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China and Japan: Facing History
One of the world's most eminent scholars of East Asia reveals the important touchstones in the long history between China and Japan and argues that for the sake of world stability they must forge a new relationship for the twenty-first century.
China and Japan have cultural and political connections that stretch back fifteen hundred years. But today their relationship is strained. China's military buildup deeply worries Japan, while Japan's brutal occupation of China in World War II remains an open wound. In recent years less than ten percent of each population had positive feelings toward the other, and both countries insist that the other side must deal openly with its history before relations can improve.
From the sixth century, when the Japanese adopted core elements of Chinese civilization, to the late twentieth century, when China looked to Japan for a path to capitalism, Ezra Vogel's China and Japan examines key turning points in Sino-Japanese history. Throughout much of their past, the two countries maintained deep cultural ties, but China, with its great civilization and resources, had the upper hand. Japan's success in modernizing in the nineteenth century and its victory in the 1895 Sino-Japanese War changed the dynamic, putting Japan in the dominant position. The bitter legacy of the Second World War has made cooperation difficult, despite efforts to promote trade and, more recently, tourism.
Vogel underscores the need for Japan to offer a thorough apology for the war, but he also urges China to recognize Japan as a potential vital partner in the region. He argues that for the sake of a stable world order, these two Asian giants must reset their relationship, starting with their common interests in environmental protection, disaster relief, global economic development, and scientific research.
China and Japan have cultural and political connections that stretch back fifteen hundred years. But today their relationship is strained. China's military buildup deeply worries Japan, while Japan's brutal occupation of China in World War II remains an open wound. In recent years less than ten percent of each population had positive feelings toward the other, and both countries insist that the other side must deal openly with its history before relations can improve.
From the sixth century, when the Japanese adopted core elements of Chinese civilization, to the late twentieth century, when China looked to Japan for a path to capitalism, Ezra Vogel's China and Japan examines key turning points in Sino-Japanese history. Throughout much of their past, the two countries maintained deep cultural ties, but China, with its great civilization and resources, had the upper hand. Japan's success in modernizing in the nineteenth century and its victory in the 1895 Sino-Japanese War changed the dynamic, putting Japan in the dominant position. The bitter legacy of the Second World War has made cooperation difficult, despite efforts to promote trade and, more recently, tourism.
Vogel underscores the need for Japan to offer a thorough apology for the war, but he also urges China to recognize Japan as a potential vital partner in the region. He argues that for the sake of a stable world order, these two Asian giants must reset their relationship, starting with their common interests in environmental protection, disaster relief, global economic development, and scientific research.
536 pages, Audiobook
Published January 14, 2020
About the author
Ezra F. Vogel
43 books231 followersEzra Feivel Vogel was an American sociologist who wrote prolifically on modern Japan, China, and Korea. He was Henry Ford II Professor of the Social Sciences at Harvard University.
Vogel was born to a family of Jewish immigrants in 1930 in Delaware, Ohio. He graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University in 1950 and received his Ph.D. from the Department of Social Relations in 1958 from Harvard.
After two years of field work in Japan, Vogel worked as an assistant professor at Yale University from 1960 to 1961, but returned to Harvard for post-doctoral work on Chinese language and history. He was appointed as a lecturer in 1964, later becoming a tenured professor; he remained at Harvard until his retirement.
Vogel was involved with several research centers during his career. He was director of Harvard's East Asian Research Center from 1972 to 1977 and chairman of the Council for East Asian Studies from 1977 to 1980. He also was director of the Program on US–Japan Relations at the Center for International Affairs from 1980 to 1987, and was named honorary director upon stepping down. He was director of the Fairbank Center for Chinese Studies from 1973 to 1975 and from 1995 to 1999. He was founding director of the Asia Center (1997–1999).
Vogel retired on June 30, 2000.
Vogel was born to a family of Jewish immigrants in 1930 in Delaware, Ohio. He graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University in 1950 and received his Ph.D. from the Department of Social Relations in 1958 from Harvard.
After two years of field work in Japan, Vogel worked as an assistant professor at Yale University from 1960 to 1961, but returned to Harvard for post-doctoral work on Chinese language and history. He was appointed as a lecturer in 1964, later becoming a tenured professor; he remained at Harvard until his retirement.
Vogel was involved with several research centers during his career. He was director of Harvard's East Asian Research Center from 1972 to 1977 and chairman of the Council for East Asian Studies from 1977 to 1980. He also was director of the Program on US–Japan Relations at the Center for International Affairs from 1980 to 1987, and was named honorary director upon stepping down. He was director of the Fairbank Center for Chinese Studies from 1973 to 1975 and from 1995 to 1999. He was founding director of the Asia Center (1997–1999).
Vogel retired on June 30, 2000.
