Asakawa Kan’ichi: Japan’s Radical Change 2

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I have previously described Historian Asakawa Kan’ichi in one of my other blogs [1]. Asakawa reviews history of Japan 7th century CE – 20th century CE. He states that Japan has undergone five radical changes in the past 1300 years that have helped her overcome existential threats. This blog describes second of the five.

Radical Change 2. Taika Reforms (7th century CE)

Fig. Taika Reforms

Depiction of the assassination of Soga no Iruka from the Tōnomine Engi Scroll, painted during the Edo period (17-19th century).

Date  17-19th century.

Source        Scroll painting from the Edo period.

Author        Gukei Sumiyoshi

This work is in the public domain in its country of origin and other countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 70 years or fewer.

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Irukaansatsuzu.jpg

 




Fig. Japan 7th century CE

Source: google earth

Modified by the author




Asakawa Kan’ichi (1873 –1948) was a Professor of History at Yale, peace advocate, and a curator at Yale Library. He was born in Japan as the son of a samurai, however, he spent most of his time in America.


Fig. Asakawa Kan’ichi

“Kan’ichi Asakawa Papers (MS 40). Manuscripts and Archives, Yale University Library.”

https://japanesehistory.yale.edu/about

[1] https://japanlatebloomer.blogspot.com/2024/02/asakawa-kanichi-from-samurai-to-yale.html

[2] Asakawa, K., “Shinsei Nihon no Tenbo”, in Yabuki, S., “Haisen, Okinawa and Tenno (Defeat, Okinawa and Emperor)”, Kadensha, Tokyo, 2014


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