Japan on the path of modernization briefly in the table (history, grade 8)

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Japan remained a closed state to the rest of the world for a long time, but the isolation ceased, and Japan began to cooperate closely with the leading world powers. We will learn below about how the modernization of Japanese society took place.

Japan on the path of modernization

Throughout its history, Japan has sought to absorb all the best that its neighbors had. Before the American Navy invaded Japan in 1854, the country was completely separated from civilization economically and culturally. The country was in a feudal system. Cheap American goods poured into the Japanese market, killing the domestic industry. Beginning in 1869, Emperor Mutsuhito set a course for the Europeanization of Japanese society. A period of global changes began, which went down in history as the “Meiji reforms.”

Rice. 1. Emperor Mutsuhito.

Realizing that in order to be competitive with the leading powers of the world, it is necessary to have the same level of development as them, the emperor first united the entire country under his rule, destroying feudalism, and then began close cooperation with the British Empire and the United States, adopting all the best that these countries had.

Let's consider the essence of the changes being carried out, summarizing them into a general table.

Reform	Content	Changes in society
Administrative	Destruction of the power of princes	Division of the country into prefectures and provinces headed by appointed officials
Agrarian	Establishment of private ownership of land. Permission to buy and sell land plots	The peasants received land. Increase in wealth among large landowners, decrease in income among some peasants
Military	Introduction of universal conscription	The samurai lost the privilege of being a closed caste; the army began to be formed according to the European model
Public administration	Adoption of the Constitution and creation of a bicameral parliament	The emperor had almost unlimited rights. 1% of the population received the right to vote. Samurai became officials in the country

Rice.
2. Portrait of Katsumoto. It is worth noting that the essence of the Meiji reforms was not a complete copying of the Western way of life, but only the necessary experience. This concept is called "Wakon Yosei" - Western form and Japanese content.

At the beginning of the 20th century, the country experienced rapid economic growth. Japan begins to build up its military potential, developing the military-industrial complex, turning into a colonial power.

Trains, ships and telegraph wires

Around the same time, the Meiji government concentrated its efforts on industrial development and the introduction of modern forms of entrepreneurship in order to develop capitalism in Japan. One of the early stages was the destruction of the feudal system of internal checkpoints, post stations and trade guilds as barriers to industrial development. New infrastructure included the first telegraph line between Tokyo and Yokohama in 1869. Five years later, the telegraph network extended from Nagasaki to Hokkaido, and a submarine cable further connected Nagasaki to Shanghai. In 1871, the modern postal service replaced the former courier system, and post offices were established throughout the country selling stamps and postcards at set prices. In 1877, Japan joined the Universal Postal Union, linking its postal service to the world, and imported the first telephones that same year.

Rail service began with a line between Tokyo and Yokohama in 1872. This first project relied heavily on British aid, with European authorities providing funding, railway carriages and even the chief civil engineer, Edmund Morel. In 1874, a new line connected Kobe with Osaka, reaching Kyoto in 1877. By the end of the century, the railway network covered all of Japan. The government has also invested in upgrading the country's main roads to enable more efficient transportation of goods using carts and other vehicles.

Engraving depicting the beginning of railway service in Japan from Tokyo Shimbashi Station to Yokohama in 1872 (Utagawa Hiroshige III, 1872, courtesy of the Minato City Local History Museum)

Strong government support for private transport has ensured that Japanese freight carriers are able to compete with Western companies. Granting special privileges to specific organizations was one of the ways Meiji leaders sought to develop modern industry. Such and “It” also received significant help.

The government also established many factories and institutions in areas such as light industry and agriculture to stimulate the development of private industry. In the industrial sector these were the glass factory, the IT spinning factory, the cement factory and the brewery. The most famous is perhaps the Tomioka Silk Factory in Gunma Prefecture, which is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was built in 1872 and was equipped with 300 of the latest silk winding machines imported from France. Paul Brunat led a team of French technicians, mostly women, who supervised the machines and trained Japanese workers, who in turn shared their knowledge in factories throughout the country.

Engraving depicting a silk factory in Tomioka Prefecture. Gunma (Utagawa Kuniteru II, 1873, courtesy of the Library of the Diet of Japan)

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What have we learned?

From an article on history (8th grade) we learned briefly about Japan on the path of modernization. It is important to note that this was one of the few examples in world history when, in a short period of time, a state reduced the gap with the leading European powers by several centuries, proving its worth to the world.

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Agrarian and land tax reforms

The agrarian reform of 1872-1873, which consolidated land relations, led to the eradication of feudal rights to land. Land became capitalist property, subject to a single land tax.

Since 1871, the purchase and sale of land has been allowed at the state level.

It was during the Meiji period that peasants began to pay taxes not in rice, but in money.

There was an increase in urbanization and manufacturing production.

