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THE JAPANESERACE
Francis
Alexander
By
Anthropology,
1. In a certain
Chamberlain,
Ph.D.,
Professor
Clark University,
Worcester,
Massachusetts
sense,
in the world,
"races"
accurately
to each
assign
of
the
factors
responsible
observers
European
ten Kate
(e.g.,
and
von
of the
characteristics
emotive
for
The disputes
of
reflected
Balz)
and
also
Japanese,
Their
constitution.
of their physical
a
inferred
certain frailty
for the most part, and
small stature,
race to discount
their
white
of
the
members
led
therefrom,
in the earlier
future
as,
future
the
estimates
also, was
food,
disadvantage.
must
naturally
Wernich
Japanese
held
some
by
They
continue
ence
The
to settle
a
were
race
such.
in
consequence
of their
nature
to their
question
little
and
account,
this
of
ago
years
Many
(1839)
of
weaknesses
or no
of little
in all probability,
of mankind.
achievements
the
sort
in question
here.
1911, p. 117)
influ?
of external
discussion
excellent
some
"finds
of a people,"
Wernich
muscu?
the
of
of
lack
the
caused by
vigor
an "apparently
on the character
of the peculiarities
lar and alimentary
Ethnology
(p.
316)
statement
curious
following
he con?
intellectual
powers
(whose
advanced
of the more
European
the Japanese
concerning
to those
sidered
equal
with
nations):
"Compared
the
the
average
Chinese,
and
176
espe
THE JAPANESE
RACE
177
cially with the Manchus and Koreans, they are but a feeble
folk, no doubt possessing considerable staying power, but
with
weak,
slight
physically
and a marked
tracted
chest
be largely
due
may
however,
diet of rice, fish and vegetables."
at
cally
nese were
its
tendency
to the
race, as the
Intellectually
nineteenth
con?
development,
to anaemia,
which,
innutritious
national
muscular
century
foot.
soon
to
receive
rude
placed
physi?
of the Japa?
Dr. Boas
What
shock.
to those
views
of many
other
says of Wernich's
applies
"
as well:
writers
how
weak
his
conclusions
appear
And,
still,
and endurance
exhibited
after the energy
by the Japanese
in their modern
development
Russia!"
Another
of Japanese
theory
weakness
to explain
sought
full
They
of
consciousness,
were
thus necessarily
"thin-skinned
would
tually,
and
strain
ization
Others,
Tartars,"
remain
doubt whether
display of
"
feeble
environment.
and,
to a certain
who,
such.
to environ?
race-adjustment
saw
in
again,
them
both
and
physically
Even
today
some
simply
intellec?
authorities
incident
and
northern
physically
successful
accompanies
influences.
mental
new
extent, mentally
which
their
competition
the
acceptance
with
the white
of Occidental
race,
regarding
world
as ephemeral
from
its acquisition
civil?
the
the
to be really permanent.
Certain
the American
anthro?
e.g., Prof. F. Starr,
observers,
"
as
the
as
com?
shallow"
pologist,
regard
Japanese
genially
with
the
as
their
more
and
culture
pared
Chinese,
deeper
"
and considerably
less solid.
The
of
showy"
acquisition
western
culture
it is thought,
will differ
by the Japanese,
lines.
by
the Chinese
like Prof.
E.
remarkably
S. Morse,
Some,
however,
as compared
with
the Chinese, much
Japanese,
more
of
the "savage"
in the people
bly, seeing
along
more
these
the
judge
favora?
of the Celes
ALEXANDER
178
FRANCIS
CHAMBERLAIN
now
they are
own
ancient
a "curiosity;"
Their
affairs.
in the
full
current
traditions
of human
claimed
descent
from the gods, but, like others of the children of men who
have
boastfully
relatives
human
of
ancestry,
they have plenty
to assure us of their rather
surviving
asserted
still
such
modern
origins.
anthropic
were
2. That
the Japanese
their
of
habitants
island
the first
and
is a matter
country
are in agreement.
all authorities
which
not
Their
original
in?
concerning
immediate
a primitive
who
still
the Ainu,
people,
etc.
the Kuriles,
Certain
of Yezo,
Saghalin,
were
predecessors
in parts
survive
anthropologists
Japanese
or non-Ainu
a pre-Ainu,
in Japan,
The
view.
stone-age
for this
of Japanese
tradition
but
have
in the
believed
during
population,
is no
there
satisfactory
and the
"Kurupokguru"
may well enough
have
guru"
Tsuboi's
theory,
of Eskimo
people,
which
been
existence
of
earliest
the
evidence
"pigmies"
the ances?
makes
is quite
with
blood
North
Pacific
Asiatic
than
"Asiatic"
the Japanese.
