China and Japan : Facing History

One of the world’s most eminent scholars of East Asia reveals the important touchstones in the long history between China and Japan and argues that for the sake of world stability they must forge a new relationship for the twenty-first century. China and Japan have cultural and political connections that stretch back fifteen hundred years. But today their relationship is strained. China’s military buildup deeply worries Japan, while Japan’s brutal occupation of China in World War II remains an open wound. In recent years less than ten percent of each population had positive feelings toward the other, and both countries insist that the other side must deal openly with its history before relations can improve. From the sixth century, when the Japanese adopted core elements of Chinese civilization, to the late twentieth century, when China looked to Japan for a path to capitalism, Ezra Vogel’s China and Japan examines key turning points in Sino-Japanese history. Throughout much of their past, the two countries maintained deep cultural ties, but China, with its great civilization and resources, had the upper hand. Japan’s success in modernizing in the nineteenth century and its victory in the 1895 Sino-Japanese War changed the dynamic, putting Japan in the dominant position. The bitter legacy of World War II has made cooperation difficult, despite efforts to promote trade and, more recently, tourism. Vogel underscores the need for Japan to offer a thorough apology for the war, but he also urges China to recognize Japan as a potential vital partner in the region. He argues that for the sake of a stable world order, these two Asian giants must reset their relationship, starting with their common interests in environmental protection, disaster relief, global economic development, and scientific research. A Financial Times "Summer Books" Selection "Will become required reading." — Times Literary Supplement "Elegantly written...with a confidence that comes from decades of deep research on the topic, illustrating how influence and power have waxed and waned between the two countries." —Rana Mitter, Financial Times China and Japan have cultural and political connections that stretch back fifteen hundred years, but today their relationship is strained. China's military buildup deeply worries Japan, while Japan's brutal occupation of China in World War II remains an open wound. In recent years both countries have insisted that the other side must openly address the flashpoints of the past before relations can improve. Boldly tackling the most contentious chapters in this long and tangled relationship, Ezra Vogel uses the tools of a master historian to examine key turning points in Sino–Japanese history. Gracefully pivoting from past to present, he argues that for the sake of a stable world order, these two Asian giants must reset their relationship. "A sweeping, often fascinating, account...Impressively researched and smoothly written." — Japan Times "Vogel uses the powerful lens of the past to frame contemporary Chinese–Japanese relations...[He] suggests that over the centuries—across both the imperial and the modern eras—friction has always dominated their relations." —Sheila A. Smith, Foreign Affairs Cover......Page 1 Title Page......Page 4 Copyright......Page 5 Contents......Page 6 Preface......Page 8 1. Chinese Contributions to Japanese Civilization, 600–838......Page 14 2. Trade without Transformative Learning, 838–1862......Page 42 3. Responding to Western Challenges and Reopening Relations, 1839–1882......Page 78 4. Rivalry in Korea and the Sino-Japanese War, 1882–1895......Page 113 5. Japanese Lessons for a Modernizing China, 1895–1937 with Paula S. Harrell......Page 145 6. The Colonization of Taiwan and Manchuria, 1895–1945......Page 188 7. Political Disorder and the Road to War, 1911–1937 with Richard Dyck......Page 216 8. The Sino-Japanese War, 1937–1945......Page 261 9. The Collapse of the Japanese Empire and the Cold War, 1945–1972......Page 299 10. Working Together, 1972–1992......Page 340 11. The Deterioration of Sino-Japanese Relations, 1992–2018......Page 369 12. Facing the New Era......Page 417 Biographies of Key Figures......Page 432 Notes......Page 484 Sources and Further Reading......Page 494 Acknowledgments......Page 516 Index......Page 518 China And Japan Have Cultural And Political Connections That Stretch Back 1,500 Years. But Today They Need To Reset Their Strained Relationship. Ezra Vogel Underscores The Need For Japan To Offer A Thorough Apology For Its Atrocities During Wwii, But He Also Urges China To Recognize Japan As A Potential Vital Partner In The Region.-- Chinese Contributions To Japanese Civilization, 600-838 -- Trade Without Transformative Learning, 838-1862 -- Responding To Western Challenges And Reopening Relations, 1839-1882 -- Rivalry In Korea And The Sino-japanese War, 1882-1895 -- Japanese Lessons For A Modernizing China, 1895-1937 (with Paula S. Harrell) -- The Colonization Of Taiwan And Manchuria, 1895-1945 -- Political Disorder And The Road To War, 1911-1937 (with Richard Dyck) -- The Sino-japanese War, 1937-1945 -- The Collapse Of The Japanese Empire And The Cold War, 1945-1972 -- Working Together, 1972-1992 -- The Deterioration Of Sino-japanese Relations, 1992-2018 -- Facing The New Era. Ezra F. Vogel. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. China and Japan have cultural and political connections that stretch back 1,500 years. But today they need to reset their strained relationship. Ezra Vogel underscores the need for Japan to offer a thorough apology for its atrocities during WWII, but he also urges China to recognize Japan as a potential vital partner in the region.-- Provided by publisher