the emperor. The
bakufu then became less loyal to the emperor
- samurai is more of a bureaucratic (governmental) class than a warrior class
- tokugawa (bakufu) made sure the samurai and others would not achieve too much power
- consisted of 7% of the population (a lot), they were a privileged class but did not own land
13 Feb.
Nationalism in Japan
- before there was an outside threat there was less national sentiment, also the existence of
the autonomous domains made Japan as a true nation less likely
- very sino-centric, however Japan of course also wanted to feel special by themselves, so
they were not entirely China oriented
- christianity from the West brought the nation together (as in fighting against it together)
The Meiji Restoration causes a revolution of the upper samurai overthrowing the lower samurai
Anecdote 1860s → Sakamoto Ryoma almost murders a naval admiral of the tokugawa, but the
admiral changes his mind by telling him that they can only beat their enemy from the West if they
first learn from them and study them
During the Restoration, a large part of the military came from Choshu and Satsuma
Meiji Restoration (1868)
- rich country, strong army
- “follow the West” → from strategic patience to westernization
- unification
- trial and error
- winners and losers
- how evolutionary?
Following the West brought complications
- modernization = westernization?
- pride/identity
- mixed feeling and mixed motives about copying the West
Scouting/studying the West: Iwakura Mission (1871-1873)
- prince Iwakura, Kido, Okubo and Uto (members of the mission)
- they visited the West and colonies of them
- it was aimed at investigating foreign institutions and cultures
- hoping to negotiate treaty revisions (which was unsuccesful)
Dr. Ethan Mark
6 Feb.
Japan → distinct site in a global modern history
Modernity → global phenomenon or global system
Bakumatsu (1853-1868) → the end of the Tokugawa shogunate (aka bakufu, from 1603) →
military government which ruled Japan from 1185 (until 1868)
Japan saw christianity from Europe as a threat, therefore they only traded with The Netherlands.
Actors
- Tokugawa bakufu (during Edo period, from 1603) → allies (fudai) and relatives (shimpan)
- Bakumatsu → outerlords/domains (tozama) → Satsuma, Chôshû & Tosa
- Imperial Court in Kyoto (still present today)
- middle/lower samurai patriots (shishi)
- foreign “barbarians”
The Tokugawa knew enemies, such as the anti-bakufu in the south, and in the north too were
domains which were against the Imperial government.
Bakumatsu pressure points
- economy & trade → inflation, impoverishment, foreign competition
- extraterritoriality & other foreign insults
- divided loyalties → bakufu, Imperial Court, domains and nation
- defense matters → weak when the foreigners appeared
- modernization/westernization → tension & debate
- class/status → samurai vs lower samurai, commoners & merchants
The merchants class was the lowest class, very looked down upon as “dirty parasites”
- nevertheless, this class eventually gets more and more power
The bakufu had 260 domains each with a lord (daimyo)
- somewhat autonomous with an own system, taxes, currency
- loyalty to the tokugawa
Bakufu was in control for a good 250 years → 250 years of feudal rule
- advanced, civilized, peaceful, prosperous
- there was loyalty to the bakufu, however of course not everyone was thrilled about them
The Imperial Court, the emperor, was above and beyond politics
, The samurai became frustrated with the bakufu, they became more loyal to the emperor. The
bakufu then became less loyal to the emperor
- samurai is more of a bureaucratic (governmental) class than a warrior class
- tokugawa (bakufu) made sure the samurai and others would not achieve too much power
- consisted of 7% of the population (a lot), they were a privileged class but did not own land
13 Feb.
Nationalism in Japan
- before there was an outside threat there was less national sentiment, also the existence of
the autonomous domains made Japan as a true nation less likely
- very sino-centric, however Japan of course also wanted to feel special by themselves, so
they were not entirely China oriented
- christianity from the West brought the nation together (as in fighting against it together)
The Meiji Restoration causes a revolution of the upper samurai overthrowing the lower samurai
Anecdote 1860s → Sakamoto Ryoma almost murders a naval admiral of the tokugawa, but the
admiral changes his mind by telling him that they can only beat their enemy from the West if they
first learn from them and study them
During the Restoration, a large part of the military came from Choshu and Satsuma
Meiji Restoration (1868)
- rich country, strong army
- “follow the West” → from strategic patience to westernization
- unification
- trial and error
- winners and losers
- how evolutionary?
Following the West brought complications
- modernization = westernization?
- pride/identity
- mixed feeling and mixed motives about copying the West
Scouting/studying the West: Iwakura Mission (1871-1873)
- prince Iwakura, Kido, Okubo and Uto (members of the mission)
- they visited the West and colonies of them
- it was aimed at investigating foreign institutions and cultures
- hoping to negotiate treaty revisions (which was unsuccesful)
