THE story of the way in which the Japanese people
suddenly grafted Western civilisation on to their own purely
Oriental culture must always be a fascinating one, and we are glad
to read the excellent account in this book, where the historical
sequence is followed with care and an admirable sense of proportion.
It tells how the primeval Imperial dynasty fell into the hands of
the Clans and the Shoguns, of the veneer of Chinese culture which
spread over the Court, and of the early martial successes. We
note that the Mongol invasion failed, and that Japan has been one of
the few unconquered countries. Then came the Portuguese and Spanish
intercourse and missions, successful Christian propaganda, until it
looked as if Christianity might become the accepted Japanese
religion. The zeal of the converts went too far, however, and
provoked reaction first and then fierce prosecution. The result was
that, except for meagre trade with the Protestant Dutch, Japan
remained a 'closed country' from 1636 to 1853. The author does not
think the thought of the country remained stagnant however, but that
in spite of the antiquated setting it continued vigorous enough, and
when American influences opened the country the native education was
quite sufficient to allow the Japanese to absorb the use of every
western item of material superiority, while by no means inducing
them to give up their native culture and modes of thought. This was
shown in the constitutional changes, when the Shoguns fell, the
semi-divine Emperor came into his own again and gave the country a
constitution. We are led clearly through the period of utilitarian
progress, increase of armaments, and military success, first over
the reactionary Chinese, then, when German intrigue had forced on
the war, over Russia, whose feet of clay showed already. In the war
the Japanese have assisted the Allies greatly and far more than is
realised, on account of their continual naval co-operation.
A. FRANCIS STEUART.
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