quick look on invaluable Japanese culture (9) nation of liberty, eqality and democracy
(9) Nation of liberty, equality and democracy
The oldest anthology contains poems of public
Japan is a seldom nation who did not have a slave system. “ Manyoushuu” which is the Japanese oldest anthology contained 4516 poems made mainly in 6-7th century. Poets of the anthology were not only high society members such as royal families or priests but also public people such as soldiers, farmers, or even prostitutes.
It is a rather surprise to find farmers or fishermen made poets at such early time of literacy culture. Moreover, it is a much bigger surprise that upper class people appreciated those poems made by public people without having prejudices.
Traditionally women control households
As Japanese respected “Amatersu Omikami”, the female founder of Japanese royal family, they have been appreciating women’s roles and never disgraced their dignity.
In “Manyoushuu”, a couple call each other in the same way as “tsuma” which means the partner.
At Heian era of 10-11th century, ladies presented lots of novels, poems including famous ( the Tale of Genji) or (the Pillow Book).
Confucianism which requires women’s hard discipline, became quite popular in Edo era. However even in such time, wives controlled households including an important housekeeping. We still find this custom handed down in a Japanese modern family.
Moreover wives were essentially entitled to divorce by their decision, on the contrary to the seeming prohibition. Time to time they enjoyed women’s life without the presence of men, by watching dramas or travelling around by themselves.
At any time any place, there is suppression on freedom to some extent. However recent study disclosed the week in Edo era could have free and easy life on the contrary to the apparent classification.
Free association beyond classification
People’s literacy was the highest level in the world. Not only children of samurai but also boys and girls of townspeople, farmers were educated at Teragoya which was Japanese specific style school in Edo era. There was a classification between samurais and farmers, townspeople, but the control of classification was not so rigid that people had a chance to communicate each other closely. For example, when people got into some circle like Haiku club or Tea ceremony club , they associated together beyond a classification. Moreover, it was possible to change the class if they desired to do so.
During Meiji Revolution, it was lower class samurais who contributed most to the Revolution. There was an inclination in the society to appreciate the talent even from a lower class. Japan has been a nation of a softer classification in comparison with western nations.
Teragoya (web.kansha.jp.net)
Society of harmony and unanimous resolution
During Edo era, when they chose the leader of a feudal clan or a village or a household, they did not stick to the blood or the classification, but selected the right person by talent or suitability to the position. Meantime the selected leader tried to treat all belonging members as even as possible. He did not exclude the week or the handicapped but gave them proper roles in the organization. In some district it was custom to divide games and harvests evenly among all members.
This custom could have survived through the drastic change caused by the defeat in the world war second. It is widely understood that Japan has the slightest income difference between the top and the bottom of the company.
Traditionally Japan has been the society which respect the old. In the past, they respected the old so highly that they kept arranging important positions for the old. In consequence of that, the old and the young worked together in harmony.
Moreover it was common throughout all kinds of organizations that critical matters were not solely decided by the leaders but through the discussion among members concerned.
(Cherish the harmony among people) is the famous teaching by Shoutokutaishi. He was one of the greatest princes through Japanese whole history and played a key role among the royal family in 6-7th century to modernize the nation.
Meiji Emperor announced (Oath in five articles) in the first year of Meiji (1968) as under.
Deliberate assemblies shall be widely established and all matters decided by public discussion.
All classes, high and low, shall unite in vigorously carrying out the administration of affairs of state.
The common people, no less than the civil and military officials, shall each be allowed to pursue his own calling so that there may be no discontent.
Evil customs of the past shall be broken off and everything based on the just laws of nature.
Knowledge shall be sought throughout the world so as to strengthen the foundations of imperial rule.
Above Oaths contain key points of western Democracy.
According to a folklorist Miyamoto Tsuneichi, until recently it was common among rural villages to keep discussing on important issues without having time limit, until they reached the totally supported resolution. Japan is traditionally a nation of Democracy.
the power and the public seldom conflicted each other．
From the age of “Manyoushu”、the royal family called public people as (great fortune) with warm familiarity. It is a glorious distinction of Japanese history that the power and the public seldom conflicted each other．
Most western visitors who came to Japan just before or after the Revolution were struck with brightness and easiness of public people. Public were not rich but not needy.
Visitors admitted there was more democratic living in Japan than in western nations.
At the end of Edo era, Japan was forced to agree the unfavorable treaty with U.S.A. Therefore Meiji new government put the first priority on revising the uneven treaty. For that purpose, the government tried hard to import varieties of western systems, cultures and ways of thinking.
However, Japan in Edo era might have established more democratic, free, equal and sophisticated society than western nations at that time.
