Paths to Modernisation

• Japan:- 1 political system – emperor, shogun, tokugawa shogun 1603-1867.

• 2 meiji revolution and reforms
• 3 modernisation of economy- agriculture tax, railways, import of textile ,
machinery , modern banking system.
• 4 increase in industrial workers and rapid industrialisation
• 5 aggressive nationalism – emperor commander of the forces, 1899 only serving
generals
• 6 westernisation and traditions
• 7 changes in daily life – nuclear family, new products, new housing schemes
• 8 overcoming modernity :- to establish a greater east Asia , defeat in WWII but
again a Global Economic Power .
Tokugawa family 1603 to 1867
• Kyoto –shoguns – divided the place in 250 domains under the rule of
daimyo – samurai –samurai served shoguns and damiyo - the
peasants
Modernising the economy PG 238
• 1 an agricultural tax was levied for raising the funds.
• 2 Japan’s first railway line was built in 1870-72. it was between Tokyo
and Yokohama .
• 3 textile machinery was imported from Europe .
• 4 foreign technicians were employed to train workers as well as to
teach in universities and schools.
• 5 Japanese students were sent abroad.
• 6 in 1872, modern banking institutions were launched.
• 7 companies like Mitsubishi and Sumitomo were given subsidies and
tax benefits to become major ship- builders so that Japanese trade
was from now carried in Japanese ships.
Steps were taken by the Japanese government
to reduce populations
• 1 it encouraged migration first to the northern islands of Hokkaido
and then to Hawaii and brazil and to the growing colonial empire of
japan
• 2 in japan, people shifted to towns as the industry developed. By
1925 , 21 per cent of the population lived in cities and by 1935; 32 per
cent lived in cities.
Industrial workers in Japan
• 1the number of industrial workers had increased from 7,00,000 in 1870 to
4 million in 1913.
• 2 most of the industrial workers worked in small units employing less than
five people. Neither machinery nor electric power was used in these units.
• 3 over half of the workers in modern factories were women . It was only in
the 1930s that the number of men worker increased than women workers.
• 4 the number of factories employing 1000 or more workers increased from
1000 in 1909 to 2000 by 1920 and 4000 by the 1930s.
• 5 in 1940, there were over 5,50,000 workshops employing less than five
workers . This resulted in sustaining the family – centred ideology .
Aggressive Nationalism
• The meiji constitution granted limited right to vote.
• The Diet (Parliament ) had limited powers.
• The leaders who had brought about the restoration of the emperor were
still controlling the government .
• They even established political parties.
• Between 1918 and 1931, popularly elected prime ministers formed
government , but thereafter national unity cabinets were formed.
• The emperor had been the commander of the forces since 1890.
• The military was under the direct command of the emperor .
• It was outside the control of the government.
Westernisation and tradition
• 1 some considered that the USA and western European countries are highly
civilised countries and Japan should follow them. Fukuzawa Yukichi asked the
people to ‘expel Asia’ that is japan must shed its Asian characteristics and become a
part of the west.
• 2 The next generation of people was against the total acceptance of western ideas
or civilisation. They were in favour of indigenous values and wanted to build their
national pride on it. Miyake setsurei argued that each nation must develop its
special talents in the interest of world civilisation. So, japan should develop her
own talent.
• 3 Many people were in favour of western liberalism and democracy . Ueki Emori ,a
leader of the popular right movement , demanded constitutional government . He
admired the doctrine of the natural rights of man and of popular sovereignty. Some
advocated voting rights for women.
Overcoming modernity
A symposium on ‘overcoming modernity ‘ debated the question before Japan-
how to combat the west while being modern. Different views were expressed .
Moroi Saburi , a musician tried to find out a way that went beyond merely
rewriting or playing Japanese music on western instruments .
The philosopher nishitani keiji defined ‘modern’ as the unity of three streams
of western thought- the renaissance, the protestant reformation and the rise
of natural sciences. He marked that it was Japan’s ‘moral energy’ that had
helped it to escape colonization .
He stated that it was duty of japan to establish a new world order, a greater
east Asia and fir this , a new vision that would integrate science and religion
was necessary
The effects of defeat of japan in the world
war II
• 1 japan’s attempts to set up a colonial empire came to an end.
• 2 japan was demilitarized and a new constitution which was forced on
japan was introduced .
• 3 agrarian reforms were carried out
• 4 the trade unions were re-established
• 5 political parties were revived and the first post-war elections were
held in 1946 where women voted for the first time
China
• The views of three groups
• 1 kang Youwei :- tried to used traditional ideas in new and different
ways to meet the challenges posed by the west
• 2 Sun-Yat-Sen:- the first president, inspired by ideas from japan and
west
• 3 Communist Party of China (CCP) :- wanted to end inequalities and
drive out the foreigners.
History of China
• 16th and 17th century – Jesuits missionaries introduced western
science such as astronomy and mathematics
• 19th century – Britain used to expand its trade “opium”. The Qing
Dynasty was ruling .
Opium trade between Britain ,India and
China
• The demand for Chinese goods such as tea, silk and porcelain created a
serious balance –of –trade problem. Western goods did not find a
market in china , so payment had to be made in silver. The East India
company found a new option- opium, which grew in India . They sold
the opium in china and gave the silver that they earned to company
agents in canton in return for letters of credit. The company used the
silver to buy tea, silk and porcelain to sell in Britain . This was the
“triangular trade” between Britain, India and china.
• Balance of trade – more raw material in less price- to their country to
manufacture it ,sell it in high price
• Slaves- Africa – America – Britain – Africa
The social and political condition of China
after the I WW?
• The social and political condition was not stable because China was
on the side of the victorious side but it had not got back the
territories from it.
