O u r Wo r l d v i e w s
Chapter 6
How Did Japan’s
Culture Change?
Values and beliefs about culture, social systems, and political and
economic systems are the basis of a society’s worldview. These values
and beliefs changed in Meiji Japan.
What Role Did Religion Play?
The oligarchy wanted to make Shintoism the national religion and
part of the school curriculum. They felt that everyone having the
same belief system would create greater unity in the country.
The government hoped the people would discard Buddhism and
Confucianism. There was confusion, however, because the Confucian
virtues were still being taught in the schools, the military, and
through bushido. No matter what the government dictated, many
people still believed in and practised Buddhism and Confucianism.
Eventually the government had to allow Buddhism as a religion.
Kiyomizo Temple, Kyoto
Japanese Buddha
212
H o w D i d R a p i d C h a n g e D u r i n g t h e M e i j i P e r i o d A f f e c t J a p a n ' s Wo r l d v i e w ?
How Did Attitudes Change?
Young Japanese intellectuals believed that if Japan was to succeed, then
the individual had to succeed. They used mottos to promote this idea:
bunmei kaika (boon-mie-kie-kah), “Civilization and Enlightenment,”
and risshin shusse (rees-sheen-shoos-she), “Be a Success.”
New periodicals and newspapers wrote about the ideals of liberty
and individualism, in contrast to the old Japanese belief system in
which individualism was not valued. The individual was to work in
harmony with family, community, or business groups. As the work
to remake Japan continued, the phrase kuni no tame (koo-nee-noetah-meh), “For the sake of the country,” was often heard.
A new sense of nationalism emerged. The Meiji government
had failed to renegotiate the unequal treaties; people began to feel
bitterness towards the West. There was also a fear that the move
towards a Western lifestyle had gone too far and Japan was losing
its identity. These attitudes were expressed by a group of writers
who argued for the virtues and importance of Japan and things
Japanese. They wrote about the importance of retaining Japanese
traditional values.
How Did Ideas of Citizenship and
Participation Change?
filial: showing proper respect
Government leaders decided
that Japan should continue
to move towards a modern
society, but not at the
expense of the traditions
and values that made it
uniquely Japanese. Japan was
to continue as a centralized
family-style state in which
the emperor was like the
father of the nation to
whom everyone was loyal.
Today, the Japanese still
demonstrate their respect
for strong family and social
values. The collective is
perceived to be very
important, although
individual responsibility
and success are valued.
The Japanese culture also
maintains many of its
traditional art forms.
With increasing education and the dismantling of the class hierarchy,
the peasants had the opportunity to become involved in more
than day-to-day concerns. Many became strong
ur parents,
lobbyists and wrote letters of protest to the government
Be filial to yo
s;
ers and sister
to your broth
when they believed they were being treated unfairly.
e
at
n
io
ct
fe
af
onious;
During the Tokugawa Era, it would have been unheard
ives be harm
w
d
an
s
d
an
as husb
of to lobby the government or complain. No
ue;
individuals, especially commoners, would have felt they
as friends, tr
ty and
had the right to demand more. In fact, these new
ves in modes
bear yoursel
attitudes surprised and frightened the Meiji leaders who
moderation...
and
still believed there was a need for strict government
constitution
s respect the
ay
w
al
control over the country.
laws;
observe the
urselves
arise, offer yo
cy
en
g
er
em
should
..
to the State.
courageously
REFLECT
AND
RESPOND
1. How was religion used to unify the Japanese people?
2. a. Discuss whether you agree with this statement: Individuals
had to succeed in order for Japan to be successful.
b. Do you think Canada’s success as a country today depends
on the success of individuals?
3. How did attitudes about citizen involvement in politics change
in Meiji Japan?
213