Revision Notes
Chapter 11: Paths to Modernization
SNIPPETS FROM THE CHAPTER
Sources
Official Record
Dynastic history
Scholarly writings
Popular literature
Religious Literature
Introduction:
Different societies have evolved their distinctive modernities. The Japanese and Chinese
cases are very instructive in this regard. Japan succeeded in remaining free of colonial
control and achieved fairly rapid economic and industrial progress throughout the twentieth
century. The Chinese resisted colonial exploitation and their own bureaucratic landed elite
through a combination of peasant rebellion, reform and revolution. Both these countires are
situated in far East Asia, yet, they present a marked physical contrast.
JAPAN
Physical Features
Japan is a string of islands, the four largest being Honshu, Kyushu, Shikoku and
Hokkaido.
There is no major river system.
More than 50 per cent of the land area of the main islands is mountainous and Japan
is situated in a very active earthquake zone.
There are various homogenous ethnic group, like there are a small Ainu minority and
Koreans who were forcibly brought as labour when Korea was a Japanese colony.
Language spoken in mostly Japanese.
Japan lacks a tradition of animal rearing.
Rice is the staple crop and fish the major source of protein.
Raw fish (sashimi or sushi) has now become a widely popular dish around the world
as it is considered very healthy.
Political System
Japan became a modern country from the days of petty daimyo of Japan.
In the twelfth century the imperial court lost power to shoguns, who in theory ruled
in the name of the emperor, with the help of samurais (the warrior class) and daimyo
with their capital in Edo (modern Tokyo).
In the sixteenth century, Samurai insured peace and order.
Japan was divided into more than 250 domains under the rule of lords called daimyo.
In the late sixteenth century, three changes laid the pattern for future development.
1. The peasantry was disarmed and only the samurai could carry swords. This ensured
peace and order, ending the frequent wars of the previous century.
2. The daimyo were ordered to live in the capitals of their domains, each with a large degree
of autonomy.
3. The land surveys identified owners and taxpayers and graded land productivity to ensure
a stable revenue base.-
By the mid-seventeenth century, Japan had the most populated city in the world – Edo
– but also had two other large cities – Osaka and Kyoto.
Growth of a commercial economy and a vibrant culture blossomed in the towns,
where the fast growing class of merchants patronised theater and the arts.
Increased use of money and creation of stock market led the economy in new ways.
Social and intellectual changes took place - such as the study of ancient Japanese
literature – led people to question the degree of Chinese influence and study of
ancient Japanese literature promoted.
The Meiji Restoration
The Meiji restoration is termed as one of the most momentous events in the Japanese
history.
There was demands for trade and diplomatic relations. In 1853, the USA demanded
Japan that the government sign a treaty that would permit trade and open diplomatic
relations.
Japan lay on the route to China which the USA saw as a major market. At that time,
there was only one Western country that traded with Japan, Holland.
In 1868, a movement removed Shogun and brought Emperor to Edo. This was made
the capital and renamed Tokyo, which means ‘eastern capital’.
British dominance in Asia alerted Japan, and scholars there wanted to learn European
modern ideas. Many scholars and leaders wanted to learn from the new ideas in
Europe; others sought to exclude the Europeans even while being ready to adopt the
new technologies they offered. Some argued for a gradual and limited ‘opening’ to the
outer world.
To develop their economy and build a strong army, the government with the slogan
slogan ‘fukoku kyohei’ (rich country, strong army), created a sense of nationhood
among the people and transform subjects into citizens.
The government also built the 'emperor system' - a system, where mperor along with
the bureaucracy and the military, exercised power. The Emperor was treated with
reverence as he was considered a direct descendant of the Sun Goddess but he was
also shown as the leader of westernisation. His birthday became a national holiday,
he wore Western-style military uniforms.
Meiji Reforms
1. Administrative Reforms: The Meiji government imposed a new administrative structure
by altering old village and domain boundaries to integrate the nation. In 1871, feudalism
was abolished under the Meiji rule.
2. Economic Reforms: Another Meiji reforms was the modernising of the economy. Japan’s
first railway line, between Tokyo and the port of Yokohama, was built in 1870-72. In 1872,
modern banking institutions were launched. Zaibatsu (business families) dominated the
economy.
3. Industrial Reforms: Textile machinery was imported from Europe, and foreign
technicians were employed to train workers, as well as to teach in universities and
schools, and Japanese students were sent abroad. The number of people in
manufacturing increased. Over half of those employed in modern factories were
women. The size of factories also began to increase.
4. Agricultural Reforms: Funds were raised by levying an agricultural tax.
5. Constitutional Reforms: In 1889, Japan adopted the a new constitution. The Meiji
Constitution had created a Diet and declared emperor as the commander of the forces, it
was based on a restricted franchise.
6. Educational Reforms: A new school system began to be built from the 1870s. Schooling
was compulsory for boys and girls and by 1910 almost universal. Tuition fees were
minimal. Tokyo Universtiy was established in 1877.
