The Kellogg Library at Cal State San Marcos is currently hosting
“Commodore Perry and the Westernization of Japan: 150th Anniversary
of the Relationship between the
The exhibition tour has reached many people from all parts of
“I found the
exhibition to be quite enjoyable, and rather informative. The photographs were
at times moving and mesmerizing, while the cartoons and painting reproductions
gave wonderful insights into how a newly opened land was viewed by the first
foreigners to enter it.
These works are of
great historical significance. Since the Japanese were forbidden by law to
document sensitive incidents in which the bakufu were involved, the
works of Beato and Wirgman alone can show what life was like for the Japanese
immediately following the opening of their country’s shores to a foreign
presence, even if it is through a rather culture-bound lens. Because of this,
it was a unique and wonderful opportunity to be able to view these pieces.
However, I am also quite saddened by this. I would have liked to have seen the
Japanese perspective on the events that followed Commodore Perry’s arrival. Not
the western perspective on their views, but actual pieces of Japanese art
expressing their feelings on the matter. Alas it is not to be.
I was very
intrigued by the photos and paintings of the murder and the execution of the
murderer. The fact that even the westerners who had lost a friend, or at the
very least a compatriot, could say nothing else but that the murderer showed
exceptional bravery and a true ‘samurai spirit’ at his execution gave great
insight into the Japanese as a whole. No one leaves an
execution in
The landscapes
were marvelous. I love Japan; I think it is one of the most beautiful places in
our world, and seeing it as it was at a time when monumental change had not
occurred in nearly 200 years is an exceptional treat. The chronology of the
exhibit is wonderful as well. Seeing it change from an entirely pristine
landscape and homogenous Japanese buildings, to what was in essence little
sections of the West snuck into
The cartoons were
amusing, and most importantly they, by taking everything to its extreme, most accurately show what life was like for the
West and
…. All in all I loved the exhibit, I feel that it as a whole the exhibit truly
succeeds in showing how western culture effected the cultural change and growth
of the Japanese people. From simple things such as architecture, to the more
complex social interactions we see in the cartoons. I found that while the
photos and early paintings showed life in Japan (or at least the life of a
westerner in Japan, and the life of the Japanese as seen by westerners), the
cartoons gave me insight into how the foreigners viewed their hosts and their
style of life (regardless of whether or not I agree with that view). I feel
that the cartoons also show how the two peoples dealt with each other on a
daily basis in a way that factual reports, paintings and photography never
could. I am very happy that I got the chance to see the exhibit and am thankful
that we went as a class because otherwise I don’t think I would have known
about it. Because I was with my classmates, it gave me a chance to discuss what
I saw with the others around me. I think anyone with interest in
Sean McStravick, Japn 106
CSUSM Photo Exhibition Review
Photo caption: Exhibition at Kellogg Library, Cal
State San Marcos
Below are some excellent reviews by your
classmates:
Marcelle
Natisin
Japn
110
Essay
'The
War of the Worlds'
The exhibition on display at the
Marcos
was a small but tidy gathering of photography
and facts, mapping out one of the most important
events that dozens of countries have ever known.
However,
the westernization of
began before even commodore Perry: with the
Portuguese,
who were the first foreigners to take up
residence in
Portuguese
come to be familiar with
would people from other countries such as
forced the metaphorical gates of
not only a country, but also a culture.
While examining the information in the
exhibit, one
can’t help but feel the overwhelming since of
arrogance foreigners had toward this new place.
British
newspapers constantly mocked newfound
traditions. At the same time,
itself, battling the influence of westerners in
everything from business to social matters while still
trying to maintain a since of ancient tradition.
Through the exhibit, echoes of deep
rooted feeling
seep through papers and words. Though the texts
beneath pictures were unbiased, they did raise
questions of bias. In the
arrival in May of 1853, Japanese citizens commonly
referred to all foreigners as barbarians, while their
visitors referred to them in the same manner. Japanese
government tried to put restrictions on the areas that
foreigners could live, work and travel in. in fact,
foreigners needed passes to leave their areas of
confinement for others. While this sounds extreme, one
must also take into consideration that the United
States
and other countries participated in similar
things at the time, including (but not limited to)
designated living places for Native Americans and
foreigners and a closed-door policy toward immigrants.
In the same light, it must be pointed
out that
commodore Perry's arrival wasn’t exactly peaceful in
the least. He arrived with the untied states military
in tow, and sailed in to
stating the
doors to foreigners. This proved profitable for an
‘manifest destiny’- the idea that everything is meant
to be populated and expanded under one flag, namely
the
disturb the Japanese, though it did bring benefits at
the same time. Factory jobs were among the first signs
of westernization and for a period of time, it had
been fixed so that foreigners paid no taxes on their
business! In fact, they were getting quite a deal.
