ChineseStudies in History(Volume 49, Issue 1, 2016) 

Abstract

    The significance of the Senzai Maru’s 1862 journey to Shanghai was great. From this opportunity, Japan not only learned from its neighbor the danger of closing off one’s borders and refusing to change, but also the importance of expanding its horizons and “learning from the world.” From these lessons, Japan transitioned from “expelling barbarians” toward “enlightenment,” from conservative to “reformist.” After successfully overthrowing the Tokugawa shogunate, Japan’s Meiji reforms thrived.

KEYWORDS:

   Senzai Maru ship, China-Japan relations, Japanese perception of China, Meiji Restoration

Additional author information

Sheng Banghe
Sheng Banghe is a Professor Emeritus at Shanghai University of Finance and Economics.