Unit -11
Paths to Modernisation
Focus on East Asia, Late 19th and 20th Century. (a) Militarization and economic growth in Japan. (B) China and Communist alternative. (c) Historians debate on meaning of modernization.
Q:- What were the major developments before Meiji Restoration that made it possible for Japan to Modernize rapidly?
Ans:- The major developments before Meiji Restoration in 1868 that made it possible for Japan to modernize rapidly were:
1. Peasantry was disarmed, only Samurai (warrior class) could carry swords, which ensured peace and order ending frequent wars of previous centuries.
2. Daimyo were ordered to live in Domain capitals with large degree of autonomy.
3. Land surveys identified land owners, tax payers and ensured stable revenue base.
4. Daimyo capitals emerged as towns, increased commercial economy, created financial and credit systems, developed a vibrant culture.
5. Peoples merit came to be more valued than Social status.
6. Social and intellectual ferment reverence led to pride in being Japanese and reverence for Emperor as descendent of Sun Goddess.
Q:- Discuss how daily life was transformed as Japan developed?
Ans:- The Japan transformed into a modern society had far reaching repercussions on everyday life like:
a. The old patriarchal household system which comprised many generations living together under the control of head of family came to be replaced by nuclear family (Homu) where husband and wife were both bread winners and house makers.
b. New concept of domesticity generated demands for new types of goods like rice cooker, American grill.
c. Women had leisure time for reading.
d. The new middle class family sought new forms of transport like Electric trains, and new modes of entertainment like Ginburra (aimless walking in public parks), radio and movies.
e. Ideas of gender equality led to women seeking employment in novel spheres of life
e.g. Mitsui Samuka became an actress.
f. There was increasing demand for new forms of housing so much so that in the 1920’s construction companies made cheap housing available for a down payment of 200 Yen and the balance was paid on monthly payment of 12 yen for 10 years.
Q:- How did the Qing dynasty of China try and meet the challenge posed by the western powers?
Ans:- Success of Britain in Opium wars resulted in immense physical and moral damage to the Chinese and scram among other European powers like France, Russia, Germany to follow suit and carve out ‘Sphere of influence’ in China. To meet the challenge posed by western powers the Qing dynasty under reformers like Kang Youwei and Qichao initiated reforms, chief among them are:
1. Qing dynasty strengthened modern administrative system, improved army and equipped them with modern weapons.
2. Reformed education system, students sent abroad for learning, abolished old examination system in 1905 which was barrier in the development of Science & Technology.
3. Set up local assemblies to establish constitutional govt. and encouragement to all for bringing new ideas.
4. The thinkers cited examples of colonized countries like India to create awareness about negative aspects of colonialism.
Q:- What were Sun Yat Sen’s three Principles?
Ans:- Dr Sun Yat Sen was a Chinese Nationalists and founder of Guomindang party (1912). The three Principles Enunciated by Dr Sun Yat Sen were “San, Min & Chui” meaning Nationalism, Democracy and Socialism respectively.
In specific terms these principles meant the overthrow of the Manchu Dynasty which had been ruling China since the 17th century because it was considered as a foreign dynasty. Establishment of a democratic govt, regulation of capital and equitable distribution of land were thus the main aim of these principles. These Principles came to form the basis of the political philosophy of Kuomitang (The National People’s Party).
Q:- Did Japan’s policy of rapid industralisation lead to wars with its neighbors and destruction of the environment?
Ans: - Yes, Japan’s policy of rapid industralisation was one of the leading factors which led to wars with her neighbors and destruction of environment because of following reasons:
1. Japan was poor in natural resources like tin, copper, iron and cotton to feed her resources which were readily available to her neighbors like China. After industralisation, Japan was in dire need of market as the purchasing power of Japanese was too low to meet her market needs.
2. The Oligarchy and Army in Japan like other Colonial nations began colonial ambitions in 1890’s both in entire Asia and in Pacific region. Japan defeated China (Sino-Japanese war of 1894) and acquired Formosa (Taiwan) in 1895 and Korea (in 1910). She also defeated Russia (Russo-Japanese war of 1904-5) and Southern Manchuria became her ‘Sphere of Influence’.
3. Japan obtained half of Sakhalin Island and Liaotung Peninsula. She occupied Manchuria from china in 1931.
4. The Anglo-Japanese treaty of 1902 gave her equal status with other colonial powers to pursue colonial ambitions.
5. It was largely to safeguard and expand her economic interests that Japan bombed Pearl Harbor in 1941 and faced humiliating defeat at the hands of allied powers in world war-II.
Q:- Do you agree that Mao Ze Dang and the Communist Party of China were successful in liberating China and laying the basis of its current success?