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February 17, 2021
I read the author's biography of Deng Xiaoping in college. I decided to give this one a try after hearing he had recently passed away. (obituary)
Ezra Vogel hoped this book could help to broker a political reconciliation between the governments of Japan and China. Given their extensive economic and cultural ties, why aren't they BFFs in the way that the USA has been with its former WW2 adversaries? My short answer is that the Chinese Communist Party promotes ultranationalist propaganda about Japanese wartime atrocities during WW2 to distract the Chinese people. Anger at Japan deflects from a reckoning with the CCP's far higher body count and litany of abuses against the Chinese people. Ever since the CCP gave up on communism, the corrupt party leadership has been overly reliant on nationalism as its ideological pillar of support. The people of Eastasia need to continue worshipping Big Brother (Mao, and now Xi Jinping), who will protect them from the depredations of Oceania and Eastasia (USA & Japan). If Oceania and Eastasia aren't so bad after all, the Chinese might ask, what's the point of continuing a military dictatorship when the Chinese in neighboring democracies like Taiwan are so clearly better off?
The above paragraph is my answer to the current impasse between China and Japan, especially after having read in this book about all the ways in which the Japanese people have apologized and paid implicit war reparations to China. The author does not share my conclusions, or at least he refuses to say them out loud. If he did, then the CCP would not permit his books to be published in China, which would defeat the purpose of the project (nudging the CCP away from its belligerent path). The book has to work within the limitations of CCP censorship, which unfortunately results in a noticeable pulling of punches. Nonetheless, I filled in many gaps in my historical knowledge of the two countries by reading this. Sometimes you learn as much from the author's omissions as your do from what they put pen to paper about. - 2/17/21
Ezra Vogel hoped this book could help to broker a political reconciliation between the governments of Japan and China. Given their extensive economic and cultural ties, why aren't they BFFs in the way that the USA has been with its former WW2 adversaries? My short answer is that the Chinese Communist Party promotes ultranationalist propaganda about Japanese wartime atrocities during WW2 to distract the Chinese people. Anger at Japan deflects from a reckoning with the CCP's far higher body count and litany of abuses against the Chinese people. Ever since the CCP gave up on communism, the corrupt party leadership has been overly reliant on nationalism as its ideological pillar of support. The people of Eastasia need to continue worshipping Big Brother (Mao, and now Xi Jinping), who will protect them from the depredations of Oceania and Eastasia (USA & Japan). If Oceania and Eastasia aren't so bad after all, the Chinese might ask, what's the point of continuing a military dictatorship when the Chinese in neighboring democracies like Taiwan are so clearly better off?
The above paragraph is my answer to the current impasse between China and Japan, especially after having read in this book about all the ways in which the Japanese people have apologized and paid implicit war reparations to China. The author does not share my conclusions, or at least he refuses to say them out loud. If he did, then the CCP would not permit his books to be published in China, which would defeat the purpose of the project (nudging the CCP away from its belligerent path). The book has to work within the limitations of CCP censorship, which unfortunately results in a noticeable pulling of punches. Nonetheless, I filled in many gaps in my historical knowledge of the two countries by reading this. Sometimes you learn as much from the author's omissions as your do from what they put pen to paper about. - 2/17/21
April 26, 2020
Due to its length and breadth, this book can be a bit of a slog to go through. There is no real narrative “through-line” and the analysis is minimal. It is “merely” a chronological catalog of Sino-Japanese relations. I say “merely” in quotes because this still has a ton of value. This book is that plateful of vegetables you should eat! I think it would be a great reference work: if you have a specific topic or era you want to know about, read the chapter to get a basic grounding, and then check out the bibliography to dig in. In the hands of a skilled lecturer, I think this would be a great text for an undergrad course.
April 20, 2021
This is a decent book on Sino-Japanese relations, by the same author as "Deng Xiaoping and the Transformation of China", who unfortunately died shortly a little over a year after its publication (the book was published in July 2019, the author died in December 2020). The book goes all the way back to the Japanese adoption of Chinese characters in the 600-838 all the way up until the almost present (i.e. 2018ish). Most of the book is focused on the period of antagonism starting with the first Sino-Japanese war in 1894-1985 and finishing at the end of WWII, which I've already read a lot about and so isn't very interesting to me in particular. I would have enjoyed the book more if extra time had been spent on the period of early cultural influence of Tang China on Japan - for example, only a sentence or two is devoted to the borrowing of Chinese characters. This is interesting enough to me that I would read a whole book on it, if such a book existed, I was aware it existed, and I had a means of obtaining it. In any event, I felt a few sentences was too little, but this is just a reflection of my own personal interests and doesn't mean there is anything wrong with the book.
The period after World War II was more detailed and I learnt some things. At the end of the book there was an excellent 40ish page "biographies of key historical figures", including suggested further reading on each of them. This final section of the book was my favorite, and I have already ordered one of the recommendations.
The period after World War II was more detailed and I learnt some things. At the end of the book there was an excellent 40ish page "biographies of key historical figures", including suggested further reading on each of them. This final section of the book was my favorite, and I have already ordered one of the recommendations.
May 13, 2023
Overall an interesting read.
Like any history, it's biased in one way or another. For example, there's a much greater focus on the 20th century than any other time period, and the author seems to skew toward a Japanese perspective on events. That said, it still contains lots of interesting information.