Secondly,
came railroads: a swift and novel way of
transportation. While both of these things can be said
to have been tremendously wonderful for the Japanese
people at the time, the overwhelming pressure of a
western society, complete with Christian missionaries
breathing down your neck, was less then welcome.
Hostilities toward foreigners can always
be
expected, and are common today as well. Foreigners
feared for themselves traveling in
Attacks
on foreigners were highly publicized in
newspapers in places like
enough of it, and in its own way, it was a means of
proliferating the propaganda. The tale of the
Richardson
Incident (1863), as it was called was one
of these stories that circulated to almost a cult
status. The
of Japanese citizens as they were traveling in the
woods. Due to the death of
to martyr status. A popular painting at the time, by
Charles
Whirgmen- also on display at the exhibit-
depicted him as a beatific man, warding off hordes of
warriors while a helpless woman and fellow man escaped
on horseback. To foreigners, the Japanese were cruel
and wicked and to the Japanese, foreigners were
invaders seeking to destroy their way of life. In the
instance of these incidences, one great question could
be asked: which side of the story is true.
In all matters of course, the
westernization of
its irreversible damage to a culture. While the
Japanese
benefited from western influence, so to did
the west benefit from the Japanese. However, this does
call for reflection. Is it possible to coexist with
other cultures without finding the need to twist them
into reflections of our own? Can information and
knowledge be traded without views that meet on every
aspect, or are our offerings and aids only extended to
those we can hope to manipulate, expose and change?
Such
things are what I came to wonder, due to this
particular exhibit. Westernization came to
broadened a cultures view of the world, opening them
to other cultures, but this was only due to other
cultures, trying with all their might, to wash
of its past.
Excellent
essay!!! I enjoyed reading this very much. I even learned something new from
reading your essay.
Sarah
Edge
JPN
110
The photo exhibition was very interesting
and in-depth into the
westernization of
thief who had
been beheaded and had his head put on display for the public to see.
Knowing
this, some
of Japanfs history seemed quite cruel, while, on the other hand,
some of it
seemed quite
beautiful.
On display was a Yoroi Kabuto (samurai
sword). The samurai armor is given
to a
male child when he is born. It is to give him strength. May 5 is
Childrenfs
Day. During
Childrenfs
Day, parents decorate a carp-shaped streamer to fly outside the
house. They
also display a warrior doll. It is done to wish them health and
happiness
for the next year.
One of the photos was of Zenpukuji. It is
a Buddhist temple, which was used
as an
American consulate. Bakafuku (tent government) assigned
temples customarily
for
conulate or legislation meetings due to the fact that they were the
largest
buildings
available for use at such a time. Buddhist temples used for governmental
purposes was a
restricted use permitted to four countries:
After
the
center for many of Japanfs first.Yokohama was the city in which the
first
railroad system
connecting
October
14, 1872. A baseball team formed by settlers in
Baseball
Club was forumlated among the settlers. Foreigners during that time
consumed
foods of different origin than what the Japanese were used to eating.
Some
of the more
popular items were beer, meat, milk, and bread. This gave way to the
first
butcher shop.
Eister
and Martinell opened Yokohamafs first butcher shop in 1860. It also
gave way to
Japanfs
first beer brewery, Spring Valley Brewery, which opened in the
settlement in 1870 by Norwegian-American William Copeland. It failed in
1885.
Foreigners
bought it and renamed it Japan Brewery. They labeled the beer
1907
renamed it to Kirin Brewery. A
mythology.
Kirin
Brewery was destroyed in 1923 when the Great Kanto Earthquake
destroyed 79%
of
Yokohama
Grand Hotelfs construction started in 1860, and it opened 1870
with an
addition to the building in 1890. It accomodated parties of more than a
hundred. However
it was destroyed in 1923 during the Great Kanto Earthquake.
With the westernization of
One
example was prostetant missionaries. Mary E. Kidder was the first
female
missionary.
Three
women, not including Kidder, created the Womanfs Union Missionary
Society
of
and
Eurasian children. Another foreigner with a great fondness
for
Wirgman
Charles.
He started a cartoon magazine called The Japan Punch in 1862 one
year after he
arrived. His fondness for
He
died in
This was just one half of what was on
display at the photo exhibition. The
other
half focused more on the origins of the westernization of
with Commodore
Perry who had aspiring hopes of opening trade with
USS
Powahatan
commanded by Commodore Perry arrived at
signatures by Japanese government officials to the Treaty of Kanagawa on
March
31,
1854 in
ports,
Shimoda
and Hakadate, allowed trading vessels from the
became
a trade port in 1959.
As much as the treaty allowed foreigners
access to Japan. Some were not
treated
friendly. In one instance, three foreigners on horseback crossed a
samurai
ceremony.
