Major patterns of foreign policy

Inward looking, 1600-1890

Tokugawa seclusion policies

Early Meiji, 1868-90

*#2 Saigō Takamori vs. *#3 Ōkubo Toshimichi

Debate over invasion of Korea, 1873

Why do you think that Ōkubo prevailed?

Imperialistic, militaristic, 1890-1945

Western model

Inward looking, 1945-present

Unequal Treaty Revisions, 1880-94

How did educated urban and wealthy rural Japanese view the unequal treaties?

"National humiliation"

Impediments to revisions

Foreign

Lack of "civilized" laws

Domestic

Popular Rights activists & Political parties

Nationalism

Leak in London Times, 1886

British-Japanese agreement, 1893-94

End extraterritorial rights (Civil code, 1899)

Tariff renegotiations, 1911

All ports open

What is the irony of the British-Japanese agreement of 1894 1894 in light of the Loyalist Movement’s slogan of the 1860s “Revere the emperor and expel the barbarians”?

Japanese Imperialism, 1890-1910

Why did Japan turn to imperialism?

Japanese Imperialistic Motives

Nationalistic pride

Western model

Economic growth

Raw materials

Markets for manufactured goods

Strategic concerns

"Korean dagger," Klemens Meckel, 1885

"Line of advantage," #12 Yamagata, 1890

Japanese Imperialistic Means

✓Industrializing economy

Meiji Military Reforms, 1873

*#12 Yamagata Aritomo

✓Universal conscription

Modern army and navy

Western weapons technologies

French and German military teachers and advisers

✓Strategic and tactical training

Imperial Precepts to Soldiers and Sailors, 1882

Samuraization of conscript soldiers

Loyalty to superiors and emperor

“Duty is weightier than a mountain, while death is lighter than a feather.”

How popular were these ideals among samurai of the Late Tokugawa period?

To be covered after midterm:

Conflict over Choson Dynasty (1392–1910) Korea

Qing Dynasty (1644-1911)

Korea was a traditional tributary

Korean-Japanese Unequal Treaty, 1876

Japan and Korea equal states

Exchange of envoys

3 Ports open to trade

Extraterritorial rights for Japanese

Sino-Korean Treaty 1882

Chinese citizens granted extraterritoriality

Loans and gifts of modern weapons

Chinese troops in Korea

Factionalism at Korean court

Kim Ok-kyun

Pro-reform insurrection, 1884

Convention of Tianjin, 1885

Korea a co-protectorate

Nationalistic opposition

*Osaka incident, 1885

Fukuzawa Yukichi, “On Leaving Asia,” 1885

Gordon, pp. 118-19, Hopper, pp. 121-22

*Sino-Japanese War, 1894-5

Contingency in History

Tonghak Rebellion, 1894

"Eastern Learning"

Help for impoverished peasants

March on Seoul

Occupation, May 1894

Chinese intervention in Seoul

Japanese troops in Pusan on June 2

Japan's declaration of war, Aug. 1, 1894

Military: Strategic advantage

*#14 Ito Hirobumi 's Cabinet:

1) China's refusal to negotiate

2) Conflict with Diet over budget

3) Nationalistic pressure

4) Opportunity for economic gain

Japanese control of seas

Yalu River mouth in September, 1894

Japanese victories on land

Pyongyang, Korea, Sept. 1894

Southern Manchuria

Liaodong Peninsula, Oct. 1894

*Port Arthur, Nov. 1894

Weihaiwei, Feb. 1895

Japan's victory over modernized Qing army in 8 months

Superior army

Universal conscription

Strategic & tactical training

Superior fleet

Smaller, faster fleet

Better training

Artillery and guns

Smaller, faster, more accurate

Better ammunition

*Treaty of Shimonoseki, 1895

Recognized Korean independence

Chinese indemnity: 200 million oz. silver

150% of Japan's war expenses

Japan's equality with West at treaty ports

Japanese factories in treaty ports

Taiwan and Liaodong to Japan

International repercussions?