The question is: Analyze and compare the differing responses of China and Japan to western penetration in the nineteenth century.</p>
The West had become renowned as being the most powerful in the world in in the 19th century politically and economically. When they penetrated China and Japan in the century, there were many similar and different reactions. A political difference of China and Japan’s reactions were that China was less acceptant, while a governmental similarity was that both countries were closed off to the west at first; also, an economic difference was that China was more reluctant to trade than the Japanese and had more conflict with the west regarding trade, while a similarity was that both countries trade with the west eventually.</p>
There were many differences and similarities between Japan and China regarding their response to the West’s penetration in the 19th century. One difference was that China’s government was colder to the West’s advances while Japan was more welcoming to exchanges. For example, China only allowed certain European countries to trade with them and only through one port in Canton, This was because China saw the west conquer many other countries and was fearful; as a result, China lagged behind in their economy in the 19th century due to less trade. On the other hand, a similarity was that both countries’ governments were closed off to the West at first; both countries were wary as seen by China only trading through Canton and Japan being isolationist in the Heian era. This shows why the countries had such unique cultures compared to the west; free from outside influences, their cultures flowered in divergent ways.</p>
Also, there were multiple differences and similarities between the two countries on the topic of their economic responses. One difference was that China was more reluctant to trade, while Japan was more open. For example, the Meiji Restoration–a time of westernization and industrialization in Japan–evinced Japan’s much more welcoming attitude toward economic exchanged with the West. Moreover, another example is that Japan often sent their citizens to foreign countries to learn foreign technology and bring it back to Japan. The reason for this difference was that China’s leaders were much more conservative and stubborn in sticking to traditional Chinese values, while Japanese leaders realized the need to modernize. As an effect, Japan advanced technologically much more in the 19th century and grew as a world power who would later have great influence in the world wars. Furthermore, another difference was that China had a war with the West over commerce issues, while Japan was mostly conflict-free. For example, the Opium War–a war between China and Britain over China’s perceived danger of Britain selling opium, a drug, to China–exemplified the great conflict China and the west had. On the other hand, a similarity was that both countries did have an extent of trade with the west. For example, the trade is clear in the fact that Europe had the sternpost rudder and compass–both Chinese inventions. Also, Japan had extensive trade and cultural exchange with the west as well.</p>
China and Japan differed in their responses to the West’s penetration in the 19th century in level of acceptance politically and economically, while they were similar in being closed off at first and having some trade with the west eventually. However, China’s overall negative attitude to the West did cripple them economically and boosted Japan’s power in the 19th century world–an impact that would explain Japan’s future roles in the world wars, and global technological prowess today.</p>