Amateratsu: A Part Of The Japanese Myth Cycle

East Asia Midterm Review
• Amateratsu: a part of the Japanese myth cycle and also a major deity of the Shinto religion. She is the goddess of the sun, but also of the universe. Daughter of god Izanaghi. Created 8 islands. The Emperor of Japan is said to be a direct descendant of Amaterasu.
• Tangun: mythological first king of the Koreans, the grandson of Hwanin, the creator, and the son of Hwanung, who fathered his child by breathing on a beautiful young woman. Tangun reportedly became king in 2333bc. Hwanung left heaven to rule Earth from atop Mt. T’aebaek (Daebaik). When a bear and a tiger expressed a wish to become human beings, he ordered the beasts into a cave for 100 days and gave orders that they were to eat only mugwort and garlic
and avoid the sunlight. The tiger soon grew impatient and left the cave, but the bear remained and after three weeks was transformed into a beautiful woman. It was she who became the mother of Tangun. The myth is important inasmuch as it links the Korean people with a heavenly origin.
• Mandate of Heaven: way for a ruler to derive legitimacy. Core concept of Chinese political history that goes back to the first historical dynasty (Shang, no writing system and history before that). Zhou made it to all families. Heaven gives rulers the right to rule because they are virtuous rulers; rule is conditional and ruler can lose the mandate if he becomes corrupt, at which point someone better suited can take over. Because heaven gives the ruler the right to rule, they have control over all land and all people in it, but people can revolt if unjust.
• Civil Service Examination: Started in Sui Dynasty China. With a centralized bureaucracy need to come good/virtuous officials; done through civil service exams to eliminate the great families and allocate very high status jobs. Synthesis between legalism and Confucianism: exam (quality/skill) but on Confucian principles. Created a lot of social mobility because it was open to anyone with any education. Created elite gentry class (anyone who passed these exams). Standardized written language and political thought because everyone had to study Confucians texts and not anything practical. In Korea, exams were adopted during the Choson dynasty, which was founded by Confucian educated reformists; wanted to stop power and corruption of aristocracy but access to exams more limited than in China and those that passed were from leading families. Compared to Han where paternalism and families controlled.
• Koguryo:
• Shogun: was often one of the hereditary military governors of Japan from 1192 to 1867; ruling warrior class. In this period, the shōguns, or their shikken regents (1203–1333), were the de facto rulers of Japan though they were nominally appointed by the emperor and hence got their legitimacy from him. Line of power ran from the shogun, to the feudal lord daimyo, to the samurai living in the daimyo’s han domain. Summurai where also schooled in Confucianism, the arts, and politics, and had roles of civil servants. The shogun's officials (daimyo) and his tent government were as a collective the bakufu, and were those who carried out the actual duties of administration while the Imperial court retained only nominal authority. Before Hideyoshi the daimyo had a lot of independent power and Japan was decentralized into different domains; he was able to get their loyalty.
• Shinto: is the indigenous spirituality of Japan and the people of Japan. It is a set of practices, to be carried out diligently, to establish a connection between present-day Japan and its ancient past.[1] Not unified "Shinto religion", but rather to disorganized folklore, history, and mythology.[2] Shinto today is a term that applies to public shrines suited to various purposes such as war memorials, harvest festivals, romance, and historical monuments, as well as various sectarian organizations. Animism, worship of kami (spirits, natural forces). Indigenous religion related to creation myth. Widespread belief system of shamanism, where humans are mediators between our world and the supernatural; god in every natural object ex river, mountain, tree
• Imjin War: 1591-1598 during Choson dynasty in Korea. The first “regional war” in East Asia; China, Japan, and Korea all fought on Korean soil. The first time three countries fought on land and sea and firearms were used. Anti-Japanese sentiment emerged with this war. Invasions were launched by Toyotomi Hideyoshi with the intent of conquering Joseon Dynasty Korea and Ming Dynasty China. Choson king fled to Manchuria in initial invasion and people had to establish militias and defend themselves because Korean army failed to. The Japanese forces experienced success during both initial phases of the invasion, capturing both Seoul and Pyongyang, but continuous defeats at sea, logistical difficulties, and the numerical superiority of the combined Ming and Joseon armies, and death of Hideyoshi, eventually resulted in a withdrawal towards coastal areas and a military stalemate.
• Yi Sunshin (Turtle boats): a Korean naval commander (yangban class), famed for his victories against the Japanese navy during the Imjin war in the Joseon Dynasty, and is well-respected for his exemplary conduct on and off the battlefield not only by Koreans, but by Japanese Admirals as well. Outnumbered 333 ships to 13, and forced into a last stand with only his minimal fleet standing between the Japanese Army and Seoul, Yi delivered one of the most astonishing defeats in military history. Designer of turtle boats; attached Japanese as they crossed strait to go back to Japan and resupply.