It remains
THE JAPANESE
RACE
179
culture,
in all probability
occurred.
Physically
is to say, Mongolian.
3. The Ainu,
the predecessors
that
in their
whose
still
island
home,
of the Mongolian
primitive
Japanese
people,
concerning
continue
ogist
are a very
a group
by
the French
Deniker,
anthropol?
(Races ofMan,
all
from
different
themselves,
the
other
peoples
of Asia" and gives them place (p. 289) as one of his 17 groups,
including the 29 human races which he distinguishes as
now existing on the globe. Many authorities, like Brinton
(Races and Peoples, 1890, p. 217), H. Schurtz (V?lkerkunde,
1903, p. 163), affine them closely with the Giliaks, making
the latter a sort of link between the former and the primitive
of northeastern
peoples
p. 679)
Prof.
ian."
tors of
F.
Starr
the modern
1908).
Politics,
ern representatives
Siberia.
Munro
(Prehistoric
Japan,
and proto-Caucas
but not the ances?
them
considers
"palaeo-Asiatic
thinks
them "white,
(Iowa Journal
Japanese"
Prof.
O. T. Mason
of the
cave-man
and
of History
them "the mod?
thought
of prehistoric
Europe."
times
there
appears
to have
been
an
extension
affiliate
them
to the
surrounding
the
with
their
peoples,
is placed
family
characters."
physical
Mongoloid
Caucasie
to membership
of their
doubt
by a study
beyond
on the
the author
of many
Dr. E. von Balz,
monographs
and
of
thinks
Japan,
ethnology
physical
anthropology
they
are the eastern part of a stock allied to the Caucasian,
which
claim
ALEXANDER
180
FRANCIS
CHAMBERLAIN
once
all northeastern
but has been split up
Asia,
occupied
driven
the
apart by
Mongolian
peoples
(Verh. d. Berl.
von
to Dr.
Ges. f. Anthr.,
all of Eu?
1901).
Balz,
According
and
was
period,
of a yellow
prehistoric
the
broken
race
two
into
from
the
branches
north.
Of
irruption
two branches,
the eastern
section
the
lin?
Ainu)
(cf.
in east?
in Japan, being driven back elsewhere
longest
gered
ern Asia, while the other section (cf. the Alpine race) was
driven back toward Europe. He is also of opinion that the
Ainu
and
the Australians,
with
together
whom
they
resemble
of
in certain
the
Caucasian
large portion
from a Neandertaloid
have developed
race, may
primitive
d. D. Ges.f. Anthr.,
O. M?nsterberg,
form (Korr.-Bl.
1911).
his views
upon
stone-age
pottery,
ornamentation,
basing
sees
Ainu"
evidences
of a pre
in the "Caucasoid
etc.,
respects,
from Asia
migration
Mycenean
whole continent
(Z. f. Ethnol.,
assumes
venturesome?he
and China,
Occident
B.C.
etc.,
Minor
across
eastward
the
art-relations
as early
between
as the
the
far
third millennium,
a variety
rather
than
the Caucasian
of the Mongolian,
a development
for
latter
the
however,
him,
being,
stock,
Arch.
B. Adler
from the Mongolian.
1901,
(Int.
f. Ethnogr.,
that
rather
curious
Peschel's
approves
theory
vol.xv)
Suppl.,
have
ippines."
with
the Australians,
and other
aborigines
makes
anthropologist,
of his Homo
the Ainu
of the Phil?
more
or less
of India,
the Eskimo
etc.
the Italian
of America,
Sergi,
one of the 8 varieties
the Toda-Ainu
the Toda
and the Ainu being each
eurafricanus,
Zool.
subvarieties
1911, vol.
