LEAVING ASIA 1885. CHINA. KOREA IN 2012. Has Anything Changed?

LEAVING ASIA 1885 (PUBLIC DOMAIN OR FAIR USE)

Datsu-A Ron (Japanese Kyūjitai: 脫亞論, Shinjitai: 脱亜論) was an editorial which was first published in the Japanese newspaper Jiji Shimpo on March 16, 1885. The writer is thought to be Japanese author and educator Fukuzawa Yukichi, but the original editorial was written anonymously. The editorial was contained in the second volume of Fukuzawa's complete works in 1933. The title Datsu-A Ron has been translated variously as the argument for “Good-bye Asia,” “de-Asianization,” “shedding Asia,” “escape from Asia,” “leaving Asia,” or “On departure from Asia.”

LEAVING ASIA 1885. WHAT ABOUT 21ST CENTURY ?

Recent movement of westerner’s global rapid action is remarkable.

However, this is only a result of the Industrial Revolution and

subsequent steam engines and does not mean there was some kind of

progress in terms of human spirits(or humanity). Therefore, in order

to stand up against and to prevent the invasions to the orient by

western great powers, first of all, we only need to get ready in our

mind(meaning, “to keep open mind and learn, not to have physical

strength”). Westerners are the same human being. But, that does not

mean we can disregard the reality of Industrial Revolution. In order

to keep an independence of a country, it is necessary to just jump

into the wave of the Industrial Revolution and accept not only it’s

benefits but also it’s disadvantages as well. This is now required

to survive in this modern civilized society.

Modern civilization is like influenza. Can we prevent infection of

Influenza on the sea front? No, I strongly believe we can’t.

Influenza has no benefit, and we can’t avoid infections once it

spreads. But, modern civilization bares both benefits and

disadvantages, and how can we protect ourselves from modern

civilization which has more benefits than disadvantages. It is, in a

way, a duty for intellectuals to push the infections while providing

antidotes.

It was when Perry’s black ships appeared in Edo Bay, Japanese

learned about the Industrial Revolution of the west. Since then

Japanese gradually had begun to recognize the needs to accept modern

Civilization. However, the Tokugawa shogunate was the obstacle. As

long as the Tokugawa shogunate existed, we could not accept modern

civilization. We had only 2 choices; modern civilization or sticking

to the old regime. If we had chosen the the old regime, the

independence of Japan had been in danger. It’s because westerners,

who went out to the world while taking advantage of technologies and

competing each other, had no mercy to leave the oriental island

country asleep.

Hereby, the faithful retainers, holding a faith to the country and

the emperor, destroyed the Tokugawa shogunate and built a new

government. This way, Japan as a country and the whole nation

decided to accept technologies and modern civilization born in the

west. This was the first amongst the all Asian countries and this

also meant leaving Asia for Japan.

Japan, as a national mind, despite the fact that country is located

in Asia, accepted the modern civilization of the west. However, an

Unfortunate thing for Japan is that Japan has the two neighboring

Countries. One is Sino, another is Chosun. It might possibly be

because we are just racially different from the beginning or the

Educational level is different, the difference of the national mind

Between Japan and the two countries is just tremendous even though

These two countries also possess the same classic and belong to the

Chinese character cultural sphere as well. In this era of a rapid

Information exchange, while knowing the modern civilization and the

International law, two countries still adhere to the past. This

National mind is nothing more than the one from the 1000 years ago.

In this actively progressive era of the modern civilization, the

Education is limited to Confucianism where they learn superficial

Knowledge, and in practice, their attitudes seem not only

Disregarding the scientific principles, but also morally collapsing

While they have no self-examinations but arrogance.

In my view, China and Korea cannot survive as independent nations

with the onslaught of modern civilization to the East if they keep

the way they are. There is no doubt that ruins and divisions of

Countries are inevitable unless noble men of reform appear in these

two countries and manage to reform the countries from top to down

just like the Meiji Restoration. It is because locking self up in a

closed room and shutting the air flow avoiding the wave of modern

Civilization, will only suffocate themselves.

Although in Zuo Zhuan stands for reciprocity of neighboring

countries, Sino and Chosun today have nothing helpful for Japan

while Japan might be mistakingly confused with these two countries

by the westerners because the three countries are geographically

close. For instance, if Sino and Chosun are under dictatorship or if

they are country of Confucianism, the western scholars might

Misunderstand that Japan might as well be so. Or if Sino ignore the

International law or manners without hesitation/shame, some might

think Japan may do the same. If Chosun brutally executes people,

some might doubt Japan do the same. And there are countless examples

like this. This is as if outsiders looking at a village full of

cruel and crazy people. Even if one person in the village is

Criticizing other members of the village, it does not make much

difference to outsiders. Outsiders would consider every one in the

village are pretty much the same. In fact, this kind of view in

Asian diplomacy can be seen here and there. That is one big

Unfortunate matter to Japan.

Japan should no longer wait nor expect the two countries to possess

International common sense. Japan should now ditch the illusion that

those countries, together with Japan, will help archive the

Prosperity in Asia. In stead, Japan should leave those countries

behind and join the western civilization to go forward. Just because

they are neighboring countries, Japan should not associate with

these countries with special emotional attachments. For these two

countries, Japan only need to keep relationships according to the

international law and common sense. Those who are intimate with bad

friends are also regarded bad, therefore I deny friendships with

those bad East Asian friends from my heart.