• Turtle Boat: a type of large Korean warship that was used intermittently by the Royal Korean Navy during the Joseon Dynasty from the early 15th century up until the 19th century in the fight against invading Japanese naval ships. The ship's name derives from its protective copper shell-like covering. Created by Yi Sunshin, equipped with at least five different types of cannons. Their most distinguishable feature was a dragon-shaped head at the bow (front) that could launch cannon fire or flames from the mouth.
• Toyotomi Hideyoshi: (1537-98) a preeminent daimyo, warrior, general and politician of the Sengoku period[1] who is regarded as Japan's second "great unifier” and brought an end to the Sengoku period. Was able to consolidate Japanese domains which were run by individual daimyo and gain their loyalty through arms, marriage politics, and diplomacy; also forced them to take turns living in capital and took families as hostages. Noted for a number of cultural legacies, including the restriction that only members of the samurai class could bear arms. He financed the construction, restoration and rebuilding of many temples standing today in Kyoto. Started Imjin War against Korea because of expansionist aims to overtake Korea and China.
• Tokugawa Ieyasu: (1600-1651) Strongest daimyo after Hideyoshi; Builds alliance of daimyo after Hideyoshi's death; Battle of Sekigahara, 1600--defeats other daimyo, destroys Toyotomi family; established the Tokugawa Shogunate in 1603 and structure of Tokugawa political system.
To control daimyo, he initiated an extensive project of shifting daimyo about. In the process he stripped many erstwhile enemies of their lands, placed a number of his allies in strategic locations near surviving enemies, and secured for himself and his most faithful vassals direct control of much of central Japan. Then, having secured the strategic heartland, he proceeded over the next several years to make his control more sure by issuing regulations and establishing supervisory organs to constrain daimyo, imperial court nobles, and clerics, as well as his own vassals. He worked hard to restore stability and unity to Japan and encouraged foreign trade; built up the city of Edo and it became a bustling port
town.
• Treaty of Nanjing (Nanking): signed on the 29th of August 1842 to mark the end of the First Opium War (1839–42) between Britain and the Qing Dynasty of China. It was the first of unequal treaties against the Chinese because Britain had no obligations in return. British force abolition of Canton System; Open five more ports to trade (where British can appoint consuls; Canton, Xiamen, Shanghai, Fuzhou, Ningbo), Abolish Cohong (can trade with anyone they want), Cede Hong Kong to Britain, Grant equality in diplomatic relations, Fix low tariffs on Western goods going into China, pay large indemnity in silver
• Treaty of Kanghwa: 1876, replication of the U.S. gunboat diplomacy to sign an unequal treaty with Japan and open their ports. As a result of Unyo Incident (1875); Japan sends ship to survey Korea and is fired upon. This treaty paved the way for Japan to advance in Korea; opened Korea’s three ports to Japan (Pusan, Wonsan, and Inch’ŏn; ended Joseon's status as a tributary state of China. The Treaty also granted Japanese many of the same rights in Korea that Westerners enjoyed in Japan, such as extraterritoriality, right to live and work in Korea. Opened Korea to the outside world and brought the country for the first time onto the international stage (Queen Min who had instituted a coup before had close the country to European powers). 1876 is the marker of dividing Korean history from pre/early modern to modern
• Treaty of Kanagawa: First unequal treaty of Japan signed in 1854 when Perry came a second time. Provisions: Open two ports (Shimoda and Hakodate), Guarantee good treatment for shipwrecked sailors, Agree to provide provisions for ships at two ports, Establish American Consul in Shimoda, Give U.S. most-favored nation status. Opened ports to the U.S., Russia, France, and England. This treaty led to internal conflicts within Japan and brought the end of the Tokugawa Shogunate era. The Meiji Restoration (1868-1912) began focusing on military and economy.
• Harris Treaty: Treaty of Amity and Commerce signed 1858 with Townsend Harris, another U.S. envoy who negotiated with the Tokugawa Shogunate. Led to Yokohama boomtown. Important points: exchange of diplomatic agents; Kanagawa, Kobe, Nagasaki, Niigata, and Yokohama’s opening to foreign trade as ports; ability of United States citizens to live and trade in those ports; a system of extraterritoriality that provided for the subjugation of foreign residents to the laws of their own consular courts instead of the Japanese law system; fixed low import-export duties, subject to international control; right of missionary operations and teaching. Led to round of treaties with other Western nations and the demise of Bakufu power because they kept making concessions; seen as weak, plagued by internal factionalism
• Taiping Rebellion: civil war in southern China from 1850 to 1864, against the ruling Manchu-led Qing Dynasty.
