Through the Eyes of the Colonized:Japanese Imperialism in Korea

Jeannie Logan / New Trier High School / loganj@nths.net

“Age of Western Dominance” Limitations and Concerns Complicate the master

narrative

Imperialism Narrative

Historical context Explore the complexities of

the colonial space Introduce resources

Goals

Korea

Unified, autonomous nation since 668 CE

3 Dynasties: Silla (668- 936) Koryo (936-1392) Choson (1392-1910)

The End of Japanese Isolation

Why Empire? Why Korea?

Treaty of Kanghwa

1876 Opened up 3 ports to Japan Gave Japan exemption from tariffs Recognized Japanese currency at

ports of trade Japanese diplomatic mission set up

in Seoul Granted Japanese extraterritoriality

Internal crisis in Korea: Peasant

uprisingTonghak movement

Chinese and Japanese troops engage Japanese victory

Acquisition of Taiwan China recognizes Korean independence

Sino-Japanese War1894-1895

Russia & Japan now jockey for

preeminence on the peninsula

Stunning defeat of Western power

Korea: Japanese Protectorate

Russo-Japanese War

1904-1905

1910: Annexation

Treaties of 1904 and

1910“For the purpose of maintaining a permanent and solid friendship between Korea and Japan and firmly establishing peace in the Far East, the Imperial Government of Korea shall place full confidence in the Imperial Government of Japan and adopt the advice of the latter in regard to improvements in administration.”

“In order to maintain peace and stability in Korea, to promote the prosperity and welfare of the Korean people, and at the same time to ensure the safety and repose of the foreign residents, it has been made abundantly clear that fundamental changes in the actual regime of government are absolutely essential.”

Justifications for Empire

“For those of us who live in the Orient, unless we want to prevent the coming of Western civilization with a firm resolve, it is best that we cast our lot with them.

From the perspectives of civilized Westerners, they may see what is happening in China and Korea and judge Japan accordingly, because of the three countries’ geographical proximity.”

Fukuzawa Yukichi (1885)

“The governments of China and Korea still retain their autocratic manners and do not abide by the rule of law. Westerners many consider Japan likewise a lawless society. Natives of China and Korea are deep in their hocus pocus of nonscientific behavior. Western scholars may think that Japan still remains a country dedicated to the yin and yang and five elements. Chinese are mean-spirited and shameless, and the chivalry of the Japanese people is lost to the Westerners… How unfortunate it is for Japan.”

“It is stated in two famous Chinese histories… that Korea is bounded on the east and west by sea and borders Japan on the south. If Japanese territory had not extended to the Korean peninsula over the sea in those days, such record would never have been written; but the sea would have been represented as circumscribing Korea not only on the east and west but also on the south. It is thus reasonable to infer that Japanese domination extended to the Korean peninsula beyond the sea…”

Komatsu Midori (1910)

“…it is not unreasonable to conclude that the Japanese and Korean peoples formed for a long time one and the same nation. The recent annexation of Korea by Japan is therefore not the incorporation of two different countries inhabited by different races, but, it may rather be said to be the reunion of two sections of the one and same nation after a long period of separation. Indeed it is nothing more nor less than the old state of things restored…”

Justifications for Empire

Complicated Web of Justifications

Colonial Administration:

3 Phases 1910-1919:

Military Rule 1920-1930:

Cultural Rule 1930s: Naisen

Ittai (“Korea and Japan are One”)

Colonial Impact and

Responses

March 1 Movement• How did Korean protestors perceive

their colonial relationship?• What presuppositions did they have?• What claims to legitimacy are they

making?

We hereby declare that Korea is an independent state and that Koreans are a self-governing people. We proclaim it to the nations of the world in affirmation of the principle of the equality of all nations… We make this declaration on the strength of five thousand years of history as an expression of the devotion and loyalty of 20 million people. We claim independence in the interest of the eternal and free development of our people and in accordance with the great movement for world reform based on the awakening conscience of mankind.

Declaration of IndependenceMarch 1, 1919

First 3 years (1920-1923): ~7000 new Korean

communications organizations were created Most widely read Korean daily newspaper had

37,000 subscribers Official government gazette had circulation of

23,000 By 1929 total subscriptions to 4 major

newspapers reached 100,000

1920-1931: Easing of Restrictions

Korean language newspapers shut down All instruction in schools in Japanese, Korean

banned Shinto shrines built throughout the country Schoolchildren required to show ritual deference

to Japanese emperor Decree “encouraging” Koreans to adopt

Japanese names (1939)

1930s: Aggressive Assimilation

Naisen Ittai

1925: Japanese established a committee to

rewrite Korea’s history Japanese relocated tens of thousands of

cultural artifacts to Japan Many public monuments and buildings were

altered

Cultural Destruction

Pak Songp’il:

Describes his struggle over changing his name Chong Chansu:

Drafted to work in shipyards, describes conditions

Kang Pyongju:College educated, describes the disparity in treatment between Koreans and Japanese

Oral Histories

Lost Names, Richard Kim

Born 1932, Grew up in northern Korea during Japanese occupation

Series of stories about his childhood up until Korea’s liberation from Japanese rule

(p. 109) Then the teacher gestures abruptly, as if to touch my face. “I am sorry,” he says. My father gives him a slight bow of his head. “Even the British wouldn’t have thought of doing this sort of primitive thing in India,” says the Japanese. I am at a loss, trying to comprehend what he says and means.“…inflicting on you this humiliation…” he is saying, “…unthinkable for one Asian people to another Asian people, especially we Asians who should have greater respect for our ancestors…” “The whole world is going mad, sir,” says my father quietly, “going back into another dark age. Japan is no exception.” My teacher nods. “As one Asian to another, sir, I am deeply ashamed.” “I am ashamed, too, sir,” says my father, “perhaps for a reason different from yours.” My teacher, without a word, bows to my father, turns round, and disappears into the blinding snow. “It is a small beginning,” says my father…

President Barack Obama watches as South Korean President Park Geun-hye, left, and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, leave their seats, March 25, 2014, during the start of their trilateral meeting at

the US Ambassador's Residence in the Hague, Netherlands. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

Jeannie LoganNew Trier High School

loganj@nths.net