TRY TO TAKE A FOUR-THOUSAND-YEAR-OLD CIVILIZATION AND REDUCE IT TO LESS THAN SEVEN HUNDRED PAGES! GOOD, NOW DO TWO FOUR-THOUSAND-YEAR-OLD CIVILIZATIONS!

 

A review of Conrad Schirokauer’s A Brief History of Chinese and Japanese Civilizations (1989)

(Rating 4 of 5)

                I first read this book as part of a class I had on China and Japan.  It is a good book and great introduction into the history of two important nations, with some additional throw-ins about Korea and Vietnam.  It is, however, a lot of information jam-packed into a relatively small volume.  It covers everything from the earliest days of civilization to modern communist China and democratic Japan.

                Reading this book, it is important to distinguish between China the modern state and China the civilization.  The reason is often on Western historical maps we will see the label “China” no matter what period is being displayed.  This gives the Westerner the impression “Wow, China is really old!” While failing to understand that the People’s Republic of China has as much to do with the Han Empire as European Union does with the Roman Empire.  Yes, they cover much of the similar landmass and the people are mostly their direct descendants but the very different “states’ to use a modern term. 

                Throughout much of its history China would go through periods of unification that would be interrupted by other periods of disunity.  This would occur when a dynasty got corrupted, pressure from external threats, or other domestic disturbances cause an empire to collapse.  Then everything is fragmented until a powerful leader or group commands enough support to put everything back together.  This would be called having a “Mandate of Heaven.”  China was in such a fractured state in the early half of the 20^th century.           

“The Qin (Ch’in) unification of China in 221 B.C. was the beginning of some 400 years of imperial rule, even though the Qin itself barely survived the death of its first emperor.  Building on Qin foundations, although overtly rejecting many of that regime’s polices, the Han erected a more lasting political structure.  Under the Han, Chinese civilization was reshaped, and China became a great imperial power comparable in achievements and historical to the Roman Empire.  Considering the importance of the period, it is perhaps not inappropriate that our English word “China” is ultimately derived from the name of this dynasty.  On the other hand, the Chinese refer to themselves ethnically as the Han people.” (pg. 51)

Han Empire (60 BC)

                Chinese civilization was so powerful and sophisticated that if a power was to come in and take over usually the conquerors would find themselves being more transformed by those who they had conquered.  New rulers would find themselves assuming traditional Chinese titles for their rule with only their own names substituted in, and their own people set up as the ruling class.  This would be true for both the Mongols (Yuan) and the Manchurians (Qing).   

“Within China the long and bitter struggle against the Southern Song left lasting wounds.  Chinese hatred and bitterness were matched by Mongol suspicion and distrust of the southerners.  A significant number of Chinese remained loyal to the old dynasty, continued to employ Song terminology, and dreamed of a Song restoration while refusing to serve the new power.  On the other hand, the Mongols relegated southerners to the lowest category in their fourfold division of society along ethnic lines. Highest status in this system was accorded to the Mongols.” (pg. 221)

  

Qing Empire

Unlike China, Japan’s throne was and is not considered something that someone outside the royal family could assume.  Dynasties cannot be replaced and presumed legitimate.  Only the ‘true’ family line can rule.  So, getting control of these emperors is the primary concern of any power holder.  One of the ways to do that is to have the current emperor tied up in so many religious ceremonies that they don’t have time for actual government duties.  If some emperors get fed up and abdicate in favor of their minor son as soon as they are finally able, so much the better.

     The Shogun, a position established in the twelfth century, becomes the default ruler of Japan for almost 700 years.  The position eventually becomes hereditary although, unlike the imperial throne, the position does change clans from time to time.   

“Legitimization for the new order came from the emperor, who in 1192 “appointed” Yoritomo shogun, or to use the full term, Seii Taishogun (Barbarian Suppressing General”).  Under the theoretical sovereignty of the emperor, the shogun’s government exercised substantial “delegated” power.  This was the beginning of an institution (the shogunate) that lasted until 1868.

“The most important power “delegated” to Yoritomo was legal control over the staffing of provincial posts, which enabled him to appoint his own men to administrative positions in the provinces.  He was also authorized to appoint his men to the newly created position of Land Steward or Overseer (jito) and Military Protector or Constable (shugo). “ (pg.266)

(The Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu)

The Shogun office came to an end when the Meiji Emperor has decided to rule in his own right and with help of supporters overthrows the Shogun’s government.  They create a constitution based on the Constitution of the Kingdom of Prussia.   This means the country has a weak legislature and the monarch is practically all-powerful.

“In 1889 work on the constitution was completed, and it was promulgated as a “gift” from the emperor to his people.  It remained in force until 1945.  The emperor, father of the family state, retained the power to declare war, conclude treaties, and command the army.  He also had the right to open, recess, and dissolve the legislature; the right to veto the latter’s decisions and the right to issue his own ordinances.” (pg. 435)

The Meigi Emperor

                 While the Japanese Throne kept getting stronger the Chinese Throne kept getting weaker.  By 1912 the imperial system comes to end and China falls into the hands of warlords.  Ultimately multiple powers die down to just two in the Nationalists and the Communists, and then the Communists finally prevail.  

“The march itself, was a heroic accomplishment, a vindication of Mao’s belief in the power of the human will and determination.  In just over a year, the marchers covered some 6,000 miles, traversing snow-covered mountain passes where they froze in their thin clothes and crossing treacherous bogs and marshes.  To the hardships provided by nature was added the hostility of man, for there was rarely a day without some fighting.  At one point they had no alternative but to cross a mountain torrent spanned by a thirteen-chain suspension bridge from which the enemy armed and waiting on the other side had removed the planks.” (pg. 537)

Mao's Long March

             At the end of the book, we come to the ‘modern’ era:  Mao’s Communists in China and the democratic Japan.  China is opening and Japan is about to dominate the car and video game industry. Again, if you know nothing about this area of the world this book is a good introduction, but you fly through everything at record speed.