Japanese Cultural Policy Toward China, 1918-1931: A Comparative Perspective (harvard East Asian Monographs)

Most existing scholarship on Japan's cultural policy toward modern China reflects the paradigm of cultural imperialism. In contrast, this study demonstrates that Japan--while motivated by pragmatic interests, international cultural rivalries, ethnocentrism, moralism, and idealism--was mindful of Chinese opinion and sought the cooperation of the Chinese government. Japanese policy stressed cultural communication and inclusiveness rather than cultural domination and exclusiveness and was part of Japan's search for an East Asian cultural order led by Japan. China, however, was not a passive recipient and actively sought to redirect this policy to serve its national interests and aspirations. The author argues that it is time to move away from the framework of cultural imperialism toward one that recognizes the importance of cultural autonomy, internationalism, and transculturation. Most existing scholarship on Japan's cultural policy toward modern China reflects the paradigm of cultural imperialism and emphasizes a linear pattern of Japanese cultural aggression, particularly after 1923 and the establishment of the China Cultural Affairs Bureau. In contrast, this study demonstrates that Japan, like the other Great Powers, was motivated by pragmatic interests, international cultural rivalries, ethnocentrism, moralism, and idealism. The author argues that Japanese policy can best be understood as the promotion of its own experience of development, which stressed the civilizing aspects of East Asian civilization, modernization, and the promotion of Japanese culture and interests. Japanese policy focused on cultural communication and inclusiveness and was part of Japan's search for an East Asian cultural order led by Japan. Like the United States and Great Britain, Japan, too, was mindful of Chinese opinion and sought the cooperation of the Chinese government. China, however, was more than a passive recipient and actively sought to redirect Japanese policy to serve its national interests and aspirations. The author argues that it is time to move away from the framework of cultural imperialism toward one that recognizes the importance of cultural autonomy, internationalism, and transculturation, especially in view of regional and global developments in the 1920s. JAPAN'S CULTURAL POLICY TOWARD CHINA, 1918-1931: A COMPARATIVE PERSPECTIVE CONTENTS Tables Preface Introduction 1. The Setting Sino-Japanese Cultural Relations, 1871-1917 Sino-American Cultural Relations, 1844-1923 An Assessment 2. The Emergence of Policy, 1918-1923 Developments in Japan's Cultural Attitude Toward China A Comparison: Great-Britain, 1842-1922, and China's Actions 3. The Pursuit of Policy, 1924-1931 Stage I: March 1923 to May 1925 Stage II: June 1925 to April 1928 Stage III: May 1928 to September 1931 An Evaluation 4. The American and British Cultural Approaches The American Approach, 1924-1931 The British Approach, 1923-1931 An Assessment 5. The Issue of Cultural Imperialism Chinese Responses, 1923-1931 Cultural Imperialism: An Evaluation 6. A Re-interpretation of Japan's Policy Japan's Position Cultural Programs Conclusion The Japanese Context The Chinese Context APPENDIX Appendix: Law for the Creation of the Special Account for Cultural Work Toward China REFERENCE MATTER Notes Select Bibliography Glossary Index HARVARD EAST ASIANMONOGRAPHS "Most existing scholarship on Japan's cultural policy toward modern China reflects the paradigm of cultural imperialism and emphasizes a linear pattern of Japanese cultural aggression, particularly after 1923 and the establishment of the China Cultural Affairs Bureau. In contrast, this study demonstrates that Japan, like the other Great Powers, was motivated by pragmatic interests, international cultural rivalries, ethnocentrism, moralism, and idealism. The author argues that Japanese policy can best be understood as the promotion of its own experience of development, which stressed the civilizing aspects of East Asian civilization, modernization, and the promotion of Japanese culture and interests."--BOOK JACKET