Japan and China: Mutual Perception of Recent Historical Experience through the Prism of the West-East Opposition

Abstract

The article is devoted to the analysis of the perception of difficult historical experience in bilateral relations by China and Japan, which dates back to the middle of the 19th century when both countries faced strong pressure from the Western world. The chronological framework of the study thus covers the period starting from the “Opium Wars” in China and the Meiji Restoration in Japan, makes a focus on the war of 1937–1945, which is viewed as the culmination of the crisis in bilateral relations, and ends with the current situation, when both countries are still trying to comprehend this difficult period of their history. The purpose of the study is to identify the role of the Western component in the mutual perception of recent historical experience by China and Japan, examining this perception through the prism of the West-East opposition. The first part of the article describes the process of Japan and China, searching for their national identities after facing with the growing pressure from the West in the second half of the 19th – early 20th century. The second part sheds light on the role of the Western component in the formation of historical memory in Japan and China, related to the recent war between them. The study demonstrates significance of the Western factor for understanding the origins of the crisis in Sino-Japanese relations and the assessment of its consequences for each country. It should be definitely taken into consideration for better understanding the current state of Sino-Japanese relations as well as the interpretation of historical past in both countries.

Keywords

• sino-japanese relations
• east – west dichotomy
• national identity
• meiji restoration
• self-strengthening movement
• sino-japanese war of 1937–1945
• historical memory
• historical trauma