Evolution of Imperial Rule in Japan and China

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Analytical Comparison
Empire Shifts by China and Japan
Conclusion
References

Introduction

China and Japan have established themselves as the most significant players in East Asian affairs. The two nations have the most developed economies in the region and both of their political systems are well established. In spite of the differences in government system, Japan and China have had an empire system at some point in their history.

However, this system of governance has faced marked changes in both countries. While the Japan government continues to have a constitutional monarchy who is mostly a symbolic leader with no real political power, the empire system was completely abolished in China.

The current success of both nations can be attributed to the political systems adopted by each country. With this in mind, this paper will provide an analytical comparison of the shift from an empire system by both Japan and China.

Analytical Comparison

Both China and Japan had a well-established emperor system until the 20^th century. The emperor system existed for centuries and played a crucial role in the affairs of the country. Emperors were the supreme rulers who acted as the unifying forces for the nations. Qingde (2003) documents that the complete establishment of the imperial system in China appeared in 221 BCE with the establishment of the Qin Dynasty.

The imperial system of the Qin Dynasty was able to unify the warring states and build a strong and centralized nation that had the emperor as its core. A dictatorship of highest imperial power and the establishment of a mobile elite political structure characterized this system.

Due to centralization, private ownership of land was directly under the control of the state. Through land privatization and the designation of the individual family as a production unity, the Chinese imperial system served as the basis for the economic survival of the entire state.

In its formative years, the imperial system in China faced contention from multiple groups including independent regimes by warlords and dominance by scholar officials. This caused the monarchy to use every means possible to maintain their hold on power and control their subjects.

Qingde (2003) reveals that rulers pursued absolute power, which could only be achieved by crushing any opposing power. In addition to this, the power of the common people was weakened in order to enhance the absolute power of the emperor.

Japan imperialism was borrowed from the older Chinese system in 660 BC. In the early years, the Japan emperor was a religious leader and the position of emperor was integral to the country’s harmony since the emperor was the symbol of unity and continuity (Ohnuki-Tierney, 1998). Over the centuries, Japan faced many political upheavals and civil wars that greatly disrupted the growth of the country.

Interestingly, the emperor’s position remained undamaged with the warring factions always protected this largely symbolic leader. By the 8th century, the Imperial System was at its peak and the Emperor enjoyed the support of all his subjects. However, the system disintegrated and only came back during the Meiji restoration of 1868.

The imperial rulers adopted the doctrine of the Mandate of heaven, which justified their right to rule. In China, this doctrine led to leaders who cultivated virtue in their administration (Picken, 1997). Both imperial systems established capitals, which were meant to act as the centers for a world order led by the monarchy.

Towards the end of the 7th century, the Chinese emperor established the city of Luoyang as the core of a world order. The Japanese imperial system also established Nara as a capital as preparation by Japan to participate in the new order.

Imperial rule contributed to the economic and political development of China and Japan. Through imperial rule, China was able to advance from its feudal system to becoming a nation with a strong economic and social order with imperialism at its political center.

Empire Shifts by China and Japan

The most significant shift in China and Japan’s imperial rule came in the early 20th century through the Qing Reform and the Meiji Restoration respectively. Both shifts were made as an attempt by leaders by both countries to make structural adjustments to meet the challenges of western incursions. While the Meiji Restoration was a spectacular success, the Qing Reform was a huge failure that ended in the abolishment of monarchy rule.

Outcome in China

In its final years, the Qing dynasty under Empress Dowager Cixi and Emperor GuangXu took initiative for reforms. Hua (2004) states that these reform efforts that were aimed at changing the traditional social structure and advancing China economically and militarily failed in the face of western incursions.

The dynasty was unable to protect the country against foreign incursions and the efficiency of the government was greatly crippled. The capacity of the central government was very limited and it could not even collect enough revenue to meet normal government expenditure.