Like any history, it's biased in one way or another. For example, there's a much greater focus on the 20th century than any other time period, and the author seems to skew toward a Japanese perspective on events. That said, it still contains lots of interesting information.
February 24, 2023
Very good overview of Sino Japanese relations with a very good douse of Korea. Will definitely need to read this a second time, though.
February 15, 2025
Very good
May 29, 2022
Remembering this moment in my tennis class when I had to break a tie with the other player, who is Chinese (from China), and we used the base of my racquet, which is made in Japan, to make the call. I said, "Japan or Not Japan?" She paused to seem like she had to think about it, then said, "Not Japan." Of course. Then I spun my racquet.
12. Facing the New Era / 20:10:07
Sun, May 29 | 10:32:01 AM
Four principles for bringing Sino-Japanese relations to a new stage: mutual trust, a big picture perspective, common development based on equality and mutual benefit, and strengthening exchanges with an eye toward the future (2007)
More Audible Notes:
12. Facing the New Era / 20:10:07
Sun, May 29 | 10:32:01 AM
Four principles for bringing Sino-Japanese relations to a new stage: mutual trust, a big picture perspective, common development based on equality and mutual benefit, and strengthening exchanges with an eye toward the future (2007)
More Audible Notes:
May 19, 2022
Another masterpiece and a balanced view of the issues facing both countries. Thanks for the gift Ezra Vogel!
October 11, 2019
Vogel's book is an excellent introduction to the history of interaction between these two Asian powers. While also charting the developments within each country he relates how they also contributed to growth or decline in the other. He charts their political, social, cultural and military relationships as they change over time and how each country impacted the cultural development of the other. An important book for anyone seeking to understand the complicated history of interaction between China and Japan.
"What Japan learned from China between 600 and 838-written language, Buddhism, Confucianism, literature, music, and architecture, or the basic building blocks of Japanese culture-survived even after the arrival of Western culture in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries." 26
"Nagaska had been a small fishing village until 1571, when Portuguese ships began docking there, and after 1641, when it became the only port on Japan's four main islands open to international trade, it quickly grew into a cosmopolitan port city." 63
"In 1868 hundreds of young samurai from these three domains marched from Kyoto to the shogun's palace in Edo, where the leaders of the Tokugawa shogunate, aware that they had lost the support of the domains around the country, agreed to transfer power to the emperor to avoid entering into a devastating prolonged war." 73
"In both China and Japan, the history from 1911 to the outbreak of war in 1937 is the story of political leaders struggling to maintain domestic order and good relations with other countries but losing out to their militaries." 207
"From September 1945, when General Douglas MacArthur arrived to lead the Occupation, until April 1952, the Allied Occupation forces introduced changes in Japan's political, economic, and education systems and controlled Japan's foreign policy." 297
"From 1945 to the 1970s the United States was the world's greatest industrial power, but by the early 1970s, as other countries were gaining industrial technology and paying low wages to their workers, U.S. industrial goods began to lose out, even in the United States, to foreign products. The rapidly declining costs of global shipping and the openness of U.S. markets contributed to this process." 325
"The governments of the European countries and the United States had guided their economies mainly by providing regulations to ensure fair market operations, but the Japanese government had promoted economic development by providing coordination and guidance, and assuring that funds were available for the development of key sectors." 347
"What Japan learned from China between 600 and 838-written language, Buddhism, Confucianism, literature, music, and architecture, or the basic building blocks of Japanese culture-survived even after the arrival of Western culture in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries." 26
"Nagaska had been a small fishing village until 1571, when Portuguese ships began docking there, and after 1641, when it became the only port on Japan's four main islands open to international trade, it quickly grew into a cosmopolitan port city." 63
"In 1868 hundreds of young samurai from these three domains marched from Kyoto to the shogun's palace in Edo, where the leaders of the Tokugawa shogunate, aware that they had lost the support of the domains around the country, agreed to transfer power to the emperor to avoid entering into a devastating prolonged war." 73
"In both China and Japan, the history from 1911 to the outbreak of war in 1937 is the story of political leaders struggling to maintain domestic order and good relations with other countries but losing out to their militaries." 207
"From September 1945, when General Douglas MacArthur arrived to lead the Occupation, until April 1952, the Allied Occupation forces introduced changes in Japan's political, economic, and education systems and controlled Japan's foreign policy." 297
"From 1945 to the 1970s the United States was the world's greatest industrial power, but by the early 1970s, as other countries were gaining industrial technology and paying low wages to their workers, U.S. industrial goods began to lose out, even in the United States, to foreign products. The rapidly declining costs of global shipping and the openness of U.S. markets contributed to this process." 325
"The governments of the European countries and the United States had guided their economies mainly by providing regulations to ensure fair market operations, but the Japanese government had promoted economic development by providing coordination and guidance, and assuring that funds were available for the development of key sectors." 347
April 3, 2024
took forever to read and put me into a slump, literally didn't touch it for weeks and came back and it still was largely the same. like. decent ish as a purely chronological account of events but erm girl
April 16, 2023
Harvard East Asia expert Ezra F. Vogel's "China and Japan" is a comprehensive and balanced account of the interactions between China and Japan throughout history, particularly in the past near 200 years. The conflict between these two nations caused tremendous suffering for people on both sides, leading to war from the 1930s to the end of World War II. Conventional Chinese narratives often depict the Japanese as the sole instigators of these conflicts, attributing blame either to a few militant zealots or implicitly to the entire Japanese race as malevolent, despite the fact that official blame tends to focus on specific groups rather than the entire population. However, Vogel's analysis of the interactions between these two countries is much more complex.
