Japan on the path of modernization. Features of the modernization of Japan Table on the history of the modernization policy of Japan

History of Japan in the late XIX - early. The 20th century is full of important events. They are associated with Japan's entry into the capitalist path of development. In the history of Japan of this period, there is much in common with the countries of Europe and the USA. At the same time, Japan had its own specific features.

Discovery of Japan Until the middle of the 19th century, Japan was a “closed country”. This led to the economic, political and military weakness of the country. In 1854, the United States, using force of arms, forced the government of the shogun to "open" the country. An agreement on peace and friendship was signed. Following the United States, European countries were allowed into Japan.

Meiji Revolution Late 1960s The 19th century was marked by events commonly referred to as the “Meiji Imi” or the “Meiji Revolution”. It is connected with the restoration of the power of the emperor and the overthrow of the "shogunate". In 1867, the shogun relinquished power in favor of the 15-year-old Emperor Mutsihito.

On April 6, 1868, the Emperor made a solemn declaration in which he put forward the following program of action: All state affairs will be decided in accordance with public opinion. All people should unanimously devote themselves to the prosperity of the nation. Will be allowed to pursue their own aspirations and develop their activities. Knowledge will be borrowed all over the world

Japan has entered an era of modernization. The task facing the government was very difficult: to carry out modernization according to the Western model and not lose its independence and traditions.

To do this, Meiji carried out a number of fundamental reforms: The direction of the reforms The content of the reforms The significance of the reforms Agrarian reform Part of the land was transferred to the peasants under certain conditions. In agriculture, the capitalist way of life began to develop. Administrative reform Confiscation of part of the land and deprivation of power of the princes. Destroyed the power of the princes and the division of the country into principalities. Military reform Compulsory military service introduced. The military-feudal structure was liquidated. The Japanese army has acquired a high combat capability. Monetary reform A single monetary unit, the yen, was introduced. Created conditions for the formation of a single national market. Education reform A decree on compulsory primary education was adopted. The class system of education was destroyed.

In the 1980s, a broad movement for a constitution unfolded in the country. A special mission was sent to Europe and the USA (to study and choose the most appropriate version of the constitution). The mission opted for the Prussian version of Bismarck. Emperor Parliament Upper house Lower house

Features of the development of Japan at the beginning of the 20th century. Japan embarked on the path of accelerated modernization. The government actively patronized the development of industry and trade, seeing in the industrialization of the country a protection against the danger of foreign interference in the affairs of the state. By order of the emperor, “model factories” were built at the expense of the state treasury, which were then sold or given to firms close to the imperial court. The Mitsui and Mitsubishi firms received especially generous gifts.

At the end of the 19th century, Japanese capitalism entered a monopoly stage of development. Trade could not develop without good roads. Therefore, the state itself took up railway construction.

Conclusion Japan is the only non-European state whose level of development by the beginning of the 20th century reached the level of the leading European countries. The development of imperialism took place in the conditions of a narrow internal market, the poverty of the vast majority of the population, and this made Japan an aggressive country, striving to seize foreign lands.

This lesson will focus on the Land of the Rising Sun. Japan from antiquity to about the 17th-18th centuries. did not differ in special economic, political and social development and was a traditional state. Why, in the middle of the XIX - early XX centuries. did it make such a rapid leap and literally in 50 years it broke out of the outsiders of the world civilization into the undisputed leaders in all spheres of the country's life? You will solve this riddle by studying the lesson "Japan on the path of modernization." How Japan evolved from a backward, closed country into a powerful world power, as well as the prerequisites and reasons for this, is discussed in this lesson.

In the struggle for the unification of Japan, the shoguns did not need rivals. These were the Europeans who began to penetrate the Japanese islands at the end of the 16th - beginning of the 17th centuries. and actively spread. As a result, a Christian community arose in the southern and western parts of the archipelago. She raised an uprising in 1637 with the aim of extending her influence to Japan; but the uprising was brutally suppressed. The shoguns began to see Christians as a danger to the ruling elite and therefore switched to a policy of closing the country (the policy of sakoku - "the border is locked").

