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Japan: Past and Present
This third edition of Dr. Reischauer's book brings up to date his lucid and authoritative history of Japan, first published after World War II.
From the origins of the Japanese people to the present, Dr. Reischauer, a leading American scholar born in Tokyo, omits nothing essential to an explanation of the rise, fall, and resurgence of this Asiatic empire. The complexities of the language, of Shinto, of imperial rule, of the recent disastrous military dictatorship, of the American occupation, and of present-day Japan are all clarified. The author describes the decisive cultural revolutions in which Japan borrowed what she needed from Chinese civilization and later from the West, struggling each time to assimilate these borrowings to her indigenous civilization. He explains how the closing of Japan under the Tokugawa cut her off from Western progress for two and a half centuries, and how the belated Westernizing of her institutions finally resulted in military control and the wars on China and the West.
The sequel to those wars was first described and analyzed in the second revised edition of this book published in 1953. Since the postwar occupation more than a decade has passed. In this, the third revised edition, Dr. Reischauer presents entirely new material covering the momentous years from 1952 to the present. This up-to-date revision of his book includes a comprehensive chronological table of leading events in the long history of Japan, and an invaluable bibliography on Japan's pre-modern period, her religion, art, and literature, and on the past turbulent century.
From the origins of the Japanese people to the present, Dr. Reischauer, a leading American scholar born in Tokyo, omits nothing essential to an explanation of the rise, fall, and resurgence of this Asiatic empire. The complexities of the language, of Shinto, of imperial rule, of the recent disastrous military dictatorship, of the American occupation, and of present-day Japan are all clarified. The author describes the decisive cultural revolutions in which Japan borrowed what she needed from Chinese civilization and later from the West, struggling each time to assimilate these borrowings to her indigenous civilization. He explains how the closing of Japan under the Tokugawa cut her off from Western progress for two and a half centuries, and how the belated Westernizing of her institutions finally resulted in military control and the wars on China and the West.
The sequel to those wars was first described and analyzed in the second revised edition of this book published in 1953. Since the postwar occupation more than a decade has passed. In this, the third revised edition, Dr. Reischauer presents entirely new material covering the momentous years from 1952 to the present. This up-to-date revision of his book includes a comprehensive chronological table of leading events in the long history of Japan, and an invaluable bibliography on Japan's pre-modern period, her religion, art, and literature, and on the past turbulent century.
323 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1964
About the author
Edwin O. Reischauer
75 books11 followersEdwin Oldfather Reischauer was an American diplomat, educator, and professor at Harvard University. Born in Tokyo to American educational missionaries, he became a leading scholar of the history and culture of Japan and East Asia. Together with George M. McCune, a scholar of Korea, in 1939 he developed the McCune–Reischauer romanization of the Korean language.
Reischauer became involved in helping create US policy toward East Asia during and after World War II. President John F. Kennedy appointed Reischauer as the United States Ambassador to Japan, where he served from 1961 to 1966. Reischauer founded the Japan Institute at Harvard University in 1973 and was its founding director. It was later named in honor of him.
Reischauer became involved in helping create US policy toward East Asia during and after World War II. President John F. Kennedy appointed Reischauer as the United States Ambassador to Japan, where he served from 1961 to 1966. Reischauer founded the Japan Institute at Harvard University in 1973 and was its founding director. It was later named in honor of him.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
September 10, 2020
Written right after World War II and revised in 1964, Japan: Past and Present presents a brief outline of the history of that nation as well as its cultural development.
March 1, 2019
Reischauer's book is not only insightful and tightly packed with information, but it is also written in a clear and concise language which would make this work a great introduction to learning about Japan. It is a delightful and informative reading on Japanese history, politics, and society.
One thing that the reader must be aware of - and I was not when I acquired this book, although it did not take away from the pleasure of reading it - is that Reischauer has updated this book well into the 80s, but under the title "Japan: The Story of a Nation". (Japan: The Story of a Nation) You might want to go for that, if you are aiming to look for the latest, but this version of the book is still more than adequate in meeting the interest of the reader - just not after much of the 60s.
One thing that the reader must be aware of - and I was not when I acquired this book, although it did not take away from the pleasure of reading it - is that Reischauer has updated this book well into the 80s, but under the title "Japan: The Story of a Nation". (Japan: The Story of a Nation) You might want to go for that, if you are aiming to look for the latest, but this version of the book is still more than adequate in meeting the interest of the reader - just not after much of the 60s.
January 26, 2021
This short book is a fantastic summary of Japanese history. Though a short summary, it is a must-have for any serious Japanophile/historian. Reischauer effectively and beautifully retells the story of the 2,000 year history and development of the Japanese people and their country through a fairly non-partisan lens. Interestingly, he gave the US occupation of Japan and the post-war years a great, fair and detailed summary.
One of the best parts of the book is at the end where he provides a wealth of books, many of which I have read, for further reading and research.
To those that say it is too dry, I found it to be just the opposite. It was highly readable and accessible.
One of the best parts of the book is at the end where he provides a wealth of books, many of which I have read, for further reading and research.
To those that say it is too dry, I found it to be just the opposite. It was highly readable and accessible.
January 3, 2023
A great condensed history of Japan. Covers a great range of topics, like religious, political, geographical, economical information; but accessible to the laymen (though by no means a breeze given its information density).
March 16, 2023
3,5 stars
February 7, 2016
Very informative, but very dry, as is expected from an academic text. However, my favorite part are the visual aids in the book. Worth checking out just for the maps and diagrams!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews