Assassination of Ito

Itō arrived at the Harbin Railway Station on October 26, 1909 for a meeting with Vladimir Kokovtsov, a Russian representative in Manchuria. When he arrived and proceeded to meet his Russian colleague, An Jung-geun, a Korean nationalist and independence activist, fired six shots at him. Three of those shots hit Itō in the chest and he died shortly thereafter. (from Wiki (28-04-2012))

This assassination is very controversial in that for instance

1. Korean people praised this assassination very much and do even now as a heroic action for Korean independence.
My opinion: This is a terrorism action. An Jung-geun was a idealist with no means and no power to change the conditions while Ito was a realistic planner and executor having experiences, brain, means, power to change the conditions.

2.  When Ōkuma Shigenobu (大隈重信) (who had been a rival to Ito) heard the news of the assassination he commented that he really envied Ito by saying "Ito died so gloriously."

3. Another very complicated controversy - maybe due to some very political reasons

Ito was liberal minded but not radical nor very pro-Korea Invasion and Conquering (征韓論) while the people so called 'Liberal' or 'pro Democracy', or 'Human rightists' including Itagaki, Goto, Eto, Soejima, Okuma were pro-Korea Invasion and Conquering the conservative and powerful Okubo, Iwakura, Kido, Ito and Kuroda, were against Korea Invasion and Conquering .


sptt

Meiji Restoration - Charter Oath

I was surprised when I read this Oath in English recently (almost all Japanese studied this at school but in Japanese). When considering the time of issue 1868 and the place (an Asian nation) and this was issued by the government, the content was revolutionary.

The Charter Oath (五箇条の御誓文 Gokajō no Goseimon, more literally, the Oath in Five Articles) was promulgated at the enthronement of Emperor Meiji of Japan on 7 April 1868. The Oath outlined the main aims and the course of action to be followed during Emperor Meiji's reign, setting the legal stage for Japan's modernization. This also set up a process of urbanization as people of all classes were free to move jobs so people went to the city for better work. It remained influential, if less for governing than inspiring, throughout the Meiji era and into the twentieth century, and can be considered the first constitution of modern Japan.


As the name implies, the text of the Oath consists of five clauses:
By this oath, we set up as our aim the establishment of the national wealth on a broad basis and the framing of a constitution and laws.

1. Deliberative assemblies shall be widely established and all matters decided by open discussion.
2. All classes, high and low, shall be united in vigorously carrying out the administration of affairs of state.
3. The common people, no less than the civil and military officials, shall all be allowed to pursue their own calling so that there may be no discontent.
4. Evil customs of the past shall be broken off and everything based upon the just laws of Nature.
5. Knowledge shall be sought throughout the world so as to strengthen the foundation of imperial rule.

<sup>From Wiki (28-04-2012)

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Another English version</sup>

1. An assembly widely convoked shall be established, and all matters of state shall be decided by public discussion.

2. All classes high and low shall unite in vigorously promoting the economy and welfare of the nation.

3. All civil and military officials and the common people as well shall be allowed to fulfill their aspirations so that there may be no discontent among them.

4. Base customs of former times shall be abandoned, and all actions shall conform to the principles of international justice.

5. Knowledge shall be sought throughout the world, and thus shall be strengthened the foundation of the imperial polity.

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sptt

Ito Hirobumi and Meiji Restoration

After the intensive reading of Meiji Restoration articles and the short biographies of the influential people (more than 20 people) during this period about for a couple of weeks my conclusion is

1. Meiji Restoration is more like massive Social Revolution rather than Restoration of the old political and social system.

2. The main stream of the people who led this movement successfully (most people regard this fairly successful transition or transformation) were Yoshida Shōin (吉田 松陰) ---> Kido Koin (or Takayoshi) (木戸孝允) ---->Ito Hirobumi (伊藤博文). Saigo Takamori and Sakamoto Ryoma are very popular and loved by many Japanese people in the past and now but they were not in the main stream - these two people are rather over evaluated.

However, as this movement involved politics the whole story is very complicated. We can see this movement superficially or deeply, officially or popularly, or in any other way.

There are several reasons for this conclusion.

1. Yoshida, Kido and Ito (all from Choshu - Yamguchi) were practical as well as had a strong will to try to change the society with visions.

2. They saw the reality and thought about the their future as it must be changed from the past. Kido and Ito went abroad (several different countries in Asia, US and Europe) and saw what the Western and Asian powers were and where the strong Western powers had come from with their own eyes. Especially Ito planned many things in long terms and largely his plans were successfully or at least well done.


sptt

Ito Hirobumi's Quotes

The followings are two Ito Hirobumi's Quotes easily found by internet search in English.

"I regard religion itself as quite unnecessary
for a nation's life; science is far above
superstition; and what is religion, Buddhism
or Christianity, but superstition, and therefore
a possible source of weakness to a nation?"


"Since government is concerned with
the administration of the country as
a whole it does not follow that its acts
are always favorable to all individuals."


Japanese Wiki on Ito Hirobumi shows some more his interesting quotes. See below with my translation.

• 「大いに屈する人を恐れよ、いかに剛にみゆるとも、言動に余裕と味のない人は大事をなすにたらぬ」

Respect those who bend. Those who have no relaxation and taste in their saying and doing no matter how they seem strong they will not do any big thing.

• 「今日の学問は全て皆、実学である。昔の学問は十中八九までは虚学である」

The current studies are all real while the studies in the past are almost all of them are not real.

• 「いやしくも天下に一事一物を成し遂げようとすれば、命懸けのことは始終ある。依頼心を起こしてはならぬ。自力 でや れ」

If you want to do something to change your nation you will often face a chance of risking your life. Do not rely on others, do it by yourself.

• 「お前に何でも俺の志を継げよと無理は言はぬ。持って生まれた天分ならば、たとえお前が乞食になったとて、俺は 決し て悲 しま ぬ。 金持 ちになったとて、喜びもせぬ」

I will not order you to follow my way. If you are so destined, I will not feel sorry even if you become a beggar and will not feel pleased either even if you become rich.

• 「たとえここで学問をして業が成っても、自分の生国が亡びては何の為になるか」

Even if you succeed in study and business if your nation collapses what is your success for?

• 「本当の愛国心とか勇気とかいうものは、肩をそびやかしたり、目を怒らしたりするよう なも ので はな い」

Real patriotism is not showing off courage by swinging the shoulders with raged eyes.

• 「国の安危存亡に関係する外交を軽々しく論じ去つて、何でも意の如く出来るが如くに思ふのは、多くは実験のない 人の 空論 であ る」

Superficially speaking on the diplomacy related with the life an death of your own nation and considering that you can do anything as you like is mere void logic of inexperienced people.


This research may continue.


sptt