The interactions were dynamic, involving many different players, and not all of the provocateurs were from the Japanese side. Rather than malignity, the real issue was personal ambition, which is a global phenomenon that transcends race. The true lesson of this history of suffering is that personal ambition, while not necessarily wrong, can lead to destructive consequences if pursued in certain ways.
Today, the Japanese people appear to have reflected more deeply on these events than their counterparts on the other side, who often obsess over the view that China was simply the victim in the conflict and believe that the only lesson to be learned is to try all means to become more powerful, without much regard for other considerations. Ironically, this was the same belief held by the Japanese militant zealots who pursued their cause before WWII, and was indisputably the driving force of the disaster. Many Chinese today are filled with an unexamined sense of righteousness, believing that they can pursue power without succumbing to the same evils, without an understanding that evil can be an emergent phenomenon, beyond the control of its individual elements. Vogel's work offers a valuable perspective on this important historical period and encourages readers to contemplate the enduring lessons of this tragic chapter in human history.
The more current significance of this book is its relevance to the current state of affairs between China and Japan. In the 1970s and 1980s, the two countries enjoyed the most friendly relationship in their history, largely due to China's urgent need for allies to face threats from the Soviet Union and its urgent need for financial support from the then far more developed Japan. Nowadays, those factors have completely disappeared. Instead, the Chinese side has brought two issues, the territorial dispute over the Senkaku Islands (which had existed since the end of WWII but was of much lower priority) and Japanese officials' visits to the Yasukuni Shrine, to the forefront with the highest priority. This shift in focus suggests that China is the active side in the deterioration of the relationship. Meanwhile, popular hostility towards Japan is, at the very least, not discouraged and even encouraged in China. As a reaction, Japanese aversion towards China has also reached a historical high since the end of WWII. Vogel not only provides a comprehensive history of China-Japan relations but also makes concrete suggestions for both sides to move out of this lose-lose interaction.
The interactions were dynamic, involving many different players, and not all of the provocateurs were from the Japanese side. Rather than malignity, the real issue was personal ambition, which is a global phenomenon that transcends race. The true lesson of this history of suffering is that personal ambition, while not necessarily wrong, can lead to destructive consequences if pursued in certain ways.
Today, the Japanese people appear to have reflected more deeply on these events than their counterparts on the other side, who often obsess over the view that China was simply the victim in the conflict and believe that the only lesson to be learned is to try all means to become more powerful, without much regard for other considerations. Ironically, this was the same belief held by the Japanese militant zealots who pursued their cause before WWII, and was indisputably the driving force of the disaster. Many Chinese today are filled with an unexamined sense of righteousness, believing that they can pursue power without succumbing to the same evils, without an understanding that evil can be an emergent phenomenon, beyond the control of its individual elements. Vogel's work offers a valuable perspective on this important historical period and encourages readers to contemplate the enduring lessons of this tragic chapter in human history.
The more current significance of this book is its relevance to the current state of affairs between China and Japan. In the 1970s and 1980s, the two countries enjoyed the most friendly relationship in their history, largely due to China's urgent need for allies to face threats from the Soviet Union and its urgent need for financial support from the then far more developed Japan. Nowadays, those factors have completely disappeared. Instead, the Chinese side has brought two issues, the territorial dispute over the Senkaku Islands (which had existed since the end of WWII but was of much lower priority) and Japanese officials' visits to the Yasukuni Shrine, to the forefront with the highest priority. This shift in focus suggests that China is the active side in the deterioration of the relationship. Meanwhile, popular hostility towards Japan is, at the very least, not discouraged and even encouraged in China. As a reaction, Japanese aversion towards China has also reached a historical high since the end of WWII. Vogel not only provides a comprehensive history of China-Japan relations but also makes concrete suggestions for both sides to move out of this lose-lose interaction.
March 22, 2026
This book is a detailed account of Sino-Japanese relations over the centuries, and I would recommend it on that basis alone. However, it is at its weakest when attempting to achieve the author’s stated aim: to "face history" and mend or improve Sino-Japanese relations by presenting both sides of the story. This shortcoming is especially noticeable toward the end.