From the middle of the XVII to the middle of the XIX century. Japan was one of the most closed countries in the world, and it was almost impossible to get into it. An exception was made only for Dutch merchants (and then, the Dutch could only stick to one southern island), because Holland at one time helped the Japanese cope with the Catholic uprising staged by the Portuguese colonialists.

Such a policy of self-isolation of the country contributed to the fact that power was united in the hands of the shoguns, but Japan, without contact with other more developed countries, was increasingly lagging behind them in its technological and economic development. At some point, Japan's self-isolation policy became a powerful brake on the country. For example, in 1825, a decree was issued according to which Japanese troops were allowed to fire on any foreign ship that appeared near the Japanese islands.

Not a single European state could cope with Japan's policy of self-isolation, and they didn't need it because of the almost undeveloped Africa and other territories of Asia. Only the Americans managed to break through the blockade. Commander M.K. Parry (Fig. 2) in 1853 organized an expedition to the Japanese Islands. Approaching them as part of a serious navy, he forced the Japanese to make concessions. Japan signed unequal trade treaties with the Americans (the Kanagawa Treaty), as a result of which America was able to trade with Japan almost without hindrance. For this, the ports of Shimoda and Hokudata were opened to American traders, and American settlements were allowed to be established on their territory. Thus, the Americans dealt the first blow to Japan's self-isolation.

Rice. 2. Commander M.K. parry()

After signing the Kanagawa Treaty, Japan was forced to sign similar treaties with European countries. In 1855, the Shimoda Treaty (Shimodsky Treaty) was signed between Japan and Russia - the first Russian-Japanese treaty, according to which the southern part of the Kuril Islands retreated to the zone of influence of Japan. Similar treaties were signed by Japan with other countries in 1858. They were called "Ansei" treaties, which were concluded between Japan and France, England, Holland, and the USA. Thus, Japan established official diplomatic relations with Western countries. The conclusion of international treaties and the exit of Japan from self-isolation were only the first step towards modernization.

In 1867, the Japanese Emperor Komei died and Emperor Mutsuhito, who was 15 years old, ascended the throne. After ascending the throne, Mutsuhito took on a new name - Meiji (Fig. 3), which meant "enlightened rule." Since 1868, transformations began in Japan, which went down in history under the name "Meiji Reforms" or "Meiji Restoration". These reforms can be divided into two large groups:

Transformations aimed at uniting the country;

Economic and political transformations (European standards were taken as a basis).

Rice. 3. Emperor Meiji ()

With regard to reforms aimed at centralizing the country, the following can be distinguished:

Destruction of principalities and division of Japan into prefectures in 1871;

Introduction of a single monetary unit (yen) in 1871;

Replacement of the samurai militia by a regular army, the introduction of universal military service in 1872;

The transfer of the imperial capital from Kyoto to the political and economic center of Edo (the modern city of Tokyo).

Anti-feudal reforms were also carried out, which consisted in the abolition of estate privileges (for example, nobles were forbidden to wear katana swords).

Surnames were assigned to all residents of Japan, not just nobles. The most important reform was the opening of a free market for the purchase and sale of land. Feudal ownership of land was abolished.

In economic terms, the transformations concerned the freedom of movement of people and goods. Freedom of trade and movement around the country were introduced. In 1872, the first Tokyo-Yokohama railway was built to facilitate economic communication between the regions. In addition, Emperor Meiji banned the guild organization and guild regulation, laying the foundation for the creation of a European-style industry.

One of the most important reforms of the Meiji era was the reform of the education system. The University of Tokyo was opened, and a large number of schools were opened throughout Japan. According to official statistics, by 1907, 97% of Japanese boys were attending school. This percentage of literacy exceeded that of England, France and Russia. There was no female education at that time.

