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National seclusion and openness : The Contradiction and Revolution the Japanese modernization process shows

  • 중앙사론
  • 2008, (27), pp.141-165
  • Publisher : Institute for Historical Studies at Chung-Ang University
  • Research Area : Humanities > History

유지아 1

1성신여자대학교

Candidate

ABSTRACT

The 19th century Japan which led the opening of a port and the Meiji Restoration is the time when the modern world that West Europe capitalism goes into Asia. In addition, it is the time the Japanese internal Bakuhu system loses the dominance in the time, and to demand a shift to the new times. Japan was going to grope for a breakthrough by the new national formation to turn on the Meiji Restoration in the situation of such `troubles from within and without'. It can look for the point that Japan prepared the modernization with deepening of contradiction of the Bakuhu system in the early modern times by development of Japanese urbanization and commercialization in the early modern times.  For example, it is the Zyoukamachi(castle town) residence of a samurai and a merchant and the development of monetary economy by this, the development of the agricultural production power which is remarkable from the latter half in the 17th century and The Sankinkoutaithe(The daimyo's alternate-year residence in Tokyo systems) brought effect which promoted information interchange have been pointed out in an internal development factor to prepare the modernization. However, after all it is Western pressure to be a chance to be direct for the Japanese modernization.  In other words it had begun to be collapsed international order of the early modern times of the East Asia that was able to include Japan by Opium War from 1839 to 42 years by an opportunity, and movement of the international order formation that was new by an effort to form a nation while each East Asia country was opposed to external pressure in the latter half in the 19th century was developed rapidly. A trial for new national creation was connected by such a process and brought a result to say the Meiji Restoration. The historical view to evaluate the Meiji Restoration and the Japanese modernization is a successful thing, continues without cease since it is rised Japan modernization theory. It point out that was able to succeed in industry in non-Western states though industry did not grow wild as inherent development until last years of Bakuhu. And it point out for the reason that the modernization at the economic infrastructure compares it with the modernization at the different infrastructure, and it is given that it had ability to organize to 'accuracy in it electric wave possibility having been high, a Japanese person having had motivation accommodating industry as a culture electric wave and the government by the `From the topt'. But an important point is put for success of the industry and the independent maintenance among such an evaluation mainly, and various contradiction and tangles think attention to have to be able to incline for the reproduced point while such a success keeps a traditional element on the back side. Rapid industry by the leadership of the government is the deepening of the poverty and wealth difference, the formation of the financial combine company in the city and inferior trouble motion environment, the tenant farming of the landed farmer in the farm village of the factory worker was brought the tangle that was in the promotion of the poor farmer and deepening of a financial combine of a farmer by it and people of trouble motion, hostility for the tycoon and the antipathy. However, the nation places more weight on promotion of the industry and suppressed a demand of the people for the equality. Therefore, a change and contradiction coexist in a modernization process through the Japanese Meiji Restoration.

Citation status

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