For example, much is made of how, despite Japanese people not fully acknowledging why their parents and grandparents acted as they did, they have supposedly chosen “the path of peace,” and therefore China’s concerns about a militarist Japan are unfounded. As of 2026, Japanese remilitarization is a much more serious prospect than it was when the book was written, so one could give the author some leeway on that point. However, even in 2019 it was clear that Japan’s so-called “path of peace” included logistically supporting the United States in the invasion of Iraq, hosting U.S. military bases as part of the encirclement of China, and entering anti-China military alliances. It also involved failing to criticize actions such as the illegal kidnapping of President Maduro, and more recently, supporting an unprovoked U.S. aggression against Iran.
Given this, what does it matter if the current generation of Japanese people, who are likely more aware of World War II atrocities than future generations will be, have chosen “the path of peace,” if they have also aligned themselves with a declining power that appears increasingly willing to drag the world into further conflicts? What difference would it have made if China had not blocked Japan’s bid for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council? How would adding another U.S. aligned country, and one that, like many such allies, increasingly pays deference to its patron, make the world a better place?
The author’s only substantial point in favor of Japan is that, during Deng Xiaoping’s reform and opening period, many Japanese viewed their country’s investments in China as a form of reparations for their World War II atrocities. However, this argument becomes unconvincing when one considers that Japanese companies, like their American counterparts, were making these investments largely for their own benefit, rather than out of purely altruistic motives.
It's even risible when the author suggests in the same breath that to mend Sino-Japanese relations Japan should include more about the wars with China on its school curriculum and, conversely, chinese people should make less movies or video games about WW2, as if these were actually comparable reciprocal actions, why should chinese people not learn about their history?
After learning about centuries of Sino-Japanese engagement, someone of good reason and solid morals can only conclude that it's largely Japan that still has much to learn, if not much to do, in reckoning with its history.
For example, much is made of how, despite Japanese people not fully acknowledging why their parents and grandparents acted as they did, they have supposedly chosen “the path of peace,” and therefore China’s concerns about a militarist Japan are unfounded. As of 2026, Japanese remilitarization is a much more serious prospect than it was when the book was written, so one could give the author some leeway on that point. However, even in 2019 it was clear that Japan’s so-called “path of peace” included logistically supporting the United States in the invasion of Iraq, hosting U.S. military bases as part of the encirclement of China, and entering anti-China military alliances. It also involved failing to criticize actions such as the illegal kidnapping of President Maduro, and more recently, supporting an unprovoked U.S. aggression against Iran.
Given this, what does it matter if the current generation of Japanese people, who are likely more aware of World War II atrocities than future generations will be, have chosen “the path of peace,” if they have also aligned themselves with a declining power that appears increasingly willing to drag the world into further conflicts? What difference would it have made if China had not blocked Japan’s bid for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council? How would adding another U.S. aligned country, and one that, like many such allies, increasingly pays deference to its patron, make the world a better place?
The author’s only substantial point in favor of Japan is that, during Deng Xiaoping’s reform and opening period, many Japanese viewed their country’s investments in China as a form of reparations for their World War II atrocities. However, this argument becomes unconvincing when one considers that Japanese companies, like their American counterparts, were making these investments largely for their own benefit, rather than out of purely altruistic motives.
It's even risible when the author suggests in the same breath that to mend Sino-Japanese relations Japan should include more about the wars with China on its school curriculum and, conversely, chinese people should make less movies or video games about WW2, as if these were actually comparable reciprocal actions, why should chinese people not learn about their history?
After learning about centuries of Sino-Japanese engagement, someone of good reason and solid morals can only conclude that it's largely Japan that still has much to learn, if not much to do, in reckoning with its history.
October 5, 2020
China and Japan are the world's 2nd and 3rd, with an extremely deep history that extends back millennia - the relationship between them will also have as much of an impact on the world going forward as it has had shaping the history of the world to date. It is a long history marked by mutual exchanges - some good, others bad that have left deep scarring. Vogel does an excellent job presenting the long and complex history between these 2 countries - despite the China and Japan's length, the book does not feel especially repetitive or tedious. An excellent addition was the biography of key people at the end, which helps to provide more detail and clarity, individuals are easily consigned the background given the extent of the story.
The book is well-structured, in roughly chronological order, with the chapters broken down roughly into key periods between the two countries, with each chapter almost self-contained for readers interested in a specific period. A few are often co-authored with other experts - which also helps to flesh out the content of each chapter. Vogel also does a good job of highlighting the impasse between the two nations (or perhaps more accurately civilisations), both of which have internalised into their histories key moments - perhaps in a way a lot of younger countries may find baffling. As he notes - China wants redress for many of the injuries caused in World War Two, which perhaps Japan has not addressed as frankly as Germany (for example in the presentation of history in their text books). However Vogel also accurately sums of the situation from the Japanese point of view: "In their view, Japan has made great contributions to China, contributions that have been inadequately acknowledged. ... The Japanese recognize that the Chinese are becoming stronger, both militarily and economically. In dealings with the Chinese, the Japanese want to be treated as respected equals, not forced to submit to China’s demands." (p410-11).
