Japan Before Perry: A Short History

by Conrad D. Totman

The task for the historian of Japan is to capture the essence of successive ages while preserving human drama and illuminating the themes and patterns of society's development. In Japan Before Perry, Professor Totman examines the origins of Japanese civilization and explores in detail the classical, medieval, and early-modern epochs. The historical facts are woven into interpretations of the major themes in Japanese history. While studying these epochs he also describes the gradual emergence of increasing numbers of people onto the historic stage, the long-term transformation of the economy and the society, the spread of cultural sophistication, and the ultimate rise of Japanese "nationhood."

Genres: History, Japan, Nonfiction, Japanese Literature, World History, Religion, Textbooks

275 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1981

About the author

A specialist in Japanese history, Conrad Davis Totman is professor emeritus of history at Yale University.

Reviews

[Cara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was a great book for a brief introduction to pre-modern Japan. It gives an overall idea of the historical events and cultural themes of the eras, enabling the reader to decide on areas for further research. It is by no means a comprehensive study, but as it says on the cover this is a 'short history' that is perfect for anyone wishing to break into the fascinating, but sometimes intimidating, subject of Japanese history.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don’t know much about Japan’s history so when I found this book, it seemed like it might be a good primer. It has that quality but is probably better for someone with some knowledge of that history, especially on the third era described, labelled early-modern Japan. I appreciated the discussion of the classical and medieval periods, how they were formed, and particularly the economic, social, and political elements. I felt like I understood, in broad terms (this is not a dense, dates and names type book), those forces that led to the two eras, what characterized them, and what led to the transition. My reading was that a key factor in the move from the classical to the medieval was, in part, the definition of who was officially in the ruling elite as it grew. Those outside it still had resources and the benefits of the upbringing, but officially did not have a role. Their exclusion was funneled into military affairs and they became the armed forces the elite came to rely upon – until those forces saw their power for their own sake. The author would likely admonish me for not taking other factors into account that he describes but that stuck with me.

The transition to, and description of the, the early-modern period was more detailed and likely requires more basic knowledge of Japan’s history. I got bogged down a bit here. In addition, you can tell this is the chapter the author likely wrote his dissertation on – there is a significant tone change in that chapter.

Overall, an interesting read but perhaps it would be better if you already has some grounding in the history of Japan.

[Valentina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember reading this as an introduction to Japanese history for my undergraduate degree and I remember loving it. If you are new to Japanese history, this book is perfect. It is easy to read and understand, not too dense but gives you the main point you need to know in order to get deeper into it afterwards.

[Andrés · Rating 1 out of 5]

A truly horrendous book. Its research was undergraduate at best, its writing scholarly in the most vacuous sense of the word. There were no names, events, or facts in this history. His opinions seemed to be founded on his own pretensions, he never pointed to any original research to back himself up. This 200-page book boils down to perhaps 20 useful pages (but the writing would still be drab!). How could Berkeley's Asian Studies Department produce something this bad?

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. If you're looking to learn the history and culture of early Japan. This is the book to do it with.