7. Military Reforms: All young men over twenty had to do a period of military service. A
modern military force was developed. The military and the bureaucracy were put under
the direct command of the emperor.
Re-emergence of Japan as a Global Economic Power
During the 1930, Japan excercised imperialist policy and invaded China to extend its colonial
empire. Japan’s attempt to carve out a colonial empire ended with its defeat by the Allied
forces. However, it was defeated in the World War II when US dropped atomic bombs on
Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It resulted in huge destruction of masses. Under the US-led
Occupation (1945-47) Japan was demilitarised and a new constitution introduced. Japanese
philosopher Miyake Setsurei (1860-1945) argued that each nation must develop its special
talents in the interest of world civilisation: The rapid rebuilding of the Japanese economy
after its shattering defeat was called a post-war ‘miracle’.
The new constitution had Article 9, the so-called ‘no war clause’ that renounces the
use of war as an instrument of state policy.
Agrarian reforms, the re-establishment of trade unions and an attempt to dismantle
the zaibatsu or large monopoly houses that dominated the Japanese economy were
also carried out.
Constitution was democratised.
Political parties were revived and the first post-war elections held in 1946.
Suffrage was given to women in the elections of 1946.
There was close relation between the government, bureaucracy and industry.
Japan also introduced better goods at cheaper rates in the market with its advanced
technologies.
US support, as well as the demand created by the Korean and the Vietnamese wars
also helped the Japanese economy.
The 1964 Olympics held in Tokyo, it symbolised the maturity of Japan's economy.
The introduction of network of high-speed Shinkansen or bullet trains, started in
1964, which ran at 200 miles per hour, added to it prosperity.
In 1960s several pressure groups protested against industrial pollution.
Industrialisation was pushed with utter disregard with the growth of civil society
movements, due to its harmful effect on health and the environment.
Government action and new legal regulations helped to improve conditions.
CHINA
Physical Features
China is a vast continental country that spans many climatic zones.
The core is dominated by three major river systems: the Yellow River (Huang He), the
Yangtse River (Chang Jiang – the third longest river in the world) and the Pearl River.
A large part of the country is mountainous.
There are divergent ethnic group - Han, Uighur, Hui, Manchu and Tibetan.
Major languages spoken are Chinese and Cantonese.
Chinese food reflects this regional diversity. Southern or Cantonese cuisine include
dim sum (literally touch your heart), an assortment of pastries and dumpling. While,
in the north, wheat is the staple food while in Szechuan spices have created a fiery
cuisine. In eastern China, both rice and wheat are eaten.
History of China
The beginning of modern China can be traced to its first encounter with the West in
the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.
During 1839-42, British won the first opium war in China and snatched power from
the Qing dynasty. The second opium war was fought in 1856-60.
It revolves around three questions - a) How to regain Sovereignty b) End the
humiliation of Foreign Occupation c) Bring out equality and development.
There were three views:
i) Liang Qichao used traditional ideas in new and different way to meet Western
challenges. He popularised Chinese nationalism.
ii) Republican revolutionaries Sun Yat Sen inspired by the ideas from the Japan and
the West. He was the founder of the modern China and established a republic in 1911
AD.
iii) The Communist Party of China (CCP) wanted to end age-old inequalities and dispel
foreigners.
Later, the Guomindang (the National People’s Party) along with the CCP strived to
unite Chinese.
Chiang Kai Shek, leader of the Guomindang, militarised China.
Mao Zedong, CCP leader, organised a Soviets or peasant councils and fought Japanese
colonisation.
When Guomindang (the National People’s Party) intensified attacks, the Soviets
shifted the base to Yanan, after a ‘Long March’. The Communist Party captured
power and established the People’s Republic in 1949.
Establishing the Republic:
Manchu dynasty overthrown and a republic established in 1911 under Sun Yat-
Sen. He studied medicine but was greatly concerned about the fate of China.
Yat-Sen's programme was called the Three Principles - These were nationalism – this
meant overthrowing the Manchu who were seen as a foreign dynasty, as well as other
foreign imperialists; democracy or establishing democratic government; and
socialism regulating capital and equalizing landholdings..
Revolutionaries asked for - driving out the foreigners to control natural resources, to
remove inequalities, reduce poverty.
Advocated reforms - use of simple language, abolish foot binding and female
subordination, equality in marriage and economic development.
Sun Yat-sen’s ideas became the basis of the political philosophy of the Guomindang
which were identified the ‘four great needs - clothing food, housing and
transportation.
After the death of Sun, Chiang Kaishek (1887-1975) emerged as the leader of the
Guomindang. He launched military campaign to control the 'warlords', regional
leaders who had usurped authority, and to eliminate the communists.
He advocated a secular and rational ‘this-worldly’ Confucianism.
He encouraged women to cultivate the four virtues of ‘chastity, appearance, speech
and work’ and recognise their role as confined to the household.
The Guomindang despite its attempts to unite the country failed because of its shallow social
and political vision:
Sun Yat-Sen's programme of regulating capital and equalising land - was never
carried out.
the party ignored the peasantry and the rising social inequalities. It sought to impose
military order rather then address the problems faced by the people.