One area where Vogel falls short is in presenting any ground-breaking vision of break the deadlock. Of course suggestions are provided - for example increased exchanges, reciprocal visits, and co-operation. But these are hardly ground breaking (if a little cliche). Of course, the fact that there are no easy solutions is one reason why there is an impasse, so perhaps this criticism seems a little unfair. But any long term solution will require some outside of the box thinking (a la Kissinger paving the way for the thawing in China-US relations). Perhaps if even well-informed and impartial outsider with Vogel's depth of knowledge struggles to deliver any, it just shows the work ahead for the leaders of the two countries going forward.
The book is well-structured, in roughly chronological order, with the chapters broken down roughly into key periods between the two countries, with each chapter almost self-contained for readers interested in a specific period. A few are often co-authored with other experts - which also helps to flesh out the content of each chapter. Vogel also does a good job of highlighting the impasse between the two nations (or perhaps more accurately civilisations), both of which have internalised into their histories key moments - perhaps in a way a lot of younger countries may find baffling. As he notes - China wants redress for many of the injuries caused in World War Two, which perhaps Japan has not addressed as frankly as Germany (for example in the presentation of history in their text books). However Vogel also accurately sums of the situation from the Japanese point of view: "In their view, Japan has made great contributions to China, contributions that have been inadequately acknowledged. ... The Japanese recognize that the Chinese are becoming stronger, both militarily and economically. In dealings with the Chinese, the Japanese want to be treated as respected equals, not forced to submit to China’s demands." (p410-11).
One area where Vogel falls short is in presenting any ground-breaking vision of break the deadlock. Of course suggestions are provided - for example increased exchanges, reciprocal visits, and co-operation. But these are hardly ground breaking (if a little cliche). Of course, the fact that there are no easy solutions is one reason why there is an impasse, so perhaps this criticism seems a little unfair. But any long term solution will require some outside of the box thinking (a la Kissinger paving the way for the thawing in China-US relations). Perhaps if even well-informed and impartial outsider with Vogel's depth of knowledge struggles to deliver any, it just shows the work ahead for the leaders of the two countries going forward.
November 11, 2024
This a primarily a decent narrative history of international relations between China and Japan, but it's not quite what I was expecting.
- It's focused mostly on Japan
- It's mostly post-Meiji era (late 19th century on)
- It's pretty detailed, for the most part, but skips over the Mao era almost completely
The relative lack of emphasis on more ancient history and deeper cultural connections was, for me, disappointing, but this was still interesting for the depth it gave to a key relationship that I've not seen discussed that much in other books of Japanese history I've read.
The general thrust of the argument seems to be the fair one that, by the mid-late 19th century, both China and Japan were being impacted by similar external forces in the shape of imperialist pressure (primarily from Britain, the US and Russia). This forced Japan into the Meiji modernisation, and China into an identity crisis that took it a long time to shake off. China's weakness was then both an opportunity and a threat for Japan - if it didn't colonise China (and Taiwan, and Korea, etc etc), someone else would, and in the late 19th/early 20th century, imperialism seemed to be the way forward. If China had got it's act together first, it probably would have been China making the move. And if not, Russia or Britain or even the US or someone else would have taken them all over.
Quite how that led to some of the more extreme violence Japanese troops carried out in China /Manchuria (and elsewhere), I'm still not entirely sure - but it's certainly possible that this too was inspired by European imperialism. After all, European empires were up to some pretty disgusting stuff around the same period, particularly in Africa, so...
Either way, almost a century on, China isn't yet ready to fully get over Japan's aggression or accept that the country's fairly fundamentally changed since WWII.
For a country with such a long history, that's understandable. But what this book does a good job of making clear is that China and Japan have more in common than they sometimes like to admit, and a lot more shared interests.
None of this is especially surprising, of course. But it's still interesting.
- It's focused mostly on Japan
- It's mostly post-Meiji era (late 19th century on)
- It's pretty detailed, for the most part, but skips over the Mao era almost completely
The relative lack of emphasis on more ancient history and deeper cultural connections was, for me, disappointing, but this was still interesting for the depth it gave to a key relationship that I've not seen discussed that much in other books of Japanese history I've read.
The general thrust of the argument seems to be the fair one that, by the mid-late 19th century, both China and Japan were being impacted by similar external forces in the shape of imperialist pressure (primarily from Britain, the US and Russia). This forced Japan into the Meiji modernisation, and China into an identity crisis that took it a long time to shake off. China's weakness was then both an opportunity and a threat for Japan - if it didn't colonise China (and Taiwan, and Korea, etc etc), someone else would, and in the late 19th/early 20th century, imperialism seemed to be the way forward. If China had got it's act together first, it probably would have been China making the move. And if not, Russia or Britain or even the US or someone else would have taken them all over.
Quite how that led to some of the more extreme violence Japanese troops carried out in China /Manchuria (and elsewhere), I'm still not entirely sure - but it's certainly possible that this too was inspired by European imperialism. After all, European empires were up to some pretty disgusting stuff around the same period, particularly in Africa, so...
