Emperor Hirohito was Japan's 124th emperor who is vital to the history because he played a major role within world history. He was known as the Showa Tenno emperor. Showa is translated into "enlightened peace" and Tenno is translated into "heavenly sovereign." This is exceptionally ironic because he was the emperor during numerous disasters (Hirohito, 2005).
The worst war Japan had ever seen and a depression are just a few of the events that occurred throughout history. According to the Japanese constitution of 1889 the emperor had divine power over his country although his authority was based on religion and myth. The Japanese citizens viewed him as a divine figure and his word became what was thought of as the word of god (Hoyt, 1992). His wrath was severe as he devastated many countries including his own.
This is because of events such as the bombing of Pearl Harbor and the rape of Nanjing. He shocked his own country when he denounced the claims that he was a divine figure and a descendent of the sun god Amaterasu. This was the first time the Japanese people realized that their emperor was truly a mortal (Hirohito, Emperor of Japan, 2003). He became what was known as Japan's most memorable emperor.
To completely understand Hirohito we must take a concise look at the Shinto religion. The Shinto religion was first recorded in 712A.D. in a book called Kojiki which means record of ancient things. It was also written in a book called Nihon Shoki, which means chronicles of Japan. Two deities created Japan. A male being named Izanagi and a female being named Isonomy (Mackenzie, 1994).
There names translated into "he who invites" and "she who invites." After Izanami died Izanagi created Amaterasu which is the equivalent to what we think of as a sun goddess. Her name means heavenly light. It was thought that Izanagi then sent Amaterasu to rule the heavens. The deities discussed and then decided that Amaterasu's descendents should rule the land. Amaterasu's great grandson became Japan's first emperor (Mackenzie, 1994).
This means all of Japan's emperors were descendents of a god. This is why the Japanese believed that there emperor was a god, and not a mortal man. Hirohito was an interesting individual. He was born on April 29th, 1901 in the Aoyama palace in Tokyo (Hirohito, 2005).
Japanese revolts ensue with the opening of Japan to the Western World. The middle and lower classes wanted Japan to be open while the conservative daimyo did not. Both of these groups looked to the emperor for a decision. The shogunate, reliant on the isolation, collapsed under pressures caused by outsid...
Kauikeaouli was born on August 11, 1813 on the Big Island of Hawaii. He became king at age 11 when his older brother Liholiho died, who ruled as Kamehameha II. For 14 years of his reign Kauikeaouli was guided by Kaahumanu and Kinau. At age 25, he took on the responsibilities of kingship by himself as Kamehameha III. (The Reign of Kamehameha III Website) Kauikeaouli’s reign of thirty years was filled with change and accomplishment. Kamehameha III’s reign would be a desirable time to live in because of the small population, religious freedom, and the equality for all Hawaiians.
From around 1920 a democratic movement gained strength. However, amid a global economic crisis, the military came to the fore, and Japan eventually marched down the road to war. With the end of World War II in 1945 Japan put into effect a new Constitution, committed itself to becoming a peace-seeking democracy, and successful in relaunching its economy. In 1956, the nation’s entry into the United Nations was approved.
Born on November 29th, 1835, Tzi-hsi was named Yehonala after her tribe. Her father, Huei-cheng died when she was a child and her family took care of her until she was sent to Emperor Hsien-Feng’s court as a concubine. Although Hsien-Feng had many wives and concubines, Tzi-hsi was the only to bear him a son. In 1861, the Emperor died and his court was left to the son, who was not of age and thus Tzi-hsi was able to rule through her son, The Emperor Tung-chih. When he turned 17, she was forced to give up her immediate power to him. Tung-chih died in 1875. Through much controversy and manipulation, Tzi-hsi was able to convince the court to nominate her choice as successor, and when the Empress of the Eastern palace died, Tzi-hsi became the sole surviving regent of the empire (Varè).
From most of the historical references about ancient Japan, people tend to draw the impression that males were dominant rulers. However, women were actually very important figures in pre-historic time, as they fulfilled their role as independent leaders, especially in times of succession crises. This is why the study of female sovereignty is vital to understand the formation of the Japanese state, based on gender complimentary rulers. The political significance of the existence of these female emperors in ancient Japan is that they provided a place of legitimacy for women leaders, and they played a substantial part in identifying and creating the Japanese society.