Started because of political, economic, and social tensions tied to population growth. It was a millenarian movement led by Hong Xiuquan, who announced that he had received visions in which he learned that he was the younger brother of Jesus. At least 20 million people died, mainly civilians, in one of the deadliest military conflicts in history.[4] Hong established the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom (egalitarian utopia) with its capital at Nanjing. The Kingdom's army controlled large parts of southern China, at its height ruling about 30 million people. The rebel agenda included social reforms such as shared "property in common," equality for women, morality, and the replacement of Confucianism, Buddhism and Chinese folk religion with their form of Christianity. The Qing government eventually crushed the rebellion with the aid of French and British forces; it was also a failure of leadership, inadequate implementation of stated policies, and an inability to gain gentry support dues to anti-Confucianism in
movement
• Boxer Rebellion: a violent movement by the Righteous Harmony Society in China between 1899 and 1901. It expressed proto-nationalist sentiments and tried to eradicate opposing foreign imperialism and Christian missions. The Great Powers intervened and defeated the government forces, in a humiliation for China. This is peasant rebellion but targeted against the West; Call for expulsion of all Westerners from China. Conservatives saw the Boxers were solution to the problem; simply relied on power of people to rise up against foreigners. Instead of suppressing the Boxers, the Empress Dowager makes an alliance with them. The Boxers were allowed to enter into Beijing and attack foreign embassies. In the end, proved to be disaster. Foreign powers suppressed the Boxers to save the embassies and missionaries. The Empress forced to sign another humiliating treaty and large indemnities paid to all Western nations; Western powers also now stationed permanent guards in China and Russia occupied Manchuria until Russo-Japanese War
• Self Strengthening Movement (China): China wanted to regain sovereignty after Opium War experience. Some officials in 1870’s advocated reform in the form of a “self-strengthening” movement. With the slogan, “Learn the superior technology of the barbarian, in order to control him,” the Tongzhi (T’ung-chih) Restoration led to new plans for a modern army and navy, industrialization and changes within the diplomatic corps, but the changes were slow for lack of government support. o 1860s: Tongzhi modernization program mainly focusing on military technology (weapons, navy etc.) 1870s: Tongzhi Restoration ends. Leaders began to see that Western strength was not just based on modern guns and ships. They discussed to build infrastructure to support military industries.1880s: Last stage. Leaders began to see that ultimately military strength was only possible if nation as a whole was strong economically o It set China’s path of military and industrial modernization. Slogan: “Chinese essence/Western techniques.” Believe that Chinese culture, government, institutions etc. still superior. Lack of central coordination of modernization program. Failure of the Movement shown in military field in Sino-Japanese War of 1894-95; the war ended as discrediting entire Self-Strengthening Movement and it came to an end
• Li Hongzhang: was a politician, general, and diplomat of the late Qing Empire. He quelled several major rebellions and served in important positions of the Imperial Court, including the premier viceroyalty of Zhili. Although he was best known in the West for his generally pro-modern stance and importance as a negotiator, Li antagonized the British with his support of Russia as a foil against Japanese expansionism in Manchuria and fell from favor with the Chinese after their loss in the 1894 Sino-Japanese War. His image in China remains controversial, with criticism on one hand for political and military mistakes and praise on the other for his success against the Taiping Rebellion, his diplomatic skills defending Chinese interests in the era of unequal treaties, and his role pioneering China's industrial and military modernization.
• Kang Youwei: He plays an important role by providing a reinterpretation of Confucianism that makes radical change seem acceptable to people; focus on the past but also apply it to the future and modernization, wanted constitutional monarchy like Meiji. In 1898, the emperor asked him to carry out the post war reform program and this was called “100 Days Reform.” Over fifty reform decrees over short period of time, mainly concerned with education, modern industry and agriculture, revise legal codes, call for political reforms eliminating useless offices in government. Conservatives in government oppose reforms and with the support of Empress Dowager Cixi led a palace coup against the emperor. Puts him under house arrest and execute reformers. Kang fled to Japan and all reforms cancelled. This lasted 103 days and thus called 100 Days Reform.