A feature of this period was the blind copying of European standards, which did not take into account the peculiarities of the development of Japan (for example, in a portrait of 1872, the Japanese emperor is depicted in traditional Japanese clothes, and in a photograph of 1873, the emperor appears before us in a European guise: in a military uniform and with saber).

Emperor Meiji convened the first parliament in Asia. It was arranged according to the European model. Parliament discussed laws according to the canons that were adopted in Europe. Emperor Meiji also created Japan's first constitution. The constitution was modeled after Germany's fundamental law (the Bismarck Constitution).

Rice. 4. Emperor Meiji at a meeting of Parliament. 1890 ()

In Japan, the European system of titles was also introduced: princes and barons appeared.

From an economic point of view, all the reforms carried out led Japan to progress. The Japanese emperor and his entourage used the method that Peter I used in Russia: the state itself created manufactories and resold them to private individuals, but at a reduced price. The benefit was twofold: on the one hand, the state received taxes from the owners of manufactories, and on the other hand, huge masses of the country's population were employed. It is also important to note that the labor force in Japan was very cheap, so Japanese manufactories, and later plants and factories, were able to make big profits. It was during the Meiji era that manufactories, or zaibatsu, appeared in Japan, many of which still exist today. Japanese trading houses Mitsui and Mitsubishi (Mitsui, Mitsubishi) are known all over the world.

Such a rapid economic development of Japan led the Japanese to become interested in new markets for raw materials, sales and labor. Japan, following the European countries, began to join the policy of colonization. She was interested in neighboring territories - Korea, which was called "a knife aimed at the heart of Japan", and China.

In 1894-1895, the Sino-Japanese War took place. The end of the war was the signing of the Shimonoseki peace treaty. Japan won this war, and China lost its territories: the island of Taiwan, the Pescadores, and, most importantly, China lost its economic independence. Under the terms of the Shimonoseki Treaty, the formal independence of Korea was proclaimed, which was beneficial to both Japan and Western European countries. But the European countries in this treaty did not like the fact that Japan decided to capture the Liaodong Peninsula, located near the Chinese capital. This territory was a tasty morsel for Russia and other European countries. The Liaodong Peninsula was an important strategic point, in addition, a modern port could be equipped there, and Russia really needed such a port in the Far East. As a result, the Liaodong Peninsula was leased from the Russian Empire.

Rice. 5. Battle in the Sino-Japanese War ()

Japan did not like this turn of events, and she entered into an alliance with England. In 1902, an agreement was signed between Japan and England on the conclusion of a military alliance. This alliance was directed against Russia. Japan and England considered Russia their main strategic adversary at this time. The British ensured the development of the Japanese army and provided it with weapons. In 1904-1905, the Russo-Japanese War broke out, where England supported its ally - Japan. This war turned out to be victorious for Japan and losing for Russia. The Russian Empire in this war lost South Sakhalin, was forced to abandon the lease of the Liaodong Peninsula, and also did not acquire the Kuril Islands, which it had long dreamed of. All these territories were given to Japan. But she felt her growing power and was not limited to the Japanese-Chinese and Russian-Japanese wars, so Japan was one of the main participants in the First World War, which began in 1914.

4. Norman G. Formation of capitalist Japan. - M.: 1952.

5. Yudovskaya A.Ya. General history. History of the New Age, 1800-1900, Grade 8. - M.: 2012.

Homework

1. Tell us about the features of the development of Japan in the period from 1603 to 1868 (Tokugawa Shogunate)

2. Give examples of major reforms in the Meiji Revolution

3. Tell us about the wars waged by Japan in 1894-1895. and 1904-1905, what was their result?

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

Japan on the path of modernization

Japan throughout its history has sought to absorb all the best that its neighbors had. Prior to the invasion of the American fleet in Japan in 1854, the country was completely separated from civilization in economic and cultural terms. The country was in a feudal system. Cheap American goods poured into the Japanese market, killing the domestic industry. Beginning in 1869, Emperor Mutsuhito headed 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 compete with the leading powers of the world, one must have the same level of development with 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.

