05/10/2019
In my opinion, if all our rich and educated men once go and see Japan, their eyes will be opened.
— Swami Vivekananda
Japan, the land of rising sun or the country that is often personified as Phoenix, has old, strong and rich bonds with India in many ways.
Through the silk route Buddhism had travelled to China and Korea from where it spread beyond the sea in Japan and was officially introduced in 552 CE. Even before that Buddhism was promoted to Japan by traveler Buddhist monks from Gandhar in 467 CE. At that time Japan was known as Fusang or the land that is to east of China. Buddhism enrooted quickly and deeply in Japan and greatly influenced its later development in every aspect since then. Today around 75% of Japanese population practices Buddhism. Among many branches of Buddhism that sprouted in Japan, most popular ones are Nichiren Buddhism, Shingon Buddhism and Zen Buddhism. Along with Buddhism, many Hindu ideologies and myths flowed to Japan. The deities such as Kangiten, Benzaiten, Kichijoten, Bishamon, Enma and Daikokuten are Japanese representation of popular Indian Gods such as Ganesh, Saraswati, Lakshmi, Kuber, Yama and Shiva respectively.
Many Indian freedom fighters during Indian freedom struggle admired Japanese post war rapid economic reconstruction and found an alliance in Japan, British being its nemesis. Writers like Rabindranath Tagore adored Japanese thinking and its rich literature. Rash Bihari Bose and Subhashchandra Bose paved way for Indo-Japanese relations. The Indian National Army was a brainchild of Iwachi Fujiwara, the then head of Japanese intelligence unit. The islands of Andaman and Nicobar were taken under possession with the help of Japanese army in 1942. India’s iron ore helped Japan to recover from World War II devastation. There are numerous ties and key agreements between the two countries that have been strengthening over the years. These include cultural, military, literary, technological, economical, nuclear power and socio-developmental agreements.
Japanese history can be basically characterized by three periods, isolationist period, semi-open period and expansionist period. From fourth century CE to ninth century CE, Japanese tribes and kingdoms started unifying under an Emperor in Kyoto initiating the Heian era famous for its rich classical Japanese culture. Thus a centralized imperial rule was set which reigns even today. Recently Japan celebrated commencement of their new era, ‘Reiwa’ as the former Emperor Akihito abdicated the throne which was ascended by his son Emperor Naruhito as Japan’s 126th Emperor. Later military clan took over the throne shifting the capital to Kamakura and absorbed the title of Sh**un which began the Sh**unate. In 1598 Tokugawa became the Sh**un and shifted capital to Edo, modern Tokyo and the ‘Edo’ era began. It was then when contact with outside world was imposed under strict restrictions. Dutch and Portuguese were the first outsiders to get a limited interaction and trade with Japan. However in the years of 1853 and 54 things gradually took a turn when American expeditionary Commodore Mathew Perry signed the treaty of Kanagawa bringing Japan out of its seclusion. It was followed by the Meiji restoration that brought the influence of western models and democracy developed in Taisho era. Japan’s military became powerful and was engaged in many wars particularly with China. Its participation in World War II made it face most severe consequences. As Japanese air force attacked Pearl Harbor an American port, America dropped atomic bombs at Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Dreadful consequences were faced for generations by the cities. Since then Japan focused on its growth and development and succeeded exceedingly.
Japanese literature is highly influenced by Chinese literature. It used Chinese writing system until the invention of Japanese writing systems in early Heian era in 8th century. Japan’s unique poem composing style of Haiku is globally popular. Japanese authors Yasunari Kawabata and Kenzaburo Oe received Nobel prizes for their writings. Haruki Murakami is one of the most acclaimed names in the list of modern Japanese novelists. In the recent decade Japanese comics or the Mangas and animation series have fetched tremendous reception worldwide.
It is a country that records 1500 earthquakes per year of 4 to 7 magnitudes. But the most disastrous one occurred in 2011 resulting into a catastrophic tsunami claiming more than 20,000 lives around 4 cities and destruction of Fukushima Nuclear power plant. Yet through its imbibed nature of hard work, Japan in no time managed to be back even more improved.
Thus the metaphor of Phoenix, a mythical bird that can reform itself back from its ashes even after burning up is correctly titled to the land of hard work and values; land of rich culture, literature, philosophy and history; land of modern technology and age old traditions, land of beautiful scenery as well as people; and the land of rising sun: Japan.
Compiled by
Atharva Deshpande
FYBMM,
Participant of Japan tour