According
to customs, they were not allowed to do this, and it was seen as
an insult. Two
of the three, a man and woman, escaped. However one was brutally
murdered by
the
samurai. A photo of his corpse was among the photos shown at the exhibition.
Overall I think this photo exhibition was
a great success, and I learned a
lot about
this exhibit was
the Yoroi Kabuto doll. It was dressed and decorated very intricately.
Childrenfs
Day is
very interesting to me because it is a holiday we in
also noticed the
Great
Kanto Earthquake was mentioned several times, and had no prior idea
before this,
especially given that it destroyed 79% of
difficult to
imagine, because
Excellent
essay!! Very informative and well thought out.
Erik
Gordon
Japanese
110
Yokahama
In the mid
1850s,
began to open its borders to create a more “modern”
seize on the opportunity,
send emissaries to open trade negotiations with
Commodore
Matthew Calbraith Perry was put in charge of
this endeavor and left
negotiations.
Commodore Perry
first landed in
However,
before long the Japanese people decided they
were not welcome. Years of isolationism had given them
harsh feelings to these new foreigners. As a result,
fear of “sacred land contamination” by “barbarians”
caused the Japanese people to demand that Perry leave
negotiations could take place. Perry wanted to be near
people wanted him to be farther away in less populated
areas so the foreigners would have less of an impact
on the Japanese culture. Therefore a compromise was
struck. The city where the talks were to be conducted
was
The first thing
that happened after the location
was decided was the construction of the Treaty Hall,
where the treaty talks would take place. On March 31,
1854,
the Treaty of Kanagawa was signed. This treaty
provisioned the
for their developing whaling industry. More so, it
took care of a problem where
saved from wrecked ships were being held against their
will by the Japanese that saved them. This treaty was
one of the first steps of many to create an
international relationship between
At first, the
relations between the Japanese and
American
governments showed great promise and a bright
future. When Perry landed at
procession between the Japanese military and American
delegates took place. During this ceremony, both sides
exchanged gifts.
kimonos, lacquer wares, porcelain urns, and 100 sacks
of rice, while American gave the Japanese things such
as tool and supplies to build railways and other
“modern” technologies. However, hard feelings towards
the foreign Americans still lingered in the Japanese
population, and still grew. On
group of foreign people were on horseback touring the
countryside. They were met by a procession of samurai.
Not
being aware of the custom, these people did not
dismount their horses and bow to the proceeding
samurai, showing them much disrespect. As a result,
the samurai attacked and killed the group. This became
known as the Richardson Incident. Another infamous
incident occurred on
officers were killed by a man named Shimuzu Seiji and
his assistant on their way to see a popular tourist
attraction, called Daibatsu (Big Buddha) . As
punishment, Shimuzu Seiji was beheaded and his head
was put on display for three days.
Regardless of
these harsh feelings towards
foreigners,
“modern society.” In 1860 the first “western-style”
hotel was established, called the Yokohama Grand
Hotel. On
Emperor
himself rode the train. With many other
advancements not included, the mid 1850s marked a
turning point for the development and history of
and the countries involved with it. It gave everyone a
look into different aspects and lifestyles of new and
exciting cultures. Without the effort and sacrifices
of those who worked so hard to establish the early
relationships with one another, the world would be
much different than it is today.
Excellent
work! Nicely written and informative.
Juliana
Jozwiak
110
Photo
Exhibition
There was a very interesting art exhibit at California State University
San Marcos. There were a great
number of photographs, paintings, sketches, and other works of art all from the
Meiji Era.
Thought the exhibit was supposed to be about the Westernization of
Japan, I thought that the most interesting work of art was the traditional
samurai doll. It always invokes
very special feelings to see something that was made for a child, owned by a
child—it brings back memories of yourself as a child, and of your younger
family members. It almost reminded
me of a porcelain doll that my grandmother gave me when I was a little girl,
though I know that the samurai doll was not just a pretty plaything. The samurai doll was meant to wish that
little boy strength, health, and good fortune. My own doll was not steeped in such
important traditions, but it did represent something just as important—the love
between my grandmother and I. The
little boy who owned this doll must have been very special to someone for them
to give him such a beautiful, elaborate, and no-doubt very expensive doll. Even though I know that whoever owned
the doll has grown old and died by this point,
it still seems
sad to see that doll staring at me, instead of watching over that little boy
that he was meant for.