• Sun Yatsen: Chinese revolutionary, first president and founding father of the Republic of China("Nationalist China") after 1911 revolution. Western educated doctor from South China. 1894 starts first revolutionary organization. He argued that to strengthen China, it was necessary to overthrow Manchus and establish a Republic. Student revolutionary societies began to organize after Boxer Rebellion. In 1905, various groups joined together under Sun to form Tongmenghui (Revolutionary Alliance). Three principles: nationalism (Expel Manchus and restore Chinese rule), Democracy (Establish a Republic), People’s Livelihood (Equalize land holdings)
• Tonghak Rebellion: Korean peasant rebellion which addressed economic concerns of the mass, against excess taxation and official corruption, and strove to remove privileges of yangban class. It was anti-foreign movement (“righteous army or uibyong” reemerged during the Tonghak rebellion). It led to the First Sino-Japanese War and ended Korea’s tributary relationship with China. As a result of the war, Japan occupied the island of Taiwan. Korea gained independence but not in a positive sense. Tonghak is also an emphasis on Eastern learning and it started as a religion which focuses on egalitarianism and precepts from Confucianism, Buddhism, Daoism, Shamanism, and Catholicism.
• First Sino-Japanese War: During the Tonghak Rebellion, Korea called for help from China and China sent in troops to quell protests; Japan responded by sending in own troops, seizing control of royal palace and arresting kind and queen, and the war was started. War was mainly fought in Manchuria and Korea and China was defeated because Japan was better equipped and led, and more united than China under its imperialist nationalism.
• Treaty of Shimonoseki: Unequal treaty signed on April 17, 1895, between the Empire of Japan and the Qing Empire, ending the First Sino-Japanese War. Terms: China recognizes Korea as an autonomous and separate state and ends tributary relationship with it, pays indemnity of 7.45 million kg of silver to Japan, cedes the island of Taiwan to Japan, opens Shashih, Chungking, Soochow and Hangchow to Japan. Moreover, China is to grant Japan most-favored-nation treatment. It also ceded the Liaodong Peninsula. Russia, Germany, and France reacted to Shimonoseki and Japanese control of Liaodong and Port Arthur; diplomatic pressure “triple intervention” to block this transfer, and China paid large indemnity instead.
• Russo-Japanese War: Japan attacks Russia first as a preemptive war. Russia wanted a war weather port in Port Arthur and Japan was mad from triple intervention. Japanese victory, first time west lost to Japan
• Treaty of Portsmouth: formally ended the 1904-05 Russo-Japanese War. Russia was forced to evacuate Manchuria, recognized Japanese influence in Korea, Roosevelt gets peace prize for diplomatic negotiations, southern half of Sakhalin island goes to Japan. Lots of post cards and first use of photography and Russians were portrayed as more equal to the Japanese; yellow peril aspect too. Japan
• King Kojong: First emperor of independent Korea. Followed progressive faction which wanted to study the Meiji system and adapt elements of Japanese modernization into the Korean system; seeked self-strengthening through reform. Policy shift that combined traditional close relations with China, tracking of Meiji reform, opening of relations with the West, limited toleration of Western ideas like Christianity. Multiple treaties with Western powers signed during the 1880’s. This creates tensions between the conservative and progressive factions in the Korean court and Kojong is forced to give power back to father, who rolls back some reforms; Japan responds by sending troops, but China responds by sending more troops and starts an era of Chinese meddling in Korean internal affairs, mainly through “advisors”
• Ito Hirobumi: (1841-1909) He was the first Resident-General of Korea (Japanese) after the protectorate treaty was signed in 1905. He urged Kojong to step down in favor of his son Sunjong and pushed through further measures to gain control over Korean internal affairs. Main author of the Meiji constitution of 1889
March First Movement (1919)
• First ever mass society movement in Korea
• Driven by the Wilsonian ideas of self-determination
• Nationalists hope that foreign assistance will help loosen Jap grip on Korea
• The death of King Kojong brought people to the streets to mourn and protest o Over 1 million people o Brutal Jap crackdown
• Declaration of Independence emphasizes Korean liberty and equality-Ch’oe Nansom
Naissen ittai (Japan and Korea one body; assimilation policy)
• Carried about between 1910-1945
• Military Rule 1910-1920 o Terauchi Masatake o Japanese legitimate rule by asserting natural affinity between Japs Koreans o Assimilation of Koreans into Japanese culture-no Korean language, Koreans seen as second class o Banning of political parties newspapers
• Cultural Rule 1920-1931 o Saito Maketo is General Ruler o Abolishes unpopular laws o Emphasizes harmony between J and K o Recruits Koreans into civil service o Political opening o Increase rice production
• War Mobilization 1931-1945 o Kamika movement o Religion reform-shinto o Name change to Jap names o Japanese is national language o Recruit Koreans into the military
Manchukuo
• Japanese name for Manchuria-northern China
• Japan invaded it in 1931 and it was a puppet state till 1945
• Part of Japanese imperialist plan