Ital.,
xxi, p. 273).
(Monit.
of
in his neo-monogenistic
classification
Giuffrida-Ruggeri,
race
the Ainu
Japan
from
Indonesia
via
Formosa.
THE JAPANESE
RACE
181
has
there
Japanese,
been
ethnologists
the whole
practically
of the Ainu.
(Korr.-Bl.
up the
realm."
question
Prof.
d. D.
Ges.f.
country
common
was
Anthrop.,
that "Japan
by saying
F. Starr
(Op.
of opinion
difference
The
once
Nakai
modern
considerable
and others.
cit.)
belief
is
in possession
(Globus, 1903),
thinks
they
were
once
says:
"Although
is most
aborignes
etc.
The "Ainu
the Japan?
region,
type" among
in
marked
the north, where
these pre-Jap??ese
continued
to
longest.
According
Japanese
history
several
Ainu
words
still
(province of Aomori)
in current
speech."
the Ainu
(Op. cit., p. 314) minimizes
factor, observing
that
the intruding
over
the
Japanese
spread
"gradually
the
Caucasie
Ainu
north?
Archipelago,
driving
aborigines
wards
to Yezo,
and no doubt
here and there mixing
with
survive
Keane
FRANCIS
ALEXANDER
182
them,
to any
nowhere
though
CHAMBERLAIN
considerable
Dr.
extent."
to have
in recent
improved
a more
with
years,
kindly
The
destiny.
"Caucasoid"
alleged
character?
istics of the Ainu have been made the most of by the Aryo
philes and Aryomaniacs, who will not admit that any race
can amount to anything in the world without being at
bottom
and preferably
"white,"
connec?
In this
"Aryan."
type
derive
or Aryan
Caucasian
alleged
man
(see von
to
But
considerable attention.
Balz,
of an Ainu
that
and
Europe,
of
characteristics
the
far,
"Aryan,"
or "white,"
be
cannot
the Ainu
since
in any
such
culture-phenomena
The
Japanese.
ants,
of language,
implications
to explain
be used
present
of the
achievements
recent
as to antedate
etc.,
civilization,
preserved
early
all
could
that
and
the
are rather
Ainu
in a somewhat
of one
times,
prehistoric
forms of man,
plastic
other peoples,
many
which
several
their
because
respects,
of some
to the fixation
"Caucasian,"
sense of these
culture-bearing
considered
still
to be
regarded
as descend?
isolated
of
environment,
ancient
variable
more
much
resemble,
other
the
human
races
from
and
than
in certain
than
proto-Caucasian.
con?
the Japanese
invaded
who
5. The
Islands,
people,
civil?
of
and laid the foundations
the Ainu,
Japanese
quered
of this is
One
stock.
were
of
proof
Mongolian
ization,
as Winkler,
of the Japanese
the nature
which,
language,
in his monograph,
Japaner
und Altaier
(Berlin,
1894),
has
THE JAPANESE
RACE
183
is an
exclusively
Japanese
culture,
it
decorative,
factors
of
Mongolian
native
and
product."
borrowed,
race.
the yellow
The population
the Mongolian
of Japan presents
The
"Mongolo-Malay."
or
is more
element
two types
in which
less predominant?these
the "Korean-Manchu"
"Korean-Manchu"
and the
type,
which
island,
Hondo."
certain
strains
marks
of Ainu
Manchu"
is termed
of
and
the Mongolie,
and perhaps
minor
also Semitic
blood."
This
"Korean
type occurring
also the "fine"
type, met
the higher
is what
among
classes,
as
contrasted
with the "coarse'
type
the lower classes?Deniker
(p. 389)
with
among
that these two types
have been
the result
suggests
"may
of crossings
between Mongol
sub-races
and
south?
(northern
or
and
even
Indonesian
elements."
The
ern)
Polynesian
"coarse"
type has been identified with von B?lz's
"Mongolo
F.
Malayan,"
Biol.,
habitat
Birkner
(Arch.
f.