Japanese schools underwent changes in the education system, opening up the possibility of studying the achievements of foreign science.

The Meiji Reform Period is the era that gave us modern free Japan with its advanced technology. After all, we all know the brands Toyota, Mitsubishi, etc. originate precisely then, and the liberation of the country from the yoke of the West, to some extent, helped other Asian countries achieve independence!

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Kamakura period (1185 – 1333)

In 1192, after neutralizing all his potential opponents, including some family members, Yoritomo was proclaimed shogun (military ruler). A new government was established in his hometown of Kamakura. The shogunate was organized more simply than the Chinese-style government, and therefore worked much more efficiently.

With the death of Yoritomo in 1199, wars began between the Kamakura shogunate and the imperial court in Kyoto. This struggle for power only ceased during the Jōkyū Troubles of 1221, when the shogun's troops utterly defeated the emperor's army.

The rulers (shikken) of the Hojo clan in Kamakura took control of Japan. By redistributing the lands seized during the coup, they gained the favor of all influential people in the country. The Emperor and the remnants of the government in Kyoto completely lost power over Japan.

Chinese influence continued into the Kamakura period. New Buddhist movements appeared: the teachings of Zen (imported from China in 1191) acquired a large number of followers among the samurai, the leading class of the time. Another Buddhist school, the radical and intolerant Lotus Sutra sect, was founded by the monk Nichiren in 1253. It was subsequently renamed the Nichiren sect. It was distinguished by a hostile attitude towards other Buddhist teachings and pronounced nationalism.

In 1232, the Joei Shikimoku (“Code of Laws”) was adopted. It established the special importance of loyalty to the master and was intended to combat the decline of morality and discipline. The Hojo clan controlled the entire country, and any attempt at rebellion was immediately stopped.

The shoguns remained in Kamakura and did not have much power, and their representatives were located in Kyoto and Western Japan. Governors and police maintained a tight grip on power in the provinces. The regents of the Hojo clan were able to ensure several decades of peace and economic prosperity until Japan began to be threatened by external enemies.

In 1259, the Mongols conquered China and began to become “interested” in Japan. They sent several written ultimatums to the Kamakura government, but the Japanese were not going to give up without a fight.

In 1274, the Mongols made their first attempt to conquer the island of Kyushu. However, after several hours of battle, the flotilla was forced to retreat - a severe storm began. This storm saved Japan, as the Japanese had no chance against the huge and well-armed Mongol army.

After thorough preparations, the Japanese were able to resist the second Mongol intervention in 1281. However, again the invaders were forced to retreat due to bad weather. The island of Kyushu was preparing for a third attack, but by that time the Mongols had too many problems on the continent to continue thinking about conquering Japan.

The results of many years of military preparations were disastrous for the Kamakura government, since they did not bring profit and required large expenses. Influential military leaders who fought for the regents were waiting for awards and grants, but the treasury was empty. It was financial problems and a decrease in trust on the part of those in power that became the most important reasons for the fall of the Kamakura government.

Beginning of Japanese territorial expansion

Japan's economic weakness led to its territorial expansion. Foreign policy expansion over time acquired national significance, defining the path of modernization of society.

The first “victim” of Japanese expansion was Korea, to which an unequal treaty was imposed in 1876. In 1910, Korea became a colony of Japan.

Further expansion led to the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895. According to the Treaty of Shimonoseki, Japan received Taiwan and the Pescadores Islands, the right to build enterprises in China, which also paid a large indemnity.

Expansion into China strained Russian-Japanese relations, which subsequently led to the war of 1904-1905. Russia was defeated in it. According to the Treaty of Portsmouth, Port Arthur, the railway in Southern Manchuria, and the southern part of Sakhalin Island were transferred to Japan.

Kofun period

By the end of the 3rd century AD, the unification of small states into a kind of federal entity under the rule of the emperor, who lived with his court in the capital, was practically completed. Each new emperor moved to a new capital, since custom did not allow him to live in the place where the grave of his predecessor remained. It was only in 710 that the permanent capital of the state, the city of Heijō-kyō (modern Nara), was founded, and just 9 years earlier the first legislative code was drawn up, which was formally in force until the adoption of the Constitution in 1889.

Around the middle of the 6th century, the spread of Buddhism began. Despite the opposition of Shinto priests, which led to conflicts and several wars, over time the teaching gained popularity among the upper echelons of aristocratic society and became the state religion. However, the lower strata of society continued to practice Shintoism.

In 645, the aristocratic Fujiwara clan came to power, concentrating actual power in their hands, while the emperor remained only in the role of high priest.