Either way, almost a century on, China isn't yet ready to fully get over Japan's aggression or accept that the country's fairly fundamentally changed since WWII.
For a country with such a long history, that's understandable. But what this book does a good job of making clear is that China and Japan have more in common than they sometimes like to admit, and a lot more shared interests.
None of this is especially surprising, of course. But it's still interesting.
November 4, 2022
This was a pretty good examination of the Japan/China relationship, especially as pertains to the last 50 years. While Vogel’ decision to start so far back was a bit strange, he does manage to catch up to the 19th century reasonably fast. From there he pays particular attention to how both countries reacted to the encroachment of their sovereignty by Europeans and Americans. He focuses on the strengthening movements in both countries and the fights against reactionary forces that ended with a modernized Japan and an unstable China at the end of the 19th century. He follows the recognition of this fact by the Chinese themselves and the attempts to use the Japanese model to modernize, receiving direct help from Japan in this. During the tumultuous first half of the 20th century he focuses not on the military aspect of the conflict but in the political situation in both countries that lead to an out-of-control military in Japan and an even more fragmented and weakened China. However, by far the best part of the book pertains to the Japan-China relationship since the end of WWII. Vogel tracks the openings and retrenchments in both countries and shows the remarkable help that Japan gave to China in the years after its Cultural Revolution. He similarly highlights how the periods of greater cooperation came when leaders in each country were knowledgeable and respectful of the other. Definitely an interesting and worthwhile read.
February 12, 2020
I really didn't like this book. It's hard to put my finger on exactly why, but something about the writing style I found extremely irritating. To my mind, it reads like it was meant for a very young audience (which would not be interested in the subject matter) or maybe non-fluent English learners (which would be fine, but it should be marketed that way). The middle chapters were the most interesting, particularly the different paths each nation took during the period starting with the Meiji Restoration and ending with the fall of the Qing. The beginning and end were very boring and slow (note: I finally gave up in Chapter 10, so I can't comment beyond that). Another recent reviewer recommended focusing on Chapters 3-8, and that sounds about right to me.
As noted, I didn't finish -- which is very rare for me, even with books that leave me feeling less than enthusiastic. Some other reviewers seem very enthusiastic, so if you're interested in the subject matter by all means give this book a try.
As noted, I didn't finish -- which is very rare for me, even with books that leave me feeling less than enthusiastic. Some other reviewers seem very enthusiastic, so if you're interested in the subject matter by all means give this book a try.
February 7, 2020
Mr. Vogel did a wonderful job laying out 1500 years of pride and shame, in the most peaceful manner, with the most respect for both countries, and truly broad understanding and research. Overall for such a topic, it's clearly structured in time and events. So the reading experience is great and it stikes resonance to me as a Chinese.
However this book, as grand vision as it tries to carry, is oversimplified and naive in some aspects. The solutions are almost too academic to be realistic and practical. And limited by paragraph, many many storylines are too plain to touch readers that are not proactively interested. However this does not lowers the completeness of this masterpiece. I respect Vogel's effort to be neutral about sensitive topics like patriotism education, and caring for the future between these countries.
The younger generation should definitely read it, as only when one has seen vastitude in history can he cherish the spectacular of presence.
However this book, as grand vision as it tries to carry, is oversimplified and naive in some aspects. The solutions are almost too academic to be realistic and practical. And limited by paragraph, many many storylines are too plain to touch readers that are not proactively interested. However this does not lowers the completeness of this masterpiece. I respect Vogel's effort to be neutral about sensitive topics like patriotism education, and caring for the future between these countries.
The younger generation should definitely read it, as only when one has seen vastitude in history can he cherish the spectacular of presence.
July 20, 2020
The study adopts the approach of telling the history of the countries as an intertwined story, as is the reality of the last two thousand years (excepting the Tokugawa interlude). Different yet the same, each with idiosyncrasies but also a mirror reflection of the other. Peaceful interaction and constructive learning interspersed with violence, most notably the period between the Sino-Japanese War of 1894 and the end of WW II.
A rich, well told history.
Looking to the future today, one questions in what direction their relationship will go. Perhaps one positive outcome of the Trumpian retreat from a mature global role will be these two great nations will work on a bi-lateral relationship, free of super-power distractions.
A rich, well told history.
Looking to the future today, one questions in what direction their relationship will go. Perhaps one positive outcome of the Trumpian retreat from a mature global role will be these two great nations will work on a bi-lateral relationship, free of super-power distractions.
September 11, 2019
This would probably rank as the best history of Japan-China relations, starting from the beginnings of Japan's interactions with the dynasties of the Middle Kingdom and learning from them, to surpassing them in the last 19th century and sending China scrambling to learn from them, to the present day, when it appears China is about to restore the natural centuries-old order in Asia with itself at the top. This work appears less based on primary research by Vogel himself (he admits the earliest classical Chinese documents are beyond his portfolio) but nonetheless contains more information about relations between the two countries than you're likely to find anywhere else.
