9. Korea And China

Abstract

This chapter discusses Yamaji Aizan's view of Korea and China and argues that it is misleading to regard Yamaji simply as an imperialist who supported territorial expansionism. Although being critical of Japan's bureaucratic administration of Korea, which tended to neglect the Koreans, Yamaji Aizan supported Japan's annexation of Korea. Like Naitō Konan, Yamaji Aizan wrote about the ever-changing conditions of contemporary China. Yamaji further discussed differences in tradition, society and education between China and Japan, and pointed out some difficulties in unifying China. Yamaji asserted that the Han people, namely the core Chinese, had been ruled by minority peoples such as Manchurians and Mongolians. He thought that Japan's policy towards China also delayed the unification of the country. Yamaji supported Yuan Shikai's plan to establish a monarchical government in China, but Yamaji argued that the monarchical government should be established for the Chinese people.Keywords: contemporary China; Japan's annexation; Korea; monarchical government; Naitō Konan; territorial expansionism; Yamaji Aizan