SAKOKU : WHY ISOLATING SLOWS SELF-DEVELOPMENT?

Map of the Dutch trading post Dejima near Nagasaki, depicting the limited foreign presence in Japan under the SAKOKU policy. Engraving from the book Particulars of Japan by Dutch diplomat, historian, and merchant Isaac Titsingh, published in 1824-25

INTRODUCTION

Most of us have heard terms like "lock off" or "ghost Mode" and other expressions related to isolation. These ideas sound cool in today's Gen Z era. However, isolation creates a drastic change in our lives, which could be either good or bad.

Today, I want to make it clear why isolation can effect out self-development journey, using an example of a historical event that completely changed Japan.

The Japanese had isolated themselves completely because they wanted to preserve their culture from foreign influence, especially Christianity.

Why was Japan isolated?

• Discovery of Japan(The First Entry Of Europe)

Francisco Zeimoto

Antonio Moto

The first Europeans to reach Japan in 1543 were Antonio Da Moto and Francisco Zeimoto, Portuguese traders and explorers of the 16th century. Their ship was blown off course by a storm while heading towards China, but they accidentally arrived at the Tanegashima island in Japan. 

At first, they believed they were in China. However, after seeing the local inhabitants and the significant cultural difference, they realised they had reached Japan. They introduced arquebuses and started significant trades with the locals.

• Senpuku Kirishitan(The Untold Story of the Christians in Japan)

S.T Francis Xavier

Saint Francis Xavier was the co-founder of the Society of Jesus and is also known as the Apostle of the Indies. He was the first person to spread Christianity in Japan. He arrived in Japan in the Sengoku Period in 1549 and established the first Christian mission in Kagoshima, which is now located on Japan's Kyushu Island.

His mission in Japan lasted for around two years, laying the foundation for a new religion alongside Buddhism and Shinto.

He faces many challenges in Japan, including:-

1. Language barriers.
2. Political fragmentation from the feudal lords, which has created numerous complications for missionary efforts.
3. Cultural differences due to the existing dominance of Buddhism and Shinto traditions. 

The monks of the existing religions saw Christianity as a threat to Japanese culture. Although at the last S.T. Francis Xavier succeeded in spreading Christianity, he was unable to convert the entire population.

Ban On Christianity

The Japanese government started banning Christianity in different ways. It started with an edict issued by Toyotomi Hideyoshi in 1587, which restricted missionaries from spreading religion. This was followed by the Tokugawa Shogunate in 1614, which enforced stricter bans.

One major incident was Grate Genna Martyrdom, where 55 foreign and domestic Catholics were executed at Nishizaka Hill in Nagasaki. This incident reflects Japan's fear of Christianity spreading rapidly.

Although the Christians adapted according to the new laws, they eventually decided to hide their faith completely. These people were known as Senpuku Kirishitan(Hidden Christians). This fear became one of the major reasons behind Sakoku, Japan's isolation from the world, especially Europe.

• Colonisation in the Air(The Threat of Colonisation)

During the Opium Wars between Britain and China, Japan observed how easily China was defeated by the British. Japan also learned from countries like India, where the British used "divide and rule" policies, exploiting cultural, religious, and social differences.

In many Asian countries, European companies initially came for trade, but eventually captured entire regions. Even some of the European nations, like Portugal and Dutch were also doing the same, due to which they were becoming a threat to Japan.

As a result, Japan adopted what seems like a perfect solution - Complete isolation, an effective solution for a Short Period Not For Long Period.

SAKOKU

• Beginning of ISOLATION

Tokugawa Shogunate

The Tokugawa Shogunate introduced extremely strict laws for isolation.

1.)  People outside Japan would never be able to enter in there Country except China, Korea, and at some restricted level in Europe, Netherland were only able to trade with Japan at some restricted level.

2.)  People who go out of the nation for any reason and come back to their country again they will be sentenced to death.

3.)  Making any trade with the Europeans for their technology, food,  knowledge, etc. will be strictly prohibited.

These are the most important and strict rules which you need to know for the rest of history, instead of there being many rules for the nation.

These policies were built by the Tokugawa Shogunate(1603-1867) in the Edo period, which was the last feudal military government(the Shogun was the next highest position after the Emperor). 

Japan in the Edo period

Although Japan was not interested in foreign contact, foreign nations remained in trade. Foreign ships were still constantly coming to Japan, so the shogun had ordered that they had to increase the sealing at the Nagasaki Harper and other ports. 