The rise of the Communist Party of China
When the Japanese invaded China in 1937, the Guomindang retreated. The long and
exhausting war weakened China. Prices rose 30 per cent per month between 1945 and 1949,
and utterly destroyed the lives of ordinary people.
Factors
Rural China faced two crises
(a) Ecological Factors:
Soil Exhanstion
Deforestation
Floods
(b) Socio - Economic Factors
Exploitative land-tenure systems
Indebtedness
Primitive Technology
Poor Communications
The CCP had been founded in 1921, soon after the Russian Revolution. Mao Zedong (1893-
1976), who emerged as a major CCP leader, took a different path by basing his revolutionary
programme on the peasantry. His success made the CCP a powerful political force that
ultimately won against the Guomindang. In 1949, Communist Government was established
in China and began a new age in the history of China.
Establishing the New Democracy 1949-65
The Peoples Republic of China government was established in 1949.
It was based on the principles of the ‘New Democracy’, an alliance of all social classes.
Critical areas of the economy were put under government control.
Private enterprise and Private ownership of land were abolished.
The Great Leap Forward movement launched in 1958 was a policy to galvanise the
country to industrialise rapidly.
Mao was able to mobilise the masses to attain the goals set by the Party. His concern
was with creating a ‘socialist man’ who would have five loves: fatherland, people,
labour, science and public property.
Liu Shaochi (1896-1969) and Deng Xiaoping (1904-97) tried to modify the commune
system as it was not working efficiently. The steel produced in the backyard furnaces
was unusable industrially.
Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution
The conflict between the concept of 'socialist man' and those who objected to his
emphasis on ideology rather than expertise led Mao to launch the Great Proletarian
Cultural Revolution in 1965.
The Red Guards, mainly students and the army, was used for a campaign against old
culture, old customs and old habits.
Students and professionals were sent to the countryside to learn from the masses.
Ideology became more important than professional knowledge. Denunciations and
slogans replaced rational debate.
The Cultural Revolution began a period of turmoil, weakened the Party and severely
disrupted the economy and educational system.
In 1975, the party once again laid emphasis on greater social discipline and the need
to build an industrial economy.
Reforms of 1978 Deng Xiaoping
Deng Xiaoping kept party control strong while introducing a socialist market
economy.
In 1978, the Party declared its goal as the Four Modernisations - science, industry,
agriculture and defence.
‘The Fifth Modernisation’ proclaimed that without Democracy the other
modernisations would come to nothing.
in 1989, on the seventieth anniversary of the May Fourth movement many
intellectuals called for a greater openness and an end to ‘ossified dogmas’ (su
shaozhi).
Student demonstrators at Tiananmen Square in Beijing were brutally repressed.
The post-reform period has seen the emergence of debates on ways to develop China.
Growing revival of traditional ideas of Confucianism and arguments that China can
build a modern society based on its own traditions rather than simply copying the
West.
The Story of Taiwan
Taiwan had been a Japanese colony since the Chinese ceded it after the 1894-95 war
with Japan.
The Cairo Declaration (1943) and the Potsdam Proclamation (1949) restored
sovereignty to China.
The GMD, under Chiang Kai-shek went on to establish a repressive government
forbidding the freedom of speech, political opposition banned.
They excluded the local population from positions of power.they carried out land
reforms that increased agricultural productivity and modernised the economy s
Transformation of Taiwan into a democracy after the death of Chiang in 1975.
Martial law lifted in 1987 and opposition parties were legally permitted.
Diplomatically most countries have only trade missions in Taiwan instead of complete
diplomatic ties because it (Taiwan) is considered to be part of China.
The question of re-unification with the mainland remains a contentious issue but “
Cross Strait” relations (that is between Taiwan and China) have been improving.
China may be willing to tolerate a semi-autonomous Taiwan as long as it gives up any
move to seek independence.
Two Roads to Modernisation
The histories of Japan and China show how different historical conditions led them on
widely divergent paths to building independent and modern nations.
Japan was successful in retaining its independence and using traditional skills and
practices in new ways.
In the Sino-Japanese War (1894-95) China faced a humiliating defeat. On 17 April
1895, Treaty of Shimonseki was signed between China and Japan, ending the First
Sino-Japanese War.
The Chinese became vulnerable after their defeat and declared that both China and
Japan needed reforms for modernisation.
Sino-Japanese war served the basis for the Anglo-Japanese alliance in 1902.
The Chinese path to modernisation was very different.
Foreign imperialism, both Western and Japanese, combined with a hesitant and
unsure Qing dynasty to weaken government control.
The nineteenth and twentieth centuries saw a rejection of traditions and a search for
ways to build national unity and strength.
Timeline: Refer to page number 248
Keywords: Confucianism, Opium war, Modernisation, Meiji, May Fourth movement (60
years earlier, there was an exciting explosion of new ideas), Communist, Proletarian,
Daimyo, dim sum.