Consider the essence of the ongoing changes, bringing them into a common table.

Reform		Changes in the life of society
Administrative	Destruction of the power of princes	Division of the country into prefectures and provinces headed by appointed officials
Agricultural	Establishment of private ownership of land. Permission to buy and sell land	The peasants received land. Growing wealth among large landowners, declining incomes among some peasants
	Introduction of universal conscription	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 was 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.

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Japan seeks to make Korea and Northern China its colony, which leads to a clash of its interests with the Russian Empire. Unable to agree diplomatically, Japan enters the war and emerges victorious in a year, achieving its goals.

Rice. 3. Map of the Russo-Japanese War.

Victory in the war and a significant cultural and economic breakthrough allowed Japan to become a leading regional power, an oceanic empire capable of much more than just leadership in the Pacific.

What have we learned?

From the article on history (grade 8), 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 from the leading European powers by several centuries, proving its worth to the world.

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In Japan, over the past hundred years, there has been a process of profound transformation in all spheres of society, reflecting the objective historical trend of modernization and internationalization of the economy, politics, science, culture, which brings the peoples of different countries closer, promotes their cooperation and mutual understanding. As a result, a new image of the country is being formed, which organically combines traditional elements and Western innovations. These processes are caused by a set of endogenous and exogenous factors. This process was initiated by the Meiji Restoration (Meiji Isin), when, after more than two hundred years of isolation, active contacts with Western countries began. Since that time, large-scale modernization has been counting down, which has taken the form of Westernization, or rather Europeanization. The ability of Japanese society throughout its history to rebuild helps to understand the essence of the process of modernization.

During the transformation of a traditional society into a Western one, naturally, we are talking about an intensive, one-sided interethnic transfer of socio-economic, political and socio-cultural values. In this case, modernization occurs under the influence of exogenous factors and proceeds quite quickly. The transfer of values ​​can take place both in the conditions of dependence of one or another modernizing state, and while maintaining its very broad political and economic independence. Not only in Meiji Japan, but also in the first decades after the defeat in World War II, "modernized" and "Western" were synonymous - Japanese society was considered backward, while Western society was considered advanced. Only with the achievement of a high level of economic development did such views lose their force.

The nature of Japan's modernization was greatly influenced by the high adaptive capacity of the population, i.e. his assimilation of various elements of other civilizations, primarily Indian and Chinese, moreover, turning them into a component of his national values. At present, it is difficult to figure out what is original in Japanese society and what is borrowed, since everything has merged into a single alloy. The formation of such an alloy is associated with the worldview of the Japanese, which, as in other Eastern societies, is based on tradition. Japan is characterized by an evolutionary process of transformation of traditions. New elements were usually added to the old structure without destroying it, often coexisting with it, sometimes merging. Gradually, these elements, modified as they adapted to the old structure, caused a restructuring of the entire system. Sometimes this process was so violent that it gave rise to the misleading impression that the Japanese were destroying their traditions. Transformations in Japanese society, even the most serious ones, took place without crushing social explosions, through reforms, without revolutions, through evolution. Solving problems (contradictions) through compromises is a phenomenon typical of Japan, where, as a rule, they choose the golden mean between destruction and creation. This approach is based on one of the fundamental principles of the worldview of the Japanese - the concept of harmony "wa". The Meiji Restoration, in particular, was characterized by a compromise between conservative forces and supporters of renewal. The first showed a tendency to change the position in society, the second - to preserve and maintain the tradition. A significant part of the representatives of commercial and industrial capital, who came from feudal clans, turned out to be quite ready to adapt to the requirements of the new era. Nevertheless, the reforms themselves at the turning points in Japan's historical development were truly revolutionary.

The pragmatism of the Japanese gave them great opportunities to accept all the innovations that they considered necessary, diligently avoiding possible cataclysms, without compromising traditional values. This is one of the reasons why Japan has been able to successfully respond to the challenge of the West. The Japanese experience shows that no culture, even one as powerful as the Western one, can be a universal role model, and at the same time, no culture develops absolutely independently, as if in a vacuum.