Ans:-Most Historians today agree with the view that Mao Ze Dang and Communist Party Of China were successful in Liberating China and laying the basis of its current success. The Communist Party of China was officially founded in 1921. Communists under Mao concentrated on winning mass support among peasants rather capturing Industrial towns (Workers). In 1931 Mao was elected as chairman of Central Executive Committee of the party, from then he consolidated his position and that of CCP in China.
1. By organising Long March in 1934, Mao helped in surviving from KMT extermination and build mass support and Red Army which liberated China from imperialist Japan.
2. The CCP seized land of rich landlords and distributed among peasants which earned them mass peasant support.
3. The Japanese occupation of Manchuria in 1931 was fought by Zhou Enlai, a communist on guerrilla tactics.
4. In the Struggle for Power the CCP successfully defeated KMT in 1945. Chang Kai Shek The leader of KMT was forced to flee Taiwan leading Mao to control Chinese mainland.
5. After the 1949 Communist Revolution of China, Mao saved country from intricate problems like long civil war which has devastated railways, roads, canals, and backward industry & Agriculture.
6. The Leap Forward Movement of 1958 rapidly industralised China.
However the success of Mao and CCP was based on repressive political system that turned the ideals of Liberation and equality in to slogans to manipulate the people.
Q. Write short note on Opium wars?
Ans: The Opium Wars were two wars in the mid-19th century involving Great Qing and the British Empire and concerning the British imposition of trade of opium upon China, thus compromising China’s sovereignty and economic power for almost a century. The clashes included the First Opium War (1839–1842) and the Second Opium War (1856–1860). The wars and events between them weakened the Qing dynasty and forced China to trade with the other parts of the world.
In 1820, before the first Opium War, China's economy was the largest in the world. China was a net exporter, and had large trade surpluses with most Western countries. Within a decade after the end of the Second Opium War, China's share of global GDP had fallen by half.
Q: Who was Fukuzawa Yukichi? What did he said?
Ans:-Fukuzawa Yukichi was a leading Meiji intellectual. His words “Expel Asia” means Japan must shed its Asian characteristics and adopt west model for Modernisation. He established a school which is Kieo University in Japan now.
Q:- How Nishitani Keiji define Modern?
Ans:-Nishitani Keiji was a Japanese Philosopher who defined modern as a combination of three streams of western thought i.e, Renaissance, Protestant Revolution and rise of natural sciences.
Q:- What were Zaibastu in Japan?
Ans:-Zaibastu were large business organisations controlled by individual families in Japan who dominated Japanese economy till Second World War e.g. Mitsubishi and Sumitomo.
Q. What does the term Shogun mean?
Ans: Shogun is derived from Seii Tai Shogun – the first Commander in chief of army who was nominally subject to emperor but real ruler of Japan from 1192- 1867.
Q. Who was Commodore Perry?
Ans: Commodore Perry came with US fleet in 1853 to Japan. He signed treated with Japanese govt to establish two US ports in Japan and ended Japanese isolation from rest of world. He was permitted for some amount of trade as well.
Q:-Who said “FreedomismorepreciousthanOrder”?
Ans:-Euki Emori (1857-92).
Q:- What is Great Leap Forward Movement?
Ans:- The Great Leap forward Movement was launched in 1958 based and designed to meet Chinese situation. It was a policy to galvanize rapid developments in both industry and agriculture. The movement introduced smaller factories (than Russia) and communes, units larger than Collective farms containing up to 75000 people divided into brigades and team works with an elected council.
Q. How does the feeling of discrimination unite people?
Ans: Feeling of discrimination enables victims of oppression to empathies with discriminated irrespective of caste, colour, race or religion.
Q. Why did USA wanted to colonise Japan?
Ans: America wanted to colonise Japan because it lay on the route to china (a big market) and refuel its ships sailing in Pacific Ocean.
Q. What was Emperor System?
Ans: After Meiji Restoration, Emperor was considered part of a system along with bureaucracy and military that exercised powers’
Points to remember:-
1. Dr Sun Yat Sen established republic in china in 1911. He has been rightly called as the founder of modern china.
2. Commintern means communist international also known as Third International.
3. Soviets were councils of peasants and workers (Working Class).
4. Socialist Man: As defined by Mao Ze Dang, the first five loves of Socialist man were (i) Fatherland (ii) People (iii) Labor (iv) Science (v) Public Property.
5. Meiji means enlightened govt and Showa means enlightened peace.
6. Hokkaido, Honshu, Kyushu and Shikaku are four main Japanese Islands.
7. Shogun was military dictators or defacto rulers of Japan from 1192 to 1868.
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