June 8, 2020
China and Japan share one of the longest histories between nations, good, bad and ugly. And with 1500 years, you can cherry pick, how you approach each other, and what should be emphasized at the current time.
Why I started this book: I am always looking for more information about the history of Asia, and this book looked promising as it was a dual focus book.
Why I finished it: Long and interesting, but hard to keep track of all the statesmen, businessmen and military leaders. With over 1500 years to cover, this history is brisk, broad and shallow. Start here and then learn more elsewhere.
Why I started this book: I am always looking for more information about the history of Asia, and this book looked promising as it was a dual focus book.
Why I finished it: Long and interesting, but hard to keep track of all the statesmen, businessmen and military leaders. With over 1500 years to cover, this history is brisk, broad and shallow. Start here and then learn more elsewhere.
March 4, 2024
This book by Professor Vogel is what I would hand to a student who asked for a summarized history of Sino-Japanese relations. Thorough, complete, but perhaps so broad it’s meant to leave the reader introduced yet “master-of-none” in regard to the nuance of the two countries relationship.
I would recommend for anyone indulging into specific periods of the two countries relations to read “Forgotten Ally” by Rana Mitter and “Three Tigers, One Mountain” by Michael Booth. The first, the story of China from prior to the first Sino-Japanese War through World War II and the second a relaxed, satirical, walk through modern relations of the countries to include Korea and Taiwan.
I would recommend for anyone indulging into specific periods of the two countries relations to read “Forgotten Ally” by Rana Mitter and “Three Tigers, One Mountain” by Michael Booth. The first, the story of China from prior to the first Sino-Japanese War through World War II and the second a relaxed, satirical, walk through modern relations of the countries to include Korea and Taiwan.
January 24, 2026
I should have done a little more research before jumping into this book, or at least had a greater appreciation for the fact that 'facing history' was in the title. I was hoping for a history of the sino-japanese region and relations, but the book was very specifically targeted at influencing contemporary politics by discussing grievances relating to the Sino-japanese wars. One thing I did learn was that the Japanese were extra industrious in helping to modernize China as an explicit form of repentance and reparation for their war atrocities. That and the fact that Buddhist monks were ambassadors between the two nations for hundreds of years.
May 30, 2026
Tremendously fascinating book about the rich history between China and Japan.
Rarely do I read books about the relationship between two things, as opposed to just one or the other, and this was a nice change.
My one criticism is that at times, I almost wish the author spent more time backgrounding history about their relationship with history about the individual country, although then the book might be too long.
Rarely do I read books about the relationship between two things, as opposed to just one or the other, and this was a nice change.
My one criticism is that at times, I almost wish the author spent more time backgrounding history about their relationship with history about the individual country, although then the book might be too long.
January 29, 2020
Good summary of the joint history of rations between China and Japan. The pre-modern chapters light but provided a good outline. The chapters on the relationship between the two countries since the Meiji are noteworthy. The post war section gets too little time and the post Tiananmen period is truly disappointing.
Worth a read especially chapters 3 to 8.
Worth a read especially chapters 3 to 8.
May 6, 2020
The focus of the book is modern history of both countries, so the book basically skimp on the ancient history, which was a disappointment to me somehow. It's good for beginner, but not exactly what I was looking for. I have to say Vogel is still a very good writer. As he said he is not a historian but rather a sociologist.
December 31, 2020
Ezra Vogel's last book provides is a culmination of his long and impressive career. It is a social history of the Japan-China relationship. It has a bias of telling most of the stories from the Japanese side. It has a emphasis on the leaders and their personalities and foibles. Great anecdotes through out.
September 24, 2019
An outstanding work by Vogel one of the “deans” of Chinese /Asian history. From a learning perspective, the most interesting sections of the book dealt with their relations dating back to AD 600 all the way through to the early 19th century and how the Japanese turned to China for many of the social and cultural building blocks. The sections dealing with Manchuria, wars of 1895 and the Nanking massacre onwards are v well addressed and provide an interesting context in how their relations oscillated from lukewarm to cold over the decades. The book provides a solid framework to understanding the issues both countries face as China becomes more powerful.
December 18, 2019
4.25 / 5.0
Well balanced treatment of historical relations. Impressed with the amount of pre western discussion. Particularly enjoyed biographies in Appendix. Very informative especially putting current spats into historical context.
Well balanced treatment of historical relations. Impressed with the amount of pre western discussion. Particularly enjoyed biographies in Appendix. Very informative especially putting current spats into historical context.
April 16, 2020
First time reading about the relations between China and Japan and his history.
I like it. A really nice summary of such a long history.
At the end it is very clear the situation of both countries
I recommend it especially for beginners in this topic
I like it. A really nice summary of such a long history.
At the end it is very clear the situation of both countries
I recommend it especially for beginners in this topic
July 18, 2020
An excellent overview of China's and Japan's historical relations with a helpful section'Biographies of Key Figures' at the end of the book. I found the chapters covering the Sino-Japanese war, its origins and aftermath to be especially informative.
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