Rassen-
u. Gessellschafts
led to the
formation
of a fine
and
a rude
type,
ALEXANDER
184
FRANCIS
CHAMBERLAIN
"It might
type were
of Korea
southwest
and
rate
very
remote;"
to the coarse type,
the
concerning
"As
type:
descended
other
are perhaps
its representatives
The
north."
alleged "Semitic'
The
evidence,
satisfactory
in the
importance
culture-bearing
great
element
"Korean-Manchu"
has
been
of
of Japan.
history
the
efforts
E.
of Dr. W.
Griffis
contention
the Japanese
are
"Aryan."
simply
1905)
(Z. f. Ethnol.,
mixture."
Mongol-Malay
of the Japanese
to have
appear
from
arrived
the
while
the Japanese
styles
Keane
cit.,
(Op.
Haberer
writers.
southern
Islands:
Malay
others may
have
Schurtz
from Polynesia."
(Op. cit., p. 152) recognizes
to the
of Formosa
that came by way
element
in
eastern
Von Balz
islands."
recognizes
(1901)
"
an"
of a Mongolo-Malay
the prevalence
central
Japan
"a Malay
southern
and
type,
detectable
China,
ment
etc.
Dr.
also
in southern
ten Kate
also
part of southern
ele?
this Malay
recognizes
of
some of the peculiarities
Korea,
to which
1902),
(Globus,
character may be attributed.
Japanese
of Malayan
Japanese,
influences
Besides
the influence
of the
character
the physical
upon
immigrants
see
to
also
notable
are inclined
some authorities
nature
and sociological
of a cultural and a political
THE JAPANESE
of living,
ways
clothing,
are thought
to show marked
?architecture,
organization,
mixture.
says:
1911)
RACE
"Schurtz,
following
185
social
and
political
of Malayan
traces
(Wanderings of Peoples,
'the peculiarity
says,
Balz,
Malays,
mixed with
from Korea.'
first
set
foot
on
the
southern
islands,
and
immigrants
the
upon
character
psychical
Kate
etc.
Japanese
house,
have
also been
of
Influences
Dr.
suggested.
ten
J. Harmand,
of France
at Tokyo,
minister
are "an originally
driven
tropical
people
have only partially
abandoned
the usages
that
the Japanese
who
northward,
of their
southern
home."
7. Some
also
p.
authorities
in Japan.
But
315) remarks:
have
seen
concerning
"But
there
of a Negrito
this matter,
Keane
traces
is nowhere
any
element
(Op. cit.,
of
evidence
the black or Negrito element that has been spoken of, and
all the evidence points to Korea as the original home of
the great majority,
and especially
of the dominant
ten Kate,
nevertheless
(Bull. Soc. d!Anthrop.
considers
the existence
of such an element
1908),
Dr.
classes."
de Paris,
probable,
recent m?tissage
with
slaves
really due to a somewhat
from the Philippines,
etc.
The Peschel-Adler
the?
Macao,
that the Ainu
are "a Mongolian
ory, noted
branch
above,
of the Negritos
of the Philippines,"
deserves
mention
only
and
here.
8. The
of possible
American
Indian
influences
question
in Japan has already
been touched
upon and its improbabil?
Dr.
ten Kate,
however
ity indicated.
(Intern. Cbl. f. An
would
in
to von B?lz's
addition
throp.,
1902),
recognize,
THE JOURNALOF RACE DEVELOPMENT,VOL. 3, NO. 2, 1912
ALEXANDER
186
FRANCIS
CHAMBERLAIN
theory
is
still
entertained
some
by
writers,
This
century."
is really
the
nearest
to
approach
American
aborigines,
on record,
or likely
to have
ever
occurred.
the dominant
classes
especially
indicates),
who
gradually
sub?
recent
likewise
confirmed
the Japanese,
by their
are
a
the
etc.
In
Japanese
word,
constitution,
physical
all
like
other
and
modified
somewhat
great
Mongolians,
race.
a
now
are
"mixed"
of
the
are,
They
world,
peoples
of
assertion
careless
of
the
a
in
still
race,
spite
however,
lian
character
of
Munro
but
future
RACE
"The
680):
of variously
Japanese
assorted
(Op. cit., p.
loose mixture
which have
Thule
THE JAPANESE
of Asia."
time,
And
the white
187
are
a race,
not
racial
features,
to this Ultima
at
some
a lasting