Theme: Analysis of Revolution In Japan
Prompt: It has been an argument of this class that the histories of China, Japan, and Korea have
been permeated with the struggle to make changes (or resist such changes) of a revolutionary
character. Write a short essay analyzing how the revolution has been understood by specific
authors in at least three sources from at least two of the three time periods we have examined.
How might the authors define “revolution”? What problems are revolutionary changes expected
to address? What elements of society or the individual are targeted for revolutionary change?
What visions of a future do the authors entertain should their revolutionary (or
counter-revolutionary) goals be achieved?
Instructions:
– Format:
– 4 to 5 whole/full pages double-spaced up to 750 to 1250 words
– MLA
– Type in 12 pt. Font and double-spaced
– Come up with an intriguing essay title
– Make a Works Cited Page
– Put in cite quotations with a properly formatted page number in
parentheses when quoting from a source and putting into the essay
– Include year of publication
– Make sure tense is in the PAST since all the events happened in the past.
– This essay is meant to be short, limited and analytical.
– Should NOT write an essay that tries to encompass the entire modern history of
Japan
– Don’t frame the arguments as a history of ‘imperialism in Japan,’ or
‘modernity or Japan’ since it will end up being like a 400-page book.
– The MOST IMPORTANT is an analysis of the 3 provided primary sources (in
the attachments).
– Focus closely on an analysis of how the themes function in specific
documents which are, in turn, products of specific people who lived in
specific places, times and circumstances.
– By analysis, think carefully about what the document is doing such as:
– Who wrote it?
– Why did they write it?
– Who is it intended for?
– How does it work?
– What is the significance of the text?
– What is this document’s relationship to your theme?
– What these documents are doing, and how and why they are doing
it?
– Analysis — not argument — is the most important part
– Spend time dissecting them, and think carefully about what the document
is doing.
– Structure
– For the introduction paragraph, don’t generalization at the beginning. Start
the essay with the next sentence.
– Dedicate three body paragraphs to a particular author.
– This will allow more focus on the documents and increase the
amount of analysis.
– Explain in one paragraph the 3 author’s way of describing their varied
definitions for the term “revolution”
– Then in two paragraphs compare/contrast your documents with each other.
– In fact, they probably aren’t doing the same thing. Some things will
be different, and some things will be similar but try to discuss:
– What do the differences and similarities between the
documents tell us?
– What don’t they tell us?
– What don’t we know?
– What are the limitations of our knowledge?
– Conclusion
– The prompt contains a list of sub-questions to answer and focus on the operations
of imperialism/revolution/modernity.
3 Provided Sources
* If the sources I provide don’t help much with the prompt, please let me know so I can provide
better ones.*
Title: “An Outline Plan for the Reorganization of
Japan”
Author: Kita Ikki
Date/Place: 1919 / Shanghai
Audience: Japanese People
Form: Book
Message: – Promote “Japanism”, a blend of
Western revolutionary thought and
oriental wisdom in order to lead China
+ India to independence
– Want to revolutionize Japan
– Emperor to have sole power over
Japan to represent the country and to
distribute land, power, and wealth
Analysis: Japan needs to be run differently and take
from the West too
Title: “Memorial on the Establishment of a
Representative Assembly”
Author: Soejima Taneomi
Date/Place: January 17, 1874
Audience: Japanese government; Oligarchy
Form: Memorial
Message: – Create a representative assembly
– The people are ready to be involved in
the government
– Mimic western ideas, don’t try to
figure it out ourselves
Analysis: – The officials had too much power
– He wants to balance the power
between the officials and the Crown
(royals)
Title: “Call for a New Restoration”
Author: Asahi Heigo
Date/Place: September 3, 1921
Audience: Young Japanese
Form: Letter/List
Message: Bring about a Taisho restoration
– Return power to the emperor
– Kick out capitalist
– Use violence to revolt
Analysis: This is a unique message because it shows the
tension between 2 compelling ideologies in
this revolution
