Why is Japanese culture so distinct compared to the rest of the world?
Assuming your premise is correct, which I think is somewhat questionable, there's actually good reason for Japanese culture to be distinct. Japan was one of the last countries in the world to open up to Europeans, having closed itself off to most foreign trade at the end of the Sengoku period. Being closed off to the world allowed for Japan's culture to develop somewhat independently of other countries in the Sinosphere. When Japan finally did open itself up to the wider world during the Meiji Restoration, it essentially brought a rush of modernity to this country that had previously sealed itself off, a very unique path to development that wasn't really mirrored anywhere else. Jun'ichirō Tanizaki's novel Naomi was written during the 1920s and does a great job of addressing the unique hybrid culture of the early-modern period. Another key factor to note is that Japan was never colonized by a Western power, making it one of only a few countries in the world to boast an unbroken history of independence (see map):Finally, forced isolation and geopolitical issues aside, Japan was incredibly remote, historically speaking. It essentially sits on the edge of the world, proximate to Korea, China, Vietnam, and the Philippines, but little else. Much of the frequent, easy cultural interchange that happened in other parts of the world was not open to Japan prior to the modern era.
China and Japan's isolation during the 1600's to 1800's?
Hi! I'm writing an argumentative essay but I'm reaching no where and it's frustrating. My topic was if it was a wise decision for China and Japan to isolate themselves during the 1600's to 1800's. I am saying it was wise, due to my claim of it being beneficial such as no exposure to foreign diseases at the time and the preservation of their culture and religion. If anyone can help me by telling me any diseases that were more widespread at the time that didn't reach Asia but mostly everywhere else? I really would appreciate a source and thanks!
Why did the Japanese traditionally practice nudism and mixed bathing? Do they still maintain these practices?
Nudism has never really been been practiced in Japan to my knowledge (its more of a lifestyle choice where you simply choose not to wear clothes even when doing everyday things, not the same as taking your clothes off for a bath).There are isolated places in Japan where you can still have mixed bathing (konyoku) but its more likely you will sharing with a 70-year old grandma than some cute young thing in her 20's. Most outside onsen and public baths are segregated in Japan.
Why is India not preserving its culture like Japan?
This question kept haunting me too until I learnt more about Japan. Japan lived in isolation from 1623 to 1641 & later opened up its ports. It is a country which is sea locked & foreigners or their invasions were nil therefore there was no major upheaval in their society. All Japanese have only 1 language & Shinto culture ( sort of Atheism ).India had invasions, upheaval & is land locked in North India. South India had sea on 3 sides & land towards North. No family was spared of migration & it had different languages, religion, customs & tradition etc.Cottage industries flourished until 1990s in India, but the cost of opening up the market led to financial constraints as big sharks came along. The small & cottage industries closed down & suddenly everyone had American or Western products to purchase. Later , China flooded Indian market with its goods but sadly India & Indians forgot to teach traditional arts & crafts to the young generation who saw no economic prospects in it. Today , India is to tackle unemployment & if our cottage industries had survived then there would have been life skills & also a way to earn money. Today a cobbler son is a government officer but can we ask him to go back to cobbler job. NO! The Government must take steps to revive cottage industries & help future generations with business & help from Japan. Eg :India can preserve its culture with revival of cottage industries & folk songs, arts & crafts. Government must take initiative to help too.
Imagine you are an adviser to either China s emperor OR Japan s shogun.?
Dear Highness, I suggest a policy of engagement with European powers. Although many of our countrymen do not wish to see our traditional ways challenged by foreigners, it can't be denied that Westerners have made enormous strides in the fields of science and invention. We could attempt to isolate ourselves, by keeping them out, but that won't work in the long run. They will come here with their ships, and threaten us with their weapons. But if we deal with them and learn as much as we can about their inventions, we may hope to keep pace with them, derive some economic benefits and be in a better position to protect ourselves if relations worsen. Sincerely, Your Humble Advisor
Why are Indians so influenced by the Western culture, when the Indian tradition has so much to give?
Indians have of course been influenced by the west since the time of European invasion in both good and bad ways.good sense-abolishing inhuman practices and superstitions ,introduction of modern education ,idea of indiviual rights and modern technology.In the bad sense - losing of our traditional values,objectification of women , rape culture etc.Although Indians generally have this colonial hangover ,to copy everything from the superior white ruling class of once,the mad extreme of it is seem among women expecially in NCR and surrounding region.Wearing shorts even in cold Delhi winters,going to pubs and hooking up with guys secretely in car parks is seen as the new cool or being culturally advanced…ALL THOSE ARE JUST STUPID ACTS by some hypocratic guys and girls who have no idea of Western culture and values.The way of life in western countries is totally different from what they think .While in India most people try this secretly to keep up their ego and peer pressure ,and remain good in front of parents / society …in the west everyone lives by his / her individual choice and views .For example in the USA you can find orthodox Jewish and xtian communities where even mingling freely with opposite gender can invite social isolation.Also there are hippies and free travelling women who enjoy life to the fullest.Everyone respects the individual freedom of others and never interferes in the personal life / choices of others ..even if it's your mom or sisterCan that ever happen in india ????Will any ultramodern guy who scores worth a new girl every month tolerate if his sister goes to a pub with her stud boyfriend ??Will any guy who supports short clothes and PDA accept his mom / sis wearing a bikini in front of his family ,colleagues ??Will these so called self reliant modern independent Delhi girls ,admit their hookup history to their family .?? Or to the arranged marriage proposal coming in ??While in the west people are open about all these to the people who deserves to know.You can't find a fake sanskari American virgin who secretly hooked up with her college BF and then bitch about other girls wearing sleeveless.So indians being fully western is a total hypocrisy.People just want to satisfy their egos ,thinking that they would be labelled as an old generation if they condemn any western ways.But at heart they are all a bunch of sanskari indian having deeply imprinted values about modesty , virginity , ideal man,women etc.
What were the Tokugawa shogunate's reasons for isolationism and how did the national culture affect it?
The factors that cause the Tokugawa to cut off most ties to Europeans was because of their fear of disruptive cultural transmission and their lack of need for European trade.Of these two, the cultural transmission focused around Christianity and its ethical system. Christianity directly challenged the feudal, religious, and interpersonal relationships that had been (and were being) established in Tokugawa Japan. Christianity asserted that all humans are equal, and their primary obligation is to all humans and to God, not to the Shogun, or their lord, or to their position in society. Had they allowed Christianity to spread, I seriously doubt that the Tokugawa government would have lasted 260 years with no war and minimal civil strife.In 1600, there was not many things that East Asians wanted in trade that Europeans could provide. Once Japan got firearms technology, they quickly surpassed the Europeans skill at production and no longer imported them. The remainder of products from Europe would have been some small mechanical goods and Wool products, neither which had much utility.Instead, the Japanese maintained trade with China and Korea to get the things they wanted, and let the Dutch stick around to give them basic intelligence on European relations and happenings.The national culture was still open to influence from Europe, especially in areas such as medicine or technology, but in the main Japan developed its own domestic culture. With 250+ years of peace, many traditional Japanese arts came back into prominence and were refined. Along with that, a civil culture for the normal literate person also developed. Look up Ukiyoe for both art and literature, with Ihara Saikaku being the most interesting author.I would suppose that with more Western influence, Japan would have been more unstable, which would have lead to less development of a domestic culture.(This requires more research and citation and is just my opinion from way to much reading in the subject area.)