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“Good-Bye Asia” Fukuzawa Article
Japan should fight against the western influences. This is because the western influence affects Japan in all the major aspects of life of the Asian country. The west influences Japan in the social, cultural and economic aspects of life, which may eventually influence the country’s political direction. The view that Japan’s progress is based on the western influence is no longer rational as the country has shaped its own course towards modernization (Saaler & Koschmann, 2007). If the country had not modernized, it would be a third world economy controlled by the west. The western nations would be using the country for economic gains since it would be relying on their financial support, just like other third world countries.
The author is critical of the Chinese and Koreans because of the independent perspective the two nations have taken in protest to western civilization. In addition, China and Korea are more similar to each other than they relate to Japan (Fukuzawa, 1997). The two nations are also clinging to their ancient practices and political opinions, making them typical Asian. For example, China and Korea use ancient values and educational perspectives such as Confucianism, which they do not seem to practice. According to Fukuzawa (1997), they perpetrate a lot of cruelty and related unspeakable acts. In the immorality, they do not self-examine their futility against the western civilization.
According to Fukuzawa, Asia is divided. The region is divided because of their different reaction to western civilization. He states that some Asian nations like Korea and China will be affected by the division as they face civilization (Fukuzawa, 1885). While Korea and China seek independent reaction, Japan has been taking a pan-Asian view of unified Asia (Saaler & Koschmann, 2007). In the context of the reading, “datsu-a” means the end of an era, for Asia through the division of the continent. In reflection of the Meiji Restoration, the article finds it a case to show the actions some Asians may take due to the cruelty of their governments.
References
Fukuzawa, Y. (1997). Datsu-a-ron = “Good-Bye Asia” (1885). (English translation) David Lu, ed., Japan: A Documentary History Armonk, New York: M. E. Sharpe, 1997, pp. 351-353
Saaler, S., & Koschmann, V. (2007). Pan-Asianism in Modern Japanese History: Colonialism, Regionalism and Borders. New York: Routledge