Description

Introduction

Hello. This is J. Harim from Mini, a bookstore specializing in Korea-Japan literature.

In the 19th century, the world was entering a period of great upheaval. East Asia was no exception. Japan, a neighboring country across the sea, was transitioning from the final years of the feudal era toward a new age. Amidst the pressures of Western powers, where tradition and innovation intertwined, and swords and steam engines coexisted—what did Japan look like during that time?

This book attempts to capture the industrial, cultural, and scenic aspects of 19th-century Japan from a Korean perspective. How did Japan change in the midst of the final breath of the Edo period and the turbulent waves leading to the Meiji Restoration, and how did this shift impact East Asia?

Following the traces of the past, let’s walk through their streets, glimpse the lives of the people, and directly face the waves of change. Now, the time travel to 19th-century Japan begins.

Thank you.

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Contents

 As I Write…                                  4

1. Time Travel TOKYO: Shimbashi Station 6

2. Japanese Art & the Aesthetics of Space 12

3. Industrial Infrastructure Infused with Western Civilization 23

4. The Craftsmanship that Supported the Meiji Restoration 33

5. Revolutionize Education 37

6. Printing Bureau & Military 42

7. Visit the shrines of Nikko 45

8. 08. Pleasant natural environment 49

9. Emperor Meiji & Empress Shōken  52

10. A garden unique to the Japanese 67

11. On the threshold of the 20th century 70

12. Samurai Code of Bushido 74

13. Seppuku & Revenge 86

14. A Product of National Reform 96

15. The Popular Spirit of Religion 100

16. Predictions of the 19th Century 104

Copyright Information                        107