• There was a demand to save China through modern science,
democracy and nationalism .
• Revolutionaries were demanding to drive out the foreigners, to
remove inequalities and reduce poverty.
• They demanded reforms such as the use of simple language in
writing, abolishing the practice of foot-binding and subordination of
women, equality in marriage .
The challenge posed by the western powers
• The Qing dynasty tried and met the challenge posed by the Western powers in
the following ways:
• 1 Qing reformers such as Kang Youwei and Liang Qichao initiated policies to build
a modern administrative system, a new army and an educational system. They
set up local assemblies to establish constitutional government . They wanted to
protect China from colonisation .
• 2 Students were sent to study in Japan, Britain and France and Bring back new
ideas.
• 3 The Chinese borrowed Japanese translations of European words such as
Justice , Rights and revolution because they used the same ideographic script, a
reversal of the traditional relationship.
• 4 In 1905, the centuries- old Chinese examination system that gave candidates
entry into the elite ruling class was abolished .
The three principles of Sun Yat-sen
• 1 Nationalism :- it meant overthrowing the Manchu who were sent as
a Foreign dynasty, as well as other foreign imperialist .
• 2 Democracy:- it meant democracy or establishing democratic
government .
• 3 Socialism:- it was to regulate capital and equalise landholdings.
Chiang Kai-shek
• 1 he launched a military campaign to control the ‘warlords’, regional
leaders who had usurped authority , and to eliminate the
communists.
• 2 he advocated a secular and rational ‘this-wordly’ Confucianism
• 3 he also sought to militarise the nation
• 4 he encouraged people to develop a ‘a habit and instinct for unified
behaviour’
• 5 he encouraged women to cultivate the four virtues of ‘chastity,
appearance, speech and work’ and recognise their role as confined to
the household.
The Comintern or the Third International
• The comintern or the third international was established by Russian
leaders to help bring about a world government that would end
exploitation.
• The comintern believed in the traditional Marxist understanding that
revolution would be brought about by the working class.
• In the beginning , it was successful but soon it became a tool in the
hands of soviet union.
• It was dissolved in 1943
Mao Zedong
• Mao Zedong and the communist party of china were successful in
liberating. China and Laying the basis for its current success.
• He was a major CCP leader. He based his revolutionary programme
on the peasant. A strong peasants Council or Soviet was organised.
• He stressed the need for an independent government and army. He
had become aware of women’s problems and supported the
emergence of rural women’s associations.
• He promulgated a new marriage law that forbade arranged marriages,
stopped purchase or sale of marriage contracts and simplified
divorce.
• Under the communist regime established in 1949, critical areas of economy
were put under government control. Private enterprise and private
ownership of land were gradually ended.
• The programme of socialist transformation the great leap forward movement
was launched in 1958 to galvanise the country to industrialise country.
• People were encouraged to set up steel furnaces in their backyards.
• In rural areas, people communes were started.
• In 1965 the great proletarian culture revolution was launched.
• In 1978, the party declared its goal- 1 to develop science,2 spread
education,3 agriculture and 4 defence.
Cultural Revolution of 1965
• 1. causes for launching the cultural revolution :- it was due to conflict
between the Maoists to create a socialist man and those who objected to
his emphasis on ideology rather than expertise.
• 2 programme:- the aim in launching this programme by Mao was to
counter his critics. A campaigns against old culture, old customs and old
habits was started. Students and professionals were sent to the countryside
to learn from the masses. Importance was given to communist ideology.
Rational debate began in place of slogans.
• 3 effects:- 1 it led to a period of turmoil and sufferings
• 2 it weakened the party
• 3 it disrupted the economy and educational system.
The condition of China from 1978 onwards
• 1. Policies of the party:- after the cultural revolution , a socialist market economy was
introduced. The party, however, maintained strong control. More reforms were
introduced: a) in 1978, the party declared its goal as the four modernisation that is to
develop science, industry, agriculture and defence. B) debate was allowed so long as
the party was not questioned.
• 2 Opposition to the policy:- there was, however, opposition to the party’s policies. On
5th December, 1978, a wall-poster. ‘the fifth modernisation’ laid importance on
democracy. It criticised CCP for its failure to solve problems like poverty or ending
sexual exploitation.
• 3 Policy of the government :- the government followed a policy of suppression. On 4th
May, 1989, a student demonstration at Tiananmen square was brutally repressed in
Beijing.
• 4 Effects:- this led to emergence of debates on ways to develop China.
Short note on Taiwan
• The Republic of china was established by Chiang Kai-shek at Taiwan. He
followed a policy of repression forbidding free speech and political
opposition and excluding the local population from positions of power. At
the same time, land reforms were carried out. Agricultural productivity
increased. Economy was modernised. In 1973, Taiwan had a GNP second
only to that of Japan in Asia. The gap between rich and poor has declined.
• In addition to the modernisation of economy and reducing the gap
between rich and poor, Taiwan has been transformed into a democracy.
Martial law was lifted in 1987. permission was granted to have opposition
parties. Free elections were held to bring local people to power.
The two roads to modernisation
• The roads to modernisation as adopted by Japan and China were
entirely different. Japan’s programme of modernisation was carried
out in western environment . It imitated western imperial powers but
found its own solutions. For example, the meiji schools system on
European and American practices. Moral culture was taught to the
children .
• China’s path to modernisation was very different. The condition of
people of china was full of miseries due to foreign imperialism . After
1949, the communists built a highly centralised state . The
communists were successful.it remove centuries old inequalities,
spread education. Market reforms have been carried out.
Modernisation of the economy under the
Meiji government
• 1 agricultural tax
• 2 railways
• 3 textile machinery
• 4 education
• 5 banking
• 6 commercial companies