HISTORY OF MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY JAPAN

The course aims at the following learning goals:
a) knowledge of the historical context inside which the contacts between Europe and Japan developed from the age of exploration to the age of imperialism, with a focus on the evolution of the European racial discourse and the shift of European perception of the Japanese from a ‘white’ to a ‘yellow’ race;
b) ability to critically understand the modalities of interactions between Western and non-Western societies as well as the political, economic, religious and cultural factors which contributed to the formulation of stereotypes and prejudices towards others;
c) ability to consciously apply these knowledge and understanding to contemporary problems such as those of interactions with otherness.

The course aims at the following learning goals:
a) knowledge of the historical context inside which the contacts between Europe and Japan developed from the age of exploration to the age of imperialism, with a focus on the evolution of the European racial discourse and the shift of European perception of Japanese from a ‘white’ to a ‘yellow’ race;
b) ability to critically understand the modalities of interactions between Europe and non-European societies as well as the political, economic, religious and cultural factors which contributed to the formulation of stereotypes and prejudices towards others;
c) ability to consciously apply these knowledge and understanding to contemporary problems such as those of interactions with otherness.

The course assumes that students have acquired a good knowledge of modern and contemporary history through the courses offered in the first and second year of the degree programme in Language, Civilisation and the Science of Language (Modern history, Contemporary history, Contemporary history of the United States, History of relations between Europe and Japan, History of the Iberian and Ibero-American World, History of Russia).

The 'Orient' in Western eyes: visions of Japan from the age of exploration to the age of imperialism; the contacts between Europe and Japan in the age of exploration (historical context); the European reports on Japan (selection of primary sources); the evolution of racial discourse in Europe from the late XVII century; the shift of European perception of Japanese from a ‘white’ to a ‘yellow’ race; from the ‘yellow race’ to the ‘yellow peril’.

Compulsory readings:
R. Kowner, “The skin as a metaphor: early European racial perspectives on Japan, 1548-1853”, in Ethnohistory 51, p. 751–778 (http://asia.haifa.ac.il/staff/kovner/(17)Kowner.2004a.pdf );
M. Keevak, Becoming Yellow. A Short History of Racial Thinking, Princeton University Press, 2011;
R. Caroli, “Una metropoli alla fine dell’Asia: Edo narrata dagli europei”, in Storia Urbana, vol. 146/2015, pp. 39-68;
E. Said, Orientalismo. L’immagine europea dell’Oriente, Feltrinelli, Milano 2002 (Introduzione e capitoli 1-4, pp. 11-114).

Primary sources used during the lessons:
D. Bartoli, Dell’istoria della Compagnia di Gesù. Il Giappone seconda parte dell’Asia descritta dal p. Daniello Bartoli…, vol. X, libro primo, 1825 (https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_EIFM68dzSrQC/page/n1 )
F. Caron, A True Description of the Mighty Kingdoms of Japan and Siam, Samuel Broun & John de l'Ecluse, London 1663 (https://quod.lib.umich.edu/e/eebo/A34454.0001.001?view=toc )
R. Cocks, Diary of Richard Cocks. Cape-merchant in the English Factory in Japan 1615-1622…, Tōkyō 1899.
F. Guerreiro, Relação anual das coisas que fizeram os padres da Companhia de Jesus nas suas Missões do Japão, China, Cataio..., tomo II, Coimbra 1931 (http://purl.pt/26224/4/r-27919-v/r-27919-v_item4/r-27919-v_PDF/r-27919-v_PDF_24-C-R0150/r-27919-v_0000_1-442_t24-C-R0150.pdf )
E. Kaempfer, The History of Japan. Together with a Description of the Kingdom of Siam, 1690-92, New York, vol. III.
N. Murakami and K. Murakawa (eds) , Letters written by the English residents in Japan, 1611-1623… , Tokyo 1900 (https://archive.org/details/letterswrittenby00mura/page/n10 )
A. Montanus, Ambassades Mémorables De La Compagnie Des Indes Orientales Des Provinces Unies Vers Les Empereurs Du Japon, 1680 (https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k95928w.image )
F. Pasio, Tre lettere annue del Giappone, de gli anni 1603. 1604. 1605. e parte del 1606. Mandate dal P. Francesco Pasio V,,., Roma 1608 (https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_2HuJtvRRtaIC/page/n4 )
J. Saris, The voyage of Captain John Saris to Japan, 1613, edited by Ernest Mason Satow, Bristol-Tokyo, 1998 (ed. or. 1900) (https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.47339/page/n7 )
R. de Vivero, Relación del Japón (1609), por Rodrigo de Vivero y Velazco. Introducción y notas, 1934 (https://mexicana.cultura.gob.mx/es/repositorio/detalle?id=_suri:MEDIATECAARTICULO:TransObject:5bca29f67a8a0222ef131e0d )
S. Vizcaíno, Una Relación de Japón de 1614 sobre el viaje de Sebastián Vizcaíno (http://www.archivodelafrontera.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Relación-del-viaje-de-Sebastián-Vizca%C3%ADno-1612-1614.pdf )

The oral examination (up to 30 points) aims at verifying the following knowledge and ability. It consists of:
1) a theme/topic chosen by the student, aiming at testing his/her ability to (a) put the issue in its proper historical contex and (b) develop and articulate a coherent historical narrative;
2) a question aiming at verifying his/her ability to (a) connect historical events and processes to specific circumstances of time and place as well as to broader processes occurring at the same time and (b) to make appropriate use of historical terminology, sources and methodologies;
3) a question aiming at verifying his/her ability to consciously apply the acquired knowledge and understanding to contemporary problems such as those of interactions with otherness.

Frontal lesson, PowerPoint, online sources, and joint discussions.

Italian

The Disabled Students Service with the fundamental support of tutors offers several services throughout university studies, both for prospective and enroled students at Ca’ Foscari University of Venice. Services aim at facilitating the autonomy of students with disabilities and/or learning disabilities such as dyslexia, dyspraxia, dyscalculia through successful integration in university life. More details in https://www.unive.it/pag/28640/

ESU CUORI provides free individual activities and group workshops aimed at all Ca' Foscari students: psychological counselling, training to improve study effectiveness, reorientation paths and seminars to learn how to manage anxiety. More details in https://www.unive.it/pag/41328/

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