The perception of Western views took place in a sharp struggle, according to the formula Japanese spirit - Western technique (wakon-yosai). Wakon personified traditional culture. This concept reflected the ideological aspect associated with the spiritual values ​​of the Japanese. Yosai meant universal European civilization. The government understood that only by assimilating the achievements of Western science and technology would it be able to defend the independence of the country and thus its privileges. But the assimilation of Western achievements brought with it the danger of destroying the entire old system. Hence the appearance of the slogan "expulsion of the barbarians", which can be regarded as a manifestation of the initial stage of nationalism.

The restoration of imperial power was a completely logical result of the struggle of the nationalist forces of the country with the already obsolete totalitarian feudal regime of the shogunate, the struggle against the threat of losing national independence. The emperor was a kind of banner of resurgent self-consciousness, a symbol of national unity. The state Shinto became the spiritual instrument of the new government.

Features of the Meiji restoration (the arrival of representatives of the feudal nobility, merchant and usury capital, and not the bourgeoisie, which was still politically weak) to the government, predetermined the specifics of the country's capitalist development while maintaining significant feudal vestiges (rent in kind in the countryside, landowner ownership of land, semi-feudal conditions labor in the enterprise). Therefore, the reforms carried out by the government turned out to be quite limited. Modernization was carried out from above, through the elite of the nation, in the course of its implementation, the importance of the state was extremely important, which laid a powerful foundation for the country's economic take-off, but the leading role still belonged to private entrepreneurship, which existed back in the Tokugawa period. The carriers of the new economic relations were largely nurtured by the government's protective policies. Japan's entry into the path of accelerated modernization was an objective economic necessity, and its implementation on the path of building up military potential according to the formula "a rich country - a strong army" was natural.

item 1 questions and tasks to paragraph paragraph p. 147

Question. Remember why in the 1630s. there was a "closure" of Japan and what it meant. What other countries of Asia in the era of modern times followed this path?

Missionaries from European countries preached the Christian doctrine in Japan, and it was a success among the peasants. This caused dissatisfaction with the central authorities and the nobility, who saw in the Christian ideas of universal equality a danger to existing traditions.

In the 1730s, the government took a series of measures to isolate Japan from the outside world. Decrees were issued on the expulsion of Europeans from the country and the prohibition of Christianity. The policy of "closing" the country was caused by the desire of the authorities to prevent the invasion of Japan by Europeans and the desire to keep intact the old traditions and feudal orders.

After the “closure” of the country, trade relations between Japan and Europe ceased.

item 1 questions and tasks to paragraph paragraph p. 148

Question. What were the results of the “self-isolation” policy for the population and economy of Japan? Why in the middle of the XIX century. could the authorities no longer keep Japan "closed" to Europeans and Americans?

After the conclusion of unequal treaties with foreign powers, the ports of Japan were opened for the import of foreign goods. The influx of European goods led her to an economic crisis. As a result, requisitions from the peasants increased, the tax in kind was replaced by cash. All this led to a deterioration in the position of the peasantry.

item 2 questions and tasks to paragraph paragraph p. 149

Question. Why do you think the leading industrial countries of the world supported the regime of the shogun, who personified the feudal system?

The main impetus for modernization and mastery of industrial production came from the ruling circles, who saw it as a means of strengthening the position of the state in the international arena. Japan remained a feudal state.

p.3 questions and tasks to paragraph paragraph p. 150

Question. Analyze the reforms in various areas of the country's life and explain how they provided a compromise between the supporters of traditional society and the supporters of Japan's modernization.

Agrarian reform and reform of the management system were carried out. Although the estate system was preserved, feudal fragmentation and feudal, non-economic forms of exploitation of the peasantry gradually ceased to exist.

item 4 questions and tasks to paragraph paragraph p. 152

Question. What lessons, in your opinion, should be learned from the Japanese experience of modernization for other Asian countries interested in equal cooperation with the leading states of Europe and the USA?

