Analytical History & Evolutionary Economics Chen Ping April 30, 2005 PBS Empire Series: Japan, Memoirs of a Secret Empire

Why Japan’s Modernization Was Ahead of China in Asia? Major differences between Japan and China: Japan did not have cyclic dynastic wars, only one emperor without real power > maintain political order with less cost Japan’s ruling elite was not educated bureaucrat but samurai, which was equivalent to Western knights > their risk-taking attitude was eager to learn western technology and world competition Japan’s agriculture was organized by feudal system rather than small-scale landlord and family farms > more easy to develop scale economy and accept modern technology Japan’s island economy and its history of learning from China and West > more willing to learn foreign technology and foreign culture

Historical Events during Opening Process Open competition vs. close-door protection is driven by domestic struggle and external events Japan’s closed-door policy was similar to Ming Dynasty’s closed-door policy > originated from domestic power struggle Japan’s decision to open-door without a fight came at a critical time when old ruler passed away and new ruler had no real power > subject to majority decision by feudal class > modernization without repeated wars and revolution

What Can We Learn from Japanese History? We cannot judge history by moral standard: reform in England and Japan vs. revolution in France and Russia Complex patterns in modernization under varied cultural and historical constraints Interactions between domestic struggle and foreign challenges Interactions among environment, technology, culture, and politics Interesting observations from West: Japan civilization was different and advanced compared to European. Japan’s city water system was more advanced than China and West > clean culture > competitive in electronic industry

What Can We Learn From West Powers? Comparing oversea Chinese with Portuguese, Dutch's, British, and American colonists Missionary spirits: willing to spend decades for converting even one Japanese soul into Christian > religion, norm, and business ethics Commercial competition backed up by government navy power

China’s Lesson in Globalization Oversea business men were treated as orphan without motherland Closed-door policy and tribute (official monopoly) system forced foreign traders into pirates China-centered moral pride over-weight realistic judgment in international competition

Different Patterns of Open Competition in Globalization Forced opening under foreign challenge: the case of Japan Forced concession after defeated in war against foreign powers: Qin Dynasty Independence movement after colonization: India Voluntary open policy and active reform: Deng Xiao-ping and China’s recent reform