Did China's Influence On Japan?

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the Chinese and Japanese faced much internal conflict, but while China faced a combination of economic setbacks and political weakness, the Japanese were riddled with wars along their countryside. First, the Chinese emperor was too weak in comparison to his bureaucracy, which ended up making most of the decisions for the last Ming dynasty emperor. This was due to the emperor’s realization that having a title as Son

Huang He thinkers developed a vague world view that was accepted as a standard approach in later Chinese thinking

In Japan, most of the Chinese influence was brought to Japan through Korea. Japan consists of four mountainous islands off the coast of Korea, and its early development reflected that of the mainland. There were several waves of immigrants that came to Japan. In about 10,000 B.C.E., the Jōmon people practiced hunting and fishing and made clay pots. People who immigrated from northeast Asia brought agriculture and Yayoi culture with them. Yayoi communities were distinguished by complex social organization containing rulers, soldier, artisans, and priests. Objects made in China and Korea could be found in Japan, which shows that people were traveling back and forth from Japan. More waves of immigrants came from Korea during the fourth through

China and Japan had similar but different experiences with the Western civilization. China and Japan reacted differently to the Western nations and it was China’s reactions to the West that would break the Chinese’s isolation leaving their traditions behind. The Industrial trade in Europe and the United States had created a gap between Asia and the West, This left china and Japan far behind technologically and they were not able to stand up against the western nations and although at different times China and Japan both ended up having to sign unequal treaties, and to open their ports for merchants.

China and Japan are two unique civilizations that went through similar, yet vastly different changes throughout their histories. Their growth and response to other nations differed in many ways in government, lifestyle, and general well-being. One of the main causes for such difference between the countries is the way the West influenced each region, and the way China and Japan responded to this influence. China focused more on the idea of being a "status oriented" society, while Japan was more "goal oriented" based. In China, anyone had the ability to better themselves and change their status through civil examinations given by the government. Western impact however slowly changed this old age system. Japan's caste system viewed

China’s response was different than Japans. First off China wanted to remain exclusive to any other ways, the stayed stuck in their traditions and the way that things had been done in the past. In this attempt to remain focused only on those things that went on in their culture and country, they had no knowledge of the powers that were forming. When war began they succumbed to powers they knew nothing about based on sticking their heads into the sand.

Today, Japanese and Korean civilizations are advanced, wealthy, and independent with their own system of government and religious beliefs due to the influences from China. The majority of Asia experienced changes in government and dealt with inter and intra state conflicts when the countries were most susceptible to influences from alliances made with other countries. The Tang Dynasty/ Silla alliance shaped the future of Korea’s religious and government movements. Art and literature from China also greatly impacted Korea’s and Japan’s society and provided new insight into literary expression through new forms of poetry and a new system of writing. Religion was also a major influence because of

In Gail Tsukiyama’s The Samurai's Garden, Japan’s invasion of China in 1937 proves to be devastating to both nations and is reflected in her main character Stephen’s life in the town of Tarumi where his conflicts parallel those of the war. By using internal and external conflicts of her characters she shows the nature of war. The chaotic storm that ravages Tarumi and ruins the beautiful garden symbolizes the war. “It seemed like the storm would last forever, as it steadily grew in strength. The wind and the rain continued, and the noise of the violent sea was deafening” (52). This violent storm that breaks the beauty of the garden symbolizes how the war in Japan decimates the country and kills innocent Chinese citizens. The storms ominous beginning paralleled the growing tension of the war, and Stephen’s determination to rebuild the garden and continue to recover parallels the desire for normalcy. The war in China also reflects his dad's affair with Yoshiko. His dad's foolish decision to betray his family creates multiple internal and moral conflicts between Stephen, his father and mother. Stephen’s father tells Stephen about his affair sparking a war within Stephen. “How long have you been seeing this woman? I wanted to know. My father paused. “For more than twelve years, he finally answered. I was stunned” (84). This incident creates moral conflicts within the family which are always inherent in a war. Should Stephen tell his mother the truth essentially breaking up the family? Should he keep quiet and hold a secret? Kenzo and Sachi were engaged to be married. But when Sachi gets the horrible disease Kenzo betrays her while Matsu becomes her loyal friend. This creates a complicated relationship between Matsu, Kenzo and Sachi; reflecting the war. Kenzo disowns Sachi and later commits suicide after calling her a monster. Stephen wants to do something for Sachi knowing Kenzo’s words will have lasting implications, but he can only hope for the best outcome. “I wanted to do something to help her, but I knew it was not my place. Swallowing hard, I waited to see what Matsu would do. A monster Kenzo shouted” (67). This conflict reflects the betrayals

During the early nineteenth century, both China and Japan enforced policies restricting foreign trade in order to avoid industrialization and western ideas, but after both societies experienced foreign invasions and unequal treaties being established by foreigners, Japan began to industrialize and became imperialists trying to create an empire, while China differed in that the people wanted reform and government restrained the reformation of their society, therefore causing multiple rebellions and overall the collapse of their empire.

Choose ONE topic. This is the “frame of reference” of the “context” within which you will compare and contrast two nations/periods.

For this assignment, we were asked to research, in pairs, the effects of foreign imperialism on two Asian societies. Chris and I chose China and Japan as our Asian societies.

During this period, called the Yayoi-epoch, Japan started to indulge in several new things, ranging from iron working to art. Artwork was mostly based on the ruling Shinto belief, but the arrival of Chinese monks in the 6th century came with a new religion called Buddhism. Buddhism was an important factor in the influence the Chinese civilization had in Japan. Buddhist monks were considered high standing men in China; this was because of the fact that after the chaotic Han dynasty, Buddhism brought peace to the populace of China, both farmers and the new ruling warlords. Buddhism was first introduced in Korea, and reached the Japanese emperor through scriptures sent by a Korean ruler who tried to persuade him to implement this religion in society.

The western nation’s impact on both china and japan changed the economic the impact on both nations. Japan benefitted the most from forced western trade then china. Japan increased trade which caused the economy to grow and the culture took a great turn for the better for the merchants having much more power than ever before. The Japanese accepted many ideas from the west along with its form of imperialism take over many little nations much like west. China’s economy took a turn for the worst after the opium war suffering heavy losses and having to pay a heavy fine to the uk and it’s accomplices. China suffered a great rise in poverty because loss of jobs and the rise in the cost of living this happened because

Buddhism and Confucianism were two critical religious frameworks in China, but were taken by the Japanese. The Japanese then reshaped them to fit Japanese lifestyles, making them different types of similar religions. The same went for workmanship and design in light of the fact that the Japanese appreciated Chinese craftsmanship while including their own particular style. The Japanese also demonstrated their legal system after the Chinese style by utilizing their own Royal Court. Though both countries had an Imperial Court as a form government in the past, the Japanese Ruler embraced numerous parts of the Chinese style, including their versions of various titles, ranks and official functions. The first established form of their constitution was heavily influenced by the way the Chinese could handle such a brought together and composed government. It’s clear that Japan actually just lived in China’s shadow for the past few centuries or so.

Throughout the dynasties in China and Japan, religion, economy and politics have been affected by each other in various ways. In the book “Religion and Making of Modern East Asia”, Thomas Dubois brings to light the impact religion made on both politics and economy in China and Japan throughout the historical period up till date. In his words, he describes “religion as an extremely political force” (Dubois, 2011, pp. 7-16). As various religions were introduced, it shaped the politics of leaders as most of them saw it as an avenue to impose their religion on the citizens. In all, religion invented political and economic stabilities and instabilities in various dynasties throughout Japan and China