Japan embarked on the path of accelerated modernization. The government actively patronized the development of industry and trade, seeing in the industrialization of the country a protection against the danger of foreign interference in the affairs of the state. At the end of the 19th century, Japanese capitalism entered a monopoly stage of development. Trade could not develop without good roads. Therefore, the state itself took up railway construction. The reforms carried out in the economic, political, social and spiritual spheres of life were organically accepted by the society. Japan has avoided major social conflicts. There was a special type of labor relations: employers and employees considered themselves as members of the same team.

item 5 questions and tasks to paragraph paragraph p. 152

Question. Using the map (p. 153), describe the geopolitical position of Japan in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. and explain why her foreign policy was colonial.

The limited raw material resources encouraged Japan to conquer.

Questions and tasks for paragraph page 154

Question 1. Why, of all Asian countries, it was Japan at the turn of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. did the CSD manage to achieve significant results in the modernization of society and industrialization?

First, the state has become the main instrument for implementing reforms designed to create the preconditions for modernization. The reforms were supposed to reduce the scope of subsistence and semi-subsistence farming, promote the development of commodity-money relations, and ensure the release of free laborers for use in a growing industry.

Secondly, Japan resorts to the state customs policy to protect domestic producers.

Thirdly, the state directly financed and organized the construction of railways, the creation of factories and plants (the greatest support was provided to the military industry and its service industries.

Question 2. Why did Japan, unlike, for example, Spain and Italy, manage to avoid major social conflicts during deep political reforms and socio-economic transformations?

Japan managed to avoid social conflicts because employers and workers saw themselves as members of the same collective.

Section "Documents"

Question 1. On behalf of what sections of Japanese society were the requirements for the shogun formulated? What was the reason for their presentation to the real head of state?

The demands on the shogun are formulated on behalf of coalition forces hostile to the shogunate. The discontent of the samurai, merchants, artisans and peasants raises an uprising against the shogun.

Question 2. In your own words, briefly formulate the four most important requirements presented in this document. What should Japan have become as a result of their implementation?

The main demands are: the expulsion of foreigners, the removal of the shogun from power, and the creation of a strong centralized and independent empire.

Questions and tasks for the section p.155

Question 1. Evaluate the socio-economic and political development of the countries discussed in the chapter according to the following criteria:

The end of the industrial revolution.

The pace of industrialization of the country in the second half of XIX - early XX century.

Leading industries in the national economy.

feudal vestiges.

Internal problems that complicated the development of the country, hindered its independent foreign policy.

The prevailing type of labor relations between employers and employees.

State of the labor and trade union movement.

2. Why only individual countries were able to implement the requirements of industrial modernization and social reforms, maintain or gain influence on world development at the beginning of the 20th century.

Modernization, that is, mastering the industrial type of production, at the end of the 19th - beginning of the 20th century became the goal of the policy of most states of the world. Modernization was associated with an increase in military power, expansion of export opportunities, revenues to the state budget, and an increase in living standards. Among the countries that in the 20th century became centers for the development of industrial production, two main groups stood out. They are called differently: the first and second echelons of modernization, or organic and catching up development.

Two models of industrial development. The first group of countries, which included Great Britain, France and the United States, was characterized by gradual development along the path of modernization. Initially, the industrial revolution, then the mastery of mass, conveyor industrial production took place in stages, as the corresponding socio-economic and cultural prerequisites matured.

Most of the countries that modernized within the framework of the catch-up development model in the late 19th and early 20th centuries achieved notable success. Thus, Germany became one of the main competitors of England in the world markets. Japan in 1911 got rid of the previously unequal treaties imposed on it. At the same time, accelerated development was a source of exacerbation of many contradictions both in the international arena and within the modernizing states themselves.

The most difficult problems created the social consequences of modernization. In essence, they were the same in all countries that entered the industrial phase of development and faced the social stratification of society.