Japanese in East Asia: Background
Japanese Foreign Policy
Japan Opens to the West
● Edo period: japan before 1840 was isolated, to keep perceived west, Christianity
out
○ Saw it as a threat
● Shogun - (head of a military clan) ruled in a feudal military dictatorship,
though there was an emperor
○ More of a figurehead, had no real power
○ Merchants were at the bottom of the social hierarchy, even below
peasants, because Japan was isolated, so merchants were useless in
society
● Since 1603, Tokugawa clan dominated
○ Some changes already beginning: population growth = increased
demand for food, goods
○ Merchant class grow in wealth, importance
○ Emergence of rival clans, political threat to Tokugawa
● MOMENT of CHANGE: 1853, Commodore Matthew Perry (American) and
“black ships of evil” sailed into Edo harbor, demanded open trade
○ Japan not necessarily interested, but weren’t given much of a choice
● 1854: Treaty of Kanagawa signed, with US gunboats present
○ Opened Japan up to foreign trade
● By 1860s: if Japan wanted to compete with Western powers as an equal, it
needed to industrialize, modernize
○ Political change needed to avoid becoming victim to Western powers
who have a lot of authority and resources
Meiji Restoration
● 1867: Meiji Emperor took power; Tokugawa shogunate out in a brief civil war
○ Restores divine right of emperor, descendent of sun goddess, established
state Shintoism
● Government modernized, resulted in 1889 Constitution
○ Sent out envoy of men to study western governments to emulate them
○ Diet created: House of Representatives and House of Peers
○ Suffrage for men over 25 (though initially only 1%)
○ Military held great influences, could veto any political decisions
● Major reforms followed
, ○ Education: compulsory school, increased literacy and instilled
nationalism (ex. Imperial Rescript)
■ Imperial Rescript - a short document that established the
principles that students have to memorize and recite, such as the
Pledge of Allegiance
● Values loyalty to others: family, community, nation and
emperor
○ Military: modernized army modeled after Germany’s new navy
established with help of Britain, conscription introduced, instilled
nationalism and loyalty to emperor
■ Imperial Rescript to Soldiers and Sailors
○ Fashion: Western dress for officials during business hours
First Sino-Japanese War: 1894 - 1895
● 1890’s, ultranationalism meant japan sought to expand
○ To elevate its status
○ To access resources for growing population
○ To check imperial ambitions of Europe, US
■ Also led to outright racism in Japan towards non-Japanese people
● 1876 Japan-Korea Treaty:
○ Increased Japanese influence in Korea (before, a Chinese tributary state)
led to instability
○ 1894 - peasant rebellion, govt. Sought China’s help
○ Japan responded by indirectly taking over Korea
● August 1894 - Qing dynasty declared war on Japan (First Sino-Japanese War)
○ Japanese army, navy proved superior and won easily
○ Took Korea, then parts of Manchuria, Port Arthur
Treaty of Shimonoseki and Triple Intervention
● Treaty of Shimonoseki, signed April 1895; ending 1st Sino-Japanese war;
Terms:
○ Korea = independent
○ Taiwan, Pescadores, Liaodong peninsula to Japan
○ China paid a large indemnity ($)
○ Japan had access to the Yangtze river, several ports and open trade rights
with China
● But: Triple Intervention, April 1895
○ Russia, France, and Germany pressured Japan to given back Liaodong
Peninsula (for $)
○ Russia immediately seizes the LP
Japanese Foreign Policy
Japan Opens to the West
● Edo period: japan before 1840 was isolated, to keep perceived west, Christianity
out
○ Saw it as a threat
● Shogun - (head of a military clan) ruled in a feudal military dictatorship,
though there was an emperor
○ More of a figurehead, had no real power
○ Merchants were at the bottom of the social hierarchy, even below
peasants, because Japan was isolated, so merchants were useless in
society
● Since 1603, Tokugawa clan dominated
○ Some changes already beginning: population growth = increased
demand for food, goods
○ Merchant class grow in wealth, importance
○ Emergence of rival clans, political threat to Tokugawa
● MOMENT of CHANGE: 1853, Commodore Matthew Perry (American) and
“black ships of evil” sailed into Edo harbor, demanded open trade
○ Japan not necessarily interested, but weren’t given much of a choice
● 1854: Treaty of Kanagawa signed, with US gunboats present
○ Opened Japan up to foreign trade
● By 1860s: if Japan wanted to compete with Western powers as an equal, it
needed to industrialize, modernize
○ Political change needed to avoid becoming victim to Western powers
who have a lot of authority and resources
Meiji Restoration
● 1867: Meiji Emperor took power; Tokugawa shogunate out in a brief civil war
○ Restores divine right of emperor, descendent of sun goddess, established
state Shintoism
● Government modernized, resulted in 1889 Constitution
○ Sent out envoy of men to study western governments to emulate them
○ Diet created: House of Representatives and House of Peers
○ Suffrage for men over 25 (though initially only 1%)
○ Military held great influences, could veto any political decisions
● Major reforms followed
, ○ Education: compulsory school, increased literacy and instilled
nationalism (ex. Imperial Rescript)
■ Imperial Rescript - a short document that established the
principles that students have to memorize and recite, such as the
Pledge of Allegiance
● Values loyalty to others: family, community, nation and
emperor
○ Military: modernized army modeled after Germany’s new navy
established with help of Britain, conscription introduced, instilled
nationalism and loyalty to emperor
■ Imperial Rescript to Soldiers and Sailors
○ Fashion: Western dress for officials during business hours
First Sino-Japanese War: 1894 - 1895
● 1890’s, ultranationalism meant japan sought to expand
○ To elevate its status
○ To access resources for growing population
○ To check imperial ambitions of Europe, US
■ Also led to outright racism in Japan towards non-Japanese people
● 1876 Japan-Korea Treaty:
○ Increased Japanese influence in Korea (before, a Chinese tributary state)
led to instability
○ 1894 - peasant rebellion, govt. Sought China’s help
○ Japan responded by indirectly taking over Korea
● August 1894 - Qing dynasty declared war on Japan (First Sino-Japanese War)
○ Japanese army, navy proved superior and won easily
○ Took Korea, then parts of Manchuria, Port Arthur
Treaty of Shimonoseki and Triple Intervention
● Treaty of Shimonoseki, signed April 1895; ending 1st Sino-Japanese war;
Terms:
○ Korea = independent
○ Taiwan, Pescadores, Liaodong peninsula to Japan
○ China paid a large indemnity ($)
○ Japan had access to the Yangtze river, several ports and open trade rights
with China
● But: Triple Intervention, April 1895
○ Russia, France, and Germany pressured Japan to given back Liaodong
Peninsula (for $)
○ Russia immediately seizes the LP
