Japan : A Concise History

by Meyer, Milton W.

• ISBN13: 9780742541177
• ISBN10: 0742541177
• Edition: 4th
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2009-06-01
• Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Pub Inc

Summary

The emergence of Japan as a political and economic global power has been one of the most remarkable success stories of modern history. Though small in geographic area, the archipelago is the tenth most populous country, with 128 million inhabitants crowded into an area the size of Montana. Its natural resources are almost nonexistent, yet today it ranks only second after the much larger United States as the most affluent and economically productive nation in the world. Its rich cultural heritage and high-tech society are equally vibrant. For all readers wanting to better understand this dynamic country, this popular and accessible introduction offers an authoritative yet concise overview of two thousand years of Japanese history. Now fully updated to the present, this edition also includes an array of photographs and illustrations. The first half of the book explores the pre-Meiji era up to 1868. The second half traces domestic changes and relevant foreign issues in the modernizing era launched by the Meiji Restoration. Highlighting key historical events, Milton W. Meyer also includes cultural, artistic, and religious milestones. Summaries and datelines at the end of each chapter, as well as a glossary, offer additional essential reference points. With its clear explanations of Japanese traditions, religion, history, economics, politics, and relations with the West, this book provides an invaluable guide for understanding contemporary Japan.

Table of Contents

List of Illustrations	p. xi
Preface	p. xiii
Introducing Japan	p. 1
The Geographic Setting	p. 2
The Effects of Geography	p. 6
Historical Periods and Records	p. 10
Problems of Understanding	p. 13
Traditional Japan: Prehistory to 1185	p. 19
Ancient Japan (to ca. 400 CE)	p. 21
Archaeological Periods	p. 21
Chinese and Japanese Annals	p. 26
Chronology	p. 29
Japanese Sovereigns and Reigns	p. 29
Yamato Japan (ca. 400-700)	p. 31
Society	p. 32
Sinification, the First Phase: Asuka or Suiko Period (552-645)	p. 33
Sinification, the Second Phase: Hakuho (645-710)	p. 41
Chronology	p. 43
Japanese Sovereigns and Reigns	p. 44
A Japanese Mahayana Buddhist (Daiji Bukkyo) Pantheon	p. 45
Nara Japan (710-794)	p. 47
Politics and Society	p. 48
Religion	p. 50
Literature and Language	p. 54
The End of Nara	p. 55
Chronology	p. 56
Japanese Sovereigns and Reigns	p. 57
Heian Japan (794-1185)	p. 59
Politics and Economics	p. 60
Buddhism	p. 63
Culture	p. 66
Chronology	p. 69
Japanese Sovereigns and Reigns	p. 70
Feudal Japan (1185-1868)	p. 71
Kamakura Japan (1185-1333)	p. 73
Yoritomo's Legacy	p. 73
The Hojo Regency	p. 76
Religion and Culture	p. 78
Kamakura Decline	p. 81
Chronology	p. 84
Japanese Sovereigns and Reigns	p. 84
Kamakura Appointed Shoguns	p. 85
Hojo Regents (Shikken)	p. 85
Ashikaga Japan (1333-1603)	p. 87
Strife	p. 88
Commerce	p. 90
Culture	p. 91
Reunification	p. 94
Western Intrusion	p. 98
Chronology	p. 100
Japanese Sovereigns and Reigns	p. 101
Ashikaga Shoguns	p. 102
Tokugawa Japan (1603-1868): Stability	p. 103
Society	p. 103
Isolation	p. 107
Effects of Isolation	p. 107
Chronology	p. 111
Japanese Sovereigns and Reigns	p. 111
Tokugawa Shoguns	p. 111
Tokugawa Japan: Change	p. 113
Social and Economic Trends	p. 113
Culture	p. 116
Intellectual Trends	p. 120
Chronology	p. 123
Tokugawa Japan: Western Intrusion	p. 125
End of Isolation	p. 125
Western Rights and Japanese Reactions	p. 129
The Final Decade of Tokugawa Rule	p. 131
Chronology	p. 135
Modern Japan (1868-1945)	p. 137
Meiji Japan (1868-1912): Politics	p. 139
Background	p. 139
Realignments	p. 141
New Leadership	p. 144
The Meiji Constitution	p. 146
Extraconstitutional Organs	p. 148
Government and Party Relations	p. 150
Chronology	p. 153
Meiji Japan: Economics and Society	p. 155
Economics	p. 155
Society	p. 158
Chronology	p. 163
Meiji Japan: Foreign Relations	p. 165
Background	p. 165
Japan, Korea, and China	p. 167
Japan, Korea, and Russia	p. 170
Japan, Korea, and World Powers	p. 173
Chronology	p. 176
Imperial Japan: World Power (1912-1922)	p. 179
Background	p. 180
Japan and World War I	p. 182
The Washington Conference	p. 187
Chronology	p. 189
Imperial Japan: Peace and Conflict (1922-1937)	p. 191
The 1920s: Domestic Developments	p. 191
The 1920s: Foreign Policies	p. 195
The Manchurian Incident, 1931-1933	p. 198
The 1930s: Growth of Authoritarianism	p. 200
Chronology	p. 204
Imperial Japan: World War II (1937-1945)	p. 205
Japan, the Axis Powers, and the Soviet Union	p. 205
Japan in East Asia	p. 207
Japan and the United States	p. 209
The Pacific War	p. 211
Chronology	p. 217
Postwar Japan (1945 to Present)	p. 219
Occupied Japan (1945-1952)	p. 221
Nature of the Occupation	p. 221
The First Period: Reform	p. 223
The Second Period: Recovery	p. 227
Peace Treaty Negotiations	p. 228
Peace Treaty Settlement	p. 230
Chronology	p. 233
Contemporary Japan (Since 1952): Domestic Affairs-Politics	p. 235
The Political System	p. 236
Politics: The Right	p. 245
Politics: The Left	p. 252
Chronology	p. 255
Contemporary Japan: Domestic Affairs-Economics and Society	p. 257
Economics	p. 257
Society	p. 266
Contemporary Japan: Foreign Affairs	p. 283
Japan and the United States	p. 284
Japan and Russia	p. 291
Japan and East Asia	p. 292
Japan and Other Asian Countries	p. 298
Japan and the Rest of the World	p. 300
Chronology: Japan-United States	p. 302
Chronology: Japan-Other Countries	p. 303
Appendix: Japanese Prime Ministers	p. 305
Glossary	p. 309
Bibliography	p. 317
Index	p. 345
About the Author	p. 361
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