The Chinese Imperial system was abolished following the 1911 revolution that was led by Dr Sun Yat Sen. The Sun led revolutions led to the collapse of the Qing dynasty and the subsequent establishment of the Republic of China therefore bringing to an end the centuries long reign of monarchy in China (Picken, 1997). There was a final attempt to reinstate monarchy rule by Yuan Shikai in 1915.

As the President of China, Yuan attempted to consolidate power and reestablish China as an Empire with him serving as the Great Empire. These attempts were met by resistance by both revolutionary elements and military leaders who engaged in violent opposition to the reinstatement of monarchy rule.

By 1916, Yuan had to abandon his plans for a Chinese monarchy and the National Assembly with a provisional constitution was restored therefore reestablishing China as a republic governed through the constitution.

The Change from empire was followed by civil war and an ineffective government that plunged China into impoverishment. The early years of the Chinese republic were marked by disunity and violence between warlords as each tried to establish a sphere of influence. The state of affairs began to change following the establishment of communist rule in China.

A strong centralized government was established in 1949 under the leadership of Mao Zedong (Qingde, 2003). Mao was able to eliminate the old system and replace it by a new order, which was characterized by industrialization programs and more equitable distribution of land resources.

Mao was able to eliminate the old system and replace it by a new order, which was characterized by industrialization programs and more equitable distribution of land resources among the country’s population.

Outcome in China

Japan’s imperial system during the Meiji Restoration exhibited a marked shift from the historical emperor system. To begin with, the new imperial system was based on the Western monarchies. The Emperor ceased to be a symbolic figure and he was elevated to the position of sovereign ruler of Japan. Hua (2004) reveals that in the Meiji constitution, the Emperor attained nearly absolute political and military power therefore becoming the head of state in command of the country’s military.

Another significant shift during Emperor Meiji’s reign is that the monarchy stopped being dictatorial and a system of representative was incorporated. By doing this, Japan was able to achieve modernization and defend itself effectively against Western incursion. Owing to the development enjoyed under the imperial rule, Japan was able to engage in aggressive military expansionism ventures especially against neighboring China and Korea.

Picken (1997) observes that the Japanese Imperial system remains to be a controversial political institution with some praising it as a source of Japanese stability and tranquility while others condemn it as a cause of war and the attempt at world domination by Japan during the 20th century.

Japan was forced to make major changes to its imperial system following its defeat in World War II by the Allied forces. The international community held the emperor responsible for the atrocities carried out by Japanese forces during the war.

A new constitution was drafted where the emperor’s powers were stripped and a democracy established in the country. The emperor was therefore retained as a symbol of state with little power. Japan is today a strong democracy and it is unlikely that it will revert to an emperor-centered state (Kersten, 2003).

Conclusion

This paper set out to compare the shifts in government system by Japan and China. To this end, the paper has shown that the emperor system played a major role in the historical development of both countries. The paper has revealed that the imperial system existed for more than 2000 years and it led to the unification of the country.

The shift in imperial rule in both countries occurred in the 20^th century with the system being abolished in China while Japan continued to prosper under it. Without the dominance of the imperial system, the Chinese socio-political establishment suffered. Japan was forced to change the role of its emperor by the occupying American forces at the end of World War II.

References

Hua, S. (2004). The Meiji Restoration (1868) and the Late Qing Reform (1898) Revisited: Strategies and Philosophies. An International Quarterly, 21 (3), 3-22.

Kersten, R. (2003). Revisionism, reaction and the ‘symbol emperor’ in post-war Japan. Japan Forum, 15(1), 15–31.

Ohnuki-Tierney, E. (1998). The emperor of Japan as deity (kami). Ethnology, 30(3), 1-15.

Picken, S.D. (1997). The Imperial Systems in Traditional China and Japan: A Comparative Analysis of Contrasting Political Philosophies and Their Contemporary Significance. Asian Philosophy, 7 (2), 109-122.

Qingde, C. (2003). The Dual Nature of the Imperial System and the Development of China’s National Economy. Chinese Sociology and Anthropology, 35 (4), 3–32.

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