Tokugawa Ieyasu was a great samurai fighter and cunning politician. In battle of Sekigahara Tokugawa defeated his major rivals and established Tokugawa government. His headquarter was established in village of Edo away from the imperial families in Kyoto. Ieyasu and successors choose to rule as shoguns, or feudal lords, demanding loyalty from the daimyo and exercising direct control only over their own territorial domains. The people saw the emperor as divine descent of sun goddess Amatersau, however, established the emperor as the ultimate source of political authority and surrounded the imperial throne with thicket of taboos that protected it from usurpation.
Throughout Hirohito’s years of leadership, he made several decisions for the country. One of his best moves being his announcement of Japan’s unconditional surrender on August 15th, 1945 during World War II. If Hirohito had not administered this military surrender, Japan would not have been able to develop and flourish in such a way that it has in order to reach such a point of success and progress – such as becoming the world’s 14th richest country. If Hirohito hadn’t surrendered Japan, his place in Japan’s government would’ve been abolished. Because of this admitted defeat, he thus showed his affection for his people by ending their suffering by ending their side of the war and in return, Japan’s economy and the country’s income thrived, the people remained loyal to their Emperor.
Approximately, 17,000 Americans each year feel that the name they were given does not match their identity. The name a person is given is who they are, it is a way for the world to acknowledge them. At the start of World War II, the American government took a series of drastic measures aiming at Japanese Americans in the U.S., all Japanese Americans, no matter who they were, adults, women, or children, had been suspected spies. More than 120,000 Japanese Americans were sent to internment camps. This essay aims to study the comparison of the named and nameless characters in When the Emperor was Divine, through the analysis of their loss of identity. This analysis will also vividly show the suffering of the Japanese Americans during this time.
Japan has a history that dates back thousands of years. Researchers believe the Japanese people descended from many groups that migrated to the islands from other parts of Asia, including China and Korea. As early as 4500 B.C., the Japanese islands
The name for the Heian period was derived from peace and serenity. This specifically identifies with the teachings and traditions to the Buddha. In which this makes it the ideal time for Buddhism to spread throughout Japan. This was done essentially through two noteworthy organizations, Tendai and Shingon. Tendai originated from China and based on the Lotus Sutra, which is one of the most important sutras of Mahayana Buddhism. The minister Saichō conveyed Tendai to Japan. The minister Kūkai conveyed Shingon to Japan. Which they underlined Esoteric Buddhism. Both Kūkai and Saichō were tasked to associate state and religion and secure backing from the privileged. This at last prompt thought of Aristocratic Buddhism. A vital component of Tendai was the thought that illumination was accessible to everyone. The Tendai monastery on Mount Hiei and the imperial court developed a close relationship in its new capital at the foot of the mountain. Accordingly, Tendai added to an extraordinary appreciation for the emperor and the nation. The emperor himself was a
One of the most famous portrayal of the first emperor happens in the movie Hero. The movie Hero is special because it shows the emperor as a calm and almost kind man. This differs from the man that is shown in The First Emperor of China, Kingdom and Bridge of Birds. In the movie, when Nameless tells the emperor lies, the emperor doesn't instantly kill him. By then, the emperor knew that Nameless meant to kill him, and he just sits there calmly having a discussion with Nameless about what he thought happened. In the documentary The First Emperor of China, the emperor is everything but calm. He finds out that his mother had been sleeping with one of his advisers, creating two illegitimate children that the adviser planned to make emperor. While the adviser is launching an attack on the castle, the emperor commands that the two children are to be k...
... end of the war did the emperor himself through the radio; it was the first time in history that the Japanese would hear the voice of their emperor. With that statement, the Emperor renounced his divinity condition.
Fourteenth century Japan was a time of peace for many people. Buddhism had just become a major part of Japanese culture due to the Shogun Yoshimitsu. He became ruler in 1367 at the sapling age of ten (Waley 21). Yoshimitsu needed to distinguish himself from his ancestors and he did this by being devoted to Buddhism, specifically the Zen Sect (21). “Zen Buddhism and the life and teaching of Shinran are popularly identified as typical Japanese Buddhism.” (Takeda 27) However Buddhism, in Japan, is different and unique from Buddhism in other countries because it is considered the “funeral religion” (27). This is mainly influenced by ancient Japanese beliefs of the onryo.
Ieyasu was determined to ensure his and his family's dictatorship. To this end, he paid lip-service to the emperor in Kyoto, who remained the titular head of Japan, while curtailing his duties and involvement in the government.