Topic 11 - The Role of Japan

Question 1

When was the Treaty of Shimonoseki?

Answer 1

1896

Question 2

Why could the Hundred Days’ reform in 1898 be considered to be an example of indirect ‘Japanese learning’?

Answer 2

It came about as a response to a defeat to the Japanese in the first Sino-Japanese war of 1894-1897

Question 3

When did Chinese students arrive in Japan?

Answer 3

After the Late Qing Constitutional Reform of 1904

Question 4

How did the Chinese learn about the West through Japan?

Answer 4

• Over 3 quarters of new Chinese vocabulary during late 19th and early 20th were Japanese in origin
• Western radical ideology such as anarchism and Marxism was introduced to China

Question 5

Who was supported by the Japanese to overthrown the Qing government?

Answer 5

Sun Yat-Sen

Question 6

Which movements that were concerned with significant change in China did the Japanese support?

Answer 6

The Hundred Days’ Reform and the 1911 Revolution

Question 7

How did Japanese investment in China change in the early 20th century?

Answer 7

In 1902, Japanese investment in China was a mere 0.1% of total foreign investment, but by 1931, it occupied more than 50% of total foreign investment in China

Question 8

Compare Japanese and British investment in China in the early 20th century

Answer 8

British investment in China was only about 7% of worldwide investment in 1929, this ratio was around 90% in the 1930s for Japan

Question 9

What were the Zaikabo?

Answer 9

Japanese cotton textile mills in China

Question 10

According to Duus (1989) what prompted Japanese imperialism to turn from informal imperialism to direct control?

Answer 10

The fall of the Qing in 1911

Question 11

What 3 forms of impact did Japan have upon China?

Answer 11

1) Economic impact
2) Social impact
3) Political impact

Question 12

What was the economic impact of Japan upon China?

Answer 12

1) Treaty of Shimonoseki
2) Capital inflow and technology transfer (direct investment in China - cotton mills)
3) Natural resources outflow (Manchuria)
4) Provision of public goods (Taiwan and Manchukuo)

Question 13

What was the social impact of Japan upon China?

Answer 13

1) Chinese students studied in Japan
2) Translations of Western knowledge: focus shifted to social sciences and humanities rather than the core sciences
3) Over 75% of new Chinese vocabulary during this time was from Japanese origin
4) New concept or ideas of constitution, democracy, science came from Japan

Question 14

What was the political impact of Japan upon China?

Answer 14

1) Political revolutions supported by Japan (Hundred Days’ Reform)
2) Urged and inspired China to change → Late Qing Reform

3) Strengthen the sense of nationalism in China:
- Discrimination and condescension of Japanese on Chinese reminded the Chinese of their own weakness and failure.
- “The Chinese people are like a great dish of loose sands.”

Question 15

How was the imperial presence of Japanese different to the presence of other imperial powers?

Answer 15

1) Mutual relationship: historical ties

2) Timing of imperial presence
a late comer in the game (since 1895)

3) More interests in China and East Asia
beyond the mere confines of treaty ports (“informal imperialism”) – far more dependent on China than other imperial powers
desires to be the leader of East Asia, but not only gains economic benefits from China

Question 16

What is the difference between formal and informal imperialism?

Answer 16

Formal imperialism involves establishing companies while informal imperialism was more to do with partaking in the unequal treaty system

Question 17

Why did the unequal treaty system collapse?

Answer 17

a) 1911 Revolution: Indigenous Chinese forces attacked the treaty structure
b) 1920: Nationalist movements targeted the institutions of the informal empire
c) Partial reunification of the country under the KMT, determined to end extraterritoriality

Question 18

Where did Chinese nationalism come from?

Answer 18

Japan. One example is that a large number of Chinese students studied in Japan, witnessed the booming nationalism in Japan, and humiliation made them believe China also need a sense of nationalism.

Question 19

Why did Japan act differently comparing to other western influence when facing the collapse of the unequal treaty system?

Answer 19

1) Japan prospered from the treaty system hence had more to lose from its demise.
2) China was of greater strategic importance and had grown in economic significance. China was important to western nations, but not so important as to incurring risk for deeper penetration. While, for Japan, China was one that would justify the taking of vital risks.

Question 20

Name 2 advantages of Zaikabo over tradition Chinese mills.

Answer 20

1) Zaikabo were better financed

2) Zaikabo carried out market research

Question 21

Name the disadvantage of Zaikabo over tradition Chinese mills.

Answer 21

Zaikabo had higher labour costs

Question 22

What happened to the Zaikaibo in the long term?

Answer 22

They were destroyed in the China war