Japan: From the Japanese Government History

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

45645

Title

Japan: From the Japanese Government History

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

This comprehensive historical volume details Japan's geography, climate, and national progress from ancient times to the early 20th century. It chronicles the nation's rise from isolation to a modern imperial power, highlighting key figures, military campaigns in China and Korea, and diplomatic maneuvers against European and Russian interests in the Far East.

Summary up to 500 words

Edited by Henry Cabot Lodge and K. Asakawa, this volume presents a comprehensive history of the Empire of Japan, blending geographical survey with political narrative. The text begins by detailing the archipelago's diverse landscape, noting its mountainous terrain, volcanic activity, and climate ranging from the snowy north to the tropical south. The narrative traces Japan's evolution from mythical ages and the introduction of Buddhism to the rise of the samurai class and the Tokugawa shogunate. A significant focus is placed on the late 19th and early 20th centuries, covering the First Sino-Japanese War, the acquisition of Formosa and southern Sakhalin, and the complex web of 'spheres of influence' in China and Manchuria involving Germany, Russia, and Britain. The book extensively covers the Boxer Rebellion of 1900, praising the discipline and moral character of the Japanese troops who assisted allied forces in relieving the siege of Peking. It also analyzes the Russo-Japanese War, the subsequent Portsmouth Treaty, and the formation of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance. Through extensive correspondence between the Emperors of China and Japan following the Boxer Rebellion, the text illustrates Japan's shift from a defensive posture to one of active international engagement, refuting theories of a future 'yellow' alliance against the West. The volume serves as both a geographical survey and a political history, emphasizing Japan's rapid modernization and its assertion of status as a major world power.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• History
• Civilization