MinJiBlkASem2

East Asia in the Age of Imperialism



Meiji Restoration and the rise of Japan as a world power

//Sino Japanese War Assignment// 1. How are the Chinese soldiers portrayed in these prints? The Japanese soldiers? Chinese soldiers are depicted as dead people and the japanese soldiers appear to be the winner and heroes in the war ground //(battleground?)//, victoriously killing their enemies. 2. Look at the weapons used by each side, are they different? How? Does this tell us anything about Japanese technological advancement?

Japanese had more sharp and longer swords, better ships whereas Chinese only had spierce, small-sized ships. They even had two sword in case they lose one. Yes,Japanese pointy and longer swords indicates advancement in military tactics. They appear to be more advanced in terms of defensive armor as well because Chinese soldiers did not wear helmet whereas Japanese don't. //(I don't think either side was wearing helmets in these woodblock prints)//

Read the Ichiko's Baseball Club Rouser 3. Why do sports often become symbolic battlegrounds between nations? Sports often become symbolic battleground because starting from early 19th century it represents national strength and prominence. in other words, they regarded athletic adroitness in the country same as their national glory. //Why, though, is it that our respective nations' sport teams reflect our 'athletic adroitness'? Do we ALL possess their talent?// 4. Is imperialism/colonialism simply about militarily and politically controlling another nation, or is it also about proving one’s self-perceived cultural superiority over another?

In my perspective, imperialism is not only about militarily and politically controlling another nation but also proving one's self perceived cultural superiority over another. Let's take the process until Japanese took control of Korea. They fought against China. After Japan wins China, Japanese proved to the world that they are superior. Moreover, they forced Korea to sign up the Kanghwa treaty, which looks similar to treaty of Nanking. This means after the treaty is enforced, Korea undergoes a colonization in terms of their military and politics because the content of the treaty force Korea to open up their trading ports and pay indemnities or some sort of financial support to Japanese. //Japan sought membership to a club, the imperialist club. To this end they had achieved their objectives.//

//Russo Japanese War Assignment//

1. Do artistic renditions or photographs depict the heroics of war better?

Artistic Renditions depict the heroics of the better because their creator can draw the scene of the war as he or she pleases. For example, Japanese artists, who made the woodblocks and painting regarding the Sino Japanese War, had usually been biased, therefore reluctant to face the true circumstance of their sides in the war. They "believed" their army had always been winning and their generals were extremely faithful that they even turned their ships to save his soldiers. Furthermore, they even drew Japanese soldiers as invincible or god type of person; In the picture of "Our Valorous Military Repulsing the Russian Cossack Cavalry on the Ban of the Yalu River", Japanese soldiers all survived under heavy artillery fire whereas Russian soldiers were all rioted. Such false or rather exaggerated depiction of the war made people to believe that Japanese soldiers had always been hero and respectful fighter. 2. Do artistic renditions or photographs depict the horrors of war better? (Consider all photographs of war that you have seen, both historical and contemporary)

Photograph portrays the true reality of the war. This means photographs does far better job than artistic renditions on depicting the horrors of the war because photographs capture the actual scene of the war whereas artists do not. For example, the picture "Japanese officers" and 3. How does the medium affect the message? Can we say that, "[T]he medium is the message"?

Medium changes people's point of view by revealing the true image and the reality of the events, like war, conference, and natural disaster, to the people. The tangible example that proves my case is how Japanese changed their point of view on Russo Japanese War after device for taking medium - a light bulb - was invented. They saw the actual picture of how the war looks like and realized how it is brutal and not heroic.

4. Why is 1905 such a turning point in Japanese and World history? How might history have been different had Japan lost the Russo-Japanese War?

The year, 1905, is a turning point in Japanese history because it was the time when she defeats the Russians in Russo Japanese War, proving she is equally powerful as other Wester countries and almost ending the unequal treaties. Before Japan won one of Western nation, Western nations always ignored Japan. For example, starting from July 17, 1899 British forced Japan to enforce an extraterritorriality on British traders and migrants. However, this changed after Japan proved to the world that they are equally powerful in terms of military tactics. Also, because Japan gained Korea and Manchuria as colonies, she flourish economically ; Colonizing other nation means they are expanding their income source. The imperialized nation produces the imperialist with tribute, taxes, and the freedom to unfair treed. Therfore, Japan rises as a world power from the year of 1905. It further radically turns a point in World history by showing Asian country can able to defeat Western countries.

May 11th, 2011

About Queen Min Questions of Reading #1 a. Who was Queen Min? b. Why was she chosen to be queen? It is because her father-in-law thought he could control Queen Min. c. Was this a wise choice? From whose viewpoint? Builiding infrastructure, balancing Russian, Japanese, and Chinese power against each other The countries, able to stay out of being imperialized, Japan and Thailand. Thailand managed to play two imperial powers. From the d. How did she try to maintain Korea's independence? Did she succeed? By building strong infrastructure,managing three imperialists to play against each other. She tries to buy time in order to modernize and build power. Yet, she eventually e. What can her death tell us about the measures imperialists will take to ensure their interests? On October 8th, Military koo in 1882, 갑신 rebellion
 * married to Kojung at the age of fifteen

f. Do you admire her? Why or why not?

Questions for Reading #2 a. Who was [|Isabella Bird]? Isabella Bird was born on October 15, 1831was experience, author, explorer b. What were Ms. Bird's first impressions of Queen Min? good, graceful, described as "slender woman" detect level of gracefulness of her c. What might the clothes and jewelry worn by Queen Min tell us about her view of her place in Korean society? d. Which personal characteristics of the Queen tell us about what kind of woman she was? She was respecful and intelligent, had a political influence, e. Which personal characteristic of the Queen's do you feel is the most revealing? Why? Having wisdom f. Would you like to have met Queen Min? Why or why not? Yes, I would have met Queen Min becase meeting her would
 * made her to respect Queen Min

Timeline media type="custom" key="9405350" http://www.dipity.com/mjkim13/Timeline-of-Korean-History-The-Last-One-Hundred-Years-of-the-Chosun-Dynasty_1/ Caution: Ignore "Nov, 1" on Taewon-gun Isolation and Sino Japanese War.
 * Citations