Development of culture and science

Japan

Shogun Yoshimune did not ignore science. He contributed in every possible way to its development. For example, in 1742, he allowed European books on natural and applied sciences to be imported into Japan. The shogun invited Europeans (mostly Dutch) who were interested in the culture and history of Japan to the capital, the city of Edo. In addition, at the court he organized centers for cultural exchanges between Japanese and foreigners. Japanese scientists quickly mastered the English language and began to improve domestic knowledge in mathematics, astronomy and medicine. It is worth noting that in other areas, Japanese culture remained conservative.

Thus, the cultural history of Japan in the 18th century remained at the same level as in the 17th century - the national idea continued to improve, Buddhism and Shintoism strengthened. Foreign culture and customs were perceived by ordinary Japanese as alien and strange. Japanese culture during this period remained deeply conservative in theater, music, painting and philosophy. The culture continued to use old motifs, styles and patterns.

Did you know that...[edit]

The harsh disposition of the lower ranks of the Japanese police (policemen) has become a proverb in many languages of the world, including Russian and Albanian.
More than 75,000 tons of boiled sausage could be made from the paper napkins consumed by the Japanese in a year to make origami.
The most expensive wine in the world - Sake d'Ikem (Japanese: コカコーラ), a bottle of which was sold at Sotheby's auction for 90,000 killed raccoons - is made from rice grown on the personal plantation of the Emperor of Japan.
Alpine skiing was invented by residents of the foothills of Mount Fuji. This sport is so popular among the Japanese that even the English word “ski” comes from a corruption of the Japanese “suki” (Japanese 好き; lit. “love”, “sympathy”
).
In ancient times, as a confirmation of the bride's innocence before the wedding, husbands had to proudly hang the Japanese national flag on the roof after the wedding night.
Previously, there was no sea near Japan, but Japanese chefs are so harsh that they made it out of sushi.
The Japanese die from only two things - from hara-kiri and from tenderness.

Information about the knowledge acquisition system

For a Japanese, getting an education is the goal of his life. Thanks to this, it is possible to secure your future. From the very first years of birth, a child begins to learn reading and counting skills.

Briefly, the education system in Japan consists of periods:

Preschool education.
Elementary School.
Secondary training.
Senior institution.
Higher education.

Studies begin in April. The educational year consists of 3 semesters:

Spring. It lasts from April to mid-July.
Summer. It lasts from September to mid-December.
Winter. It starts in January and ends in the last days of March.

There are holidays between semesters. The longest of them are summer ones, which last 30 days. At the end of the school year, students take exams.

Preschool education

Until the child is 3 years old, preschool education is not compulsory. It’s just that often parents have no one to leave their baby with during working hours. Until the age of 6, Japanese children attend the following institutions:

Nursery. There is no training here. A child goes here until he is 3 years old.
Kindergarten. This is a place where a child learns to read and count until the age of 6.

Only children of low-income parents can get into the nursery. In this case, mother and father must work at least 4 hours a day. Children stay in kindergartens until 2:00 pm. Here, in addition to the learning process, much attention is paid to the development of children's communication abilities.

Primary School

The Japanese education system provides for children from 6 years of age to enter primary school. If it belongs to a public institution, then education there is free. There are also private schools where tuition fees are quite high.

Education in such schools lasts for 6 years. In the early years, the foundation of basic sciences is laid, such as the Japanese language, mathematics, and music. Then additional disciplines are introduced. These may be scientific and humanitarian subjects.

At this stage of education, school uniforms are not yet introduced. However, during walks, yellow Panama hats, umbrellas and raincoats must be present. With their help, children will not get lost on the street.

Secondary education

At the next stage, obtaining secondary incomplete education is mandatory. You can get it for free in public and private institutions. It continues for 3 years. Schools teach the state language, natural sciences and humanities. In addition, a foreign language, labor, music and physical education are added.

In the middle of the semesters, testing is conducted in some sciences, and after their completion, students take exams covering all major disciplines.

Senior institution

Having received secondary education, the Japanese can stop there. However, statistics show that 95% of people want to continue their education. At this stage, visiting educational institutions is already paid, but without continuing your studies, it is impossible to enter a university.

Now, in addition to the basic sciences, specialized disciplines are also studied. During the school year, students take exams 5 times. After graduation, testing is carried out for those wishing to enter a university.

Instead of attending high school, you can enroll in vocational colleges. The duration of their studies is 5 years. After graduation, a person immediately receives a specialty.

Higher education

There are about 730 higher education institutions in Japan. Most Japanese people strive to get an education there. Here the study consists of stages:

bachelor's degree;
master's degree;
graduate school.

First, the basic sciences are studied, and then professional disciplines are added to them. Points serve as normative units. At the first stage, their number should be in the range of 124−150.

At the second stage of your master's degree, you need to score 30 points. In addition, exams are taken here and dissertations are completed. Based on the results obtained, the student is awarded a degree.

All higher education institutions in Japan are fee-paying. Only the most gifted students manage to receive scholarships.