The Rise of Asia - Essay Example

Unlike his neighbors, Japan opened its doors fully to mercantilism to all western countries. Countries such as China limited their trade with the western world which would cost them in the future. The Boxer Rebellion in 1899 (small planets communications) and the Opium War in 1840 (Chesneaus) resulted from China's resistance to foreign trade. Frank B. Tipton, the author of "The Rise of Asia," mentioned that Japan and China shared the same social constructs and traditions that placed them in cultural crosswords in which they must decide which route the must take.

Apparently, they both chose two different routes. (Tipton, pg. 92)Japanese embraced their culture industrial culture with open arms. The industrial movement posed new challenges for the government. These challenges insinuated that the government needed to redesign its former policies and cultural traditions. For example, women before were viewed as peasants, artisans, samurais, and merchant women. But for the philosophical needs and recognition, the Japanese females undertook the sociological model of the "Japanese women.

" (Tipton, pg.130) They worked in silk factories and cotton mills. Their new roles, in theory, we're supposed to uplift the new Japanese regime. However, despite their seemingly grandiose role, they were not treated in the same regard as men. By legalizing foreign trade, Japan was infiltrated by western ideas that mingled with society's culture. The capitalism-the economic drive of individuals to make investments under private ownership- stirred the Japanese merchants to push for more profits.

One of the promoters to capitalism in Japan was the Meiji Restoration Era. After the internal war and civil strife, Emperor Meiji made a plethora of reforms in an effort to make Japan a modern country. It stimulated the building of factories and encouraged western culture education. After, redesigning the internal cultural infrastructure, constituents of the Meiji Restoration expressed the desire for expansion in pursuit of oversea markets. Moreover, this mindset of overseas expansion cratered to Japanese militaristic endeavors as well.

(Tipton, pg.132) With the urge to succeed and garner wealth, nationalism was being developed. This further supported the need to expand. Korea was one strip of land Japan sought to control. (Tipton, pg.203-204) As this analysis has shown, capitalism, nationalism, and the role reversal of women in Japanese society are few factors that helped Japan in its plight to become a superpower. With their nationalistic goals, they in turn via military conquest help spread and stimulate the surrounding Asian countries to modernize and conform to the new age that was dawning.

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