Some other things that were interesting were the pictures that covered
the relations between the Japanese and the various foreigners that came to
their country. You get the feeling that those small paragraphs skimmed over
quite a bit of information—they had to, really. In some pictures, you could see very
Western things, like the Yokohama Grand Hotel, the
unfortunate
history of our own country; settlers from the western nations came and
completely annihilated the native population, placing their own culture over it
instead, dismissing the long-held native traditions. Luckily, nothing quite that drastic
happened in
One of the major changes brought about by the Westernization of Japan
was the “invention” of the Japanese newspaper. The first man to publish a
newspaper in
Other important changes that the outsiders made were the introductions
of new foods to
Thirdly, a huge change that marks Japan even
today—baseball. It’s said
that it’s
It would seem as though all these foreigners coming in, with their
drastically different ways, would cause quite a melting pot in Japan, but this
is not so. All the foreigners lived
in certain districts set aside for them, were only allowed to use certain
ports, and were expected, generally, to keep to themselves. This has a lot to do with the fact that
Japan was isolated for so long—it’s isolation was so intense that there was
never even a need for it to have a treaty with China, practically a next-door
neighbor! Certainly, the situation
wasn’t going to change quickly. Even today, you don’t see a mix of people in
noticed. It’s even rather common to run into
people who don’t speak the local language at all, and even more common to run
into people who don’t speak it well.
I haven’t been to
The photo exhibition really tried to cover a great deal of information
in a very short amount of time, and, really, it did remarkably well. I think I
will go look up more about the Westernization of Japan—we hardly even touched
it in my high school history class, and the art exhibit just scratched the
surface.
Nicely written and very informative. Excellent
work.
Matthew
Peterson
106
The
events that shaped the history of
pictures showed places and events where eastern and western cultures
mixed, or didn't mix, for the first time. Following the journey of
Commodore
Matthew Perry, the photos did a wonderful job detailing how
the relationship between eastern and western countries went through
periods of struggle and success for many years as each learned more
about the other. These events were the beginnings of a new Japanese
economy and society which has modernized so much that today it stands
at the forefront of technology and science.
Harmony
between the Americans and the Japanese did develop overnight
but took many years of skillful diplomacy and a gradual development
of
mutual understanding between two very different cultures. The first
photos showing Commodore Matthew Perry and the Japanese conveyed the
distance which the Japanese and Americans kept when they first met,
but both sides did there best to develop a strong relationship.
Impressive
displays of force were accompanied by even more impressive
gifts from both sides.
Among the extravagant gifts were a locomotive
from
textiles. The younger Japanese troops were impressed by the equality
among the American soldiers, but the older generals did not like the
informal way lower ranking troops addressed their officers.
The
Japanese and Americans continued to negotiate trade, and as the
photos showed, several of japans fishing villages began to grow into
major trading ports. The
expand to become a center of trade for
officially closed for hundreds of years, these ports quickly attracted
world attention.
Foreigners
were generally not well received and certain groups
repeatedly attacked diplomats and ambassadors. . The Buddhist
temples, zenpukuji, that were used as American consulates and other
official government purposes were sometimes attacked by angry leaders
who felt strongly about the introduction of western ideas into the
Japanese culture. The photo gallery recounted one act of
violence in
particular. The
Namamugi/Richardson incident began when a diplomat
from
Satsuma domain. An argument
broke out and
the leader. After many
apologies from the Japanese government, the
leader was beheaded and his severed head placed on a gibbet and
reparations were paid to
like these,
relationship grew stronger and more peaceful.
As
to experience a growing immigration of foreigners who established
churches and brought Catholicism into
missionary work wasn't a primary focus of foreign involvement, it did
bring a new outreach for those concerned with the church. Japan also
began to adopt western style architecture into their own, as this did
with many other aspects of western culture. Back in
the Japanese culture was often the subject of much ridicule because
of
its seemingly absurd ways.
In the end, it probably took Americans
longer to understand the Japanese than it did for the Japanese to
understand
grown tremendously.
This
exhibition did a wonderful job telling the story of such an
important time in the history of both
Unfortunately,
photographic technology was not easily accessible in
Perry's
time, but the exhibition also included artists' sketches of
scene's and events. Later
on however, cameras became much more
available and even a few color photos made their way into the
exhibition.
Trying
to relieve the times through the photos helps one remember the
extreme leadership and diplomacy required by both sides to bridge a
gap between to very distant and quite different countries. The
bustling economy of "Ambitious Japan" today is testament to
how much
it has grown and changed as a result, and American interest in the
Japanese
culture, society, and economy continues to grow. This
exhibition was a wonderful way to understand and learn to appreciate
the origins of what forged the relationship we enjoy today,
especially
as learners of the Japanese language, culture, and society who
continually seek to better understand and empathize with such an
ancient place.
--
I very much enjoyed reading this essay. Good job. This was very
informative. I am glad you were able to get so much from the exhibition.
Thanks for participating in this assignment. All of
your essays submitted were very much appreciated. Thanks!!! Tachibana