But there is a catch: In the Southern region, lords were sending their students to Nagasaki for learning from foreign technology. They believed:

 Iron could only cut Iron.

They understood that to defend against foreign powers, Japan needed to understand foreign technology.

• Result of ISOLATION

Yes, it is right that the policy was very effective because the lifestyle in Japan was very good, and Japan was also able to avoid colonisation successfully. It was helpful for them in later history to become defensive of imperial power. Later, it was seen that Japan also became a colonising nation by itself (1895-1945).

But as we know, "In a case of dissension, never dare to judge till you've heard the other side"

THE BLACK SHIPS

In July 1853, the Tokugawa Shogunate got the perfect answer for their isolation from the world.
On that day, some of the fishermen near Edo Bay (Tokyo Bay) were noticing a very uncommon black object, but after some time, most of them had seen a very shocking view of a big black Castle from which black smoke was coming out. Most of the fishermen or locals were shocked by seeing that view and thinking about how the Castle was floating upon water, but when the black castle came closer, they realised that those were not a castle, those were some big black ships from which black smoke was coming out, and especially they were from some other nation(America). 

Matthew C. Perry was a U.S. Naval Officer (1853-54). He was commended by the U.S. President of that time, named Millard Fillmore.

U.S. Pr. Millard Fillmore

Matthew C. Perry

He ordered Matthew C. Perry to the expedition to Japan, in which he had to force Japan in 1853-54 to start trade and diplomatic relations with the West after 200 Years of isolation.

Matthew C. Perry came with his Black Ships (Kurofune) in Edo Bay to meet the Tokugawa Shogunate (According to the Japanese, Shogun was the next highest position after the Emperor). After seeing this kind of demand, the Japanese told them to go to Nagasaki Bay and ask for help, but Matthew C. Perry was eager to meet at Edo Bay. After that Japanese were shocked by seeing him this much egoestic but the Japanese were also seeing the ship size and manpower. At that movement Matthew C. Perry also used some blank shots to build fear in those. Japanese they if they don't co-orparate with them then what bad things could happen(According to Historians Matthew Perry told that on July they have a very special day of celebration but most of the other Historians says that they used the Blank Shorts at sea to threat them by showing that they only don't have men power and big ships but they also have very strong fire power). Most of the Japanese were shocked and in fear by seeing that people from outside Japan were entering the nation and demanding to meet the Shogun directly. 

AFTERMATH:-

At the time of Isolation (SAKOKU), people of Japan were isolated from almost the whole world. Due to this, the condition of the country was good for living and business for its people inside the country and throughout Japan's history, Japan was never isolated by any other nation, but the most important point is that if we are isolated from the whole world for a very long time, then as we know the strongest will always win just like that when U.S. and other nations came to Japan for trad and other trades with there very advances ships and weapon the Japanese had no answer to them to defend there nation.

Matthew C. Perry went back to his nation by giving Japan around 1 Year, and after that, he told he would meet the Shogun. After Commodore Matthew Perry went back to the U.S. in 1854, Japan entered into numerous treaties with other countries like Russia, the UK, Netherland e. t. c. The treaties which are build with Japan in 1854 were also known as "Unequal Treaties", in which the whole advantage was for other nations, not for Japan.

#Point To Understand

I hope you all understand what I wanted to say till now about Isolation.

Most of us are isolated and trying to disconnect from the world because this world is cruel.

I understand you, but you have to understand that if you isolate yourself, then one day there will always be someone who will be more advanced than you, who will be more intelligent, smarter and better than you in every respect.

What is the proper solution without lagging behind?

Ans- 

Isolating is not about making yourself lonely; instead, it means building a perfect balance in your life.

In isolation, we have to take care of things like what is happening now because focusing on the present will always be our first priority; without focusing on the present, we could never think about tomorrow.

In the case of Japan, they had made only one mistake, which stopped them from becoming stronger than other nations, and that was their ego that no one could challenge them in the world to break their policies. But after that, Japan worked on their policies, and then after that, they started colonising other nations around it from 1910 to 1945(After world war 2).

Now it's your turn to become better, just like Japan.

CONCLUTION

Japan is known as the land of the Sun, but still, foreign countries like the U.S., Russia, and other Western countries were acting like dark black clouds.

If a nation as strong as Japan could suffer due to long-term isolation, remember this:

Growth Comes From Balance in life, Not Always Completely Separating From The World.

Sometimes it becomes necessary to take experience from others' experiences.