Process of Modernization and How It Affected the Cultures of China and Japan

Introduction Modernization is a complex phenomenon, which is understood differently by different individuals in the world. People consider modernization as a process through which traditional ideas and values are buried in a silent grave.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Process of Modernization and How It Affected the Cultures of China and Japan specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Science considers modernization as a standardized evolutionary transition from the traditional society into a modern Society. Many scholars and scientists refer modernization as an act of adjusting something to cope with the current prevailing situation. Civilization is an important component of modernization because it involves brushing off the traditional beliefs, values, attitudes, and ideas among individuals in the world. This is meant that modernization is a process that entails bringing renovation, repairs and changing something from the past into the present. Several scientists over the world consider modernization as the process that involves changing a something with an aim of making it to conform to the modern standards. Modernization has originated from the world modernize that refers to changing or altering a something through renovating, repairing and remodeling among others (Gbosoe 5). Discussion There are quite several terms or words that are used to mean the same as modernization for instance, the transformation, reconstruction, renovation and repairing among others. Such words complicate the modernization process as people tries to unveil their usual or real meaning. Many East Asian countries became victims of modernization process long time ago (Ancient times). Among such countries, China and Japan were voted as the most affected nations by modernization process because of the emergent of simple and advanced technologies.Advertising Looking for essay on asian? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Modernization process is considered important though it affects peoples’ cultures in the world. China and Japan through modernization process have achieved new dimensions of culture that contradicts the existing or the traditional ideas, values and beliefs. China underwent two phases of modernization since the start of the 18th century. These two phases are namely; first modernization and the second modernization. The first modernization phase was deemed necessary because it involves or entails the development of the industries economy. The second modernization phase was concerned with development of the intellectual economy (Meng 9). These two phases altered or changed Chinese cultural system since it eroded the traditional ideas, values, beliefs, and attitudes that were considered critical in the traditional society. For instance, in the pre-modern China people contented themselves with farming that was done or carried out o n small-scale systems. The most preferred crops were the indigenous crops because people had little knowledge about cash crops. The transition of from traditional society into modern society led to the emergent of new cash crops that include coffee, coconut, sisal hemp, and oil palm among others. Production of good changed from the home production into industries production. This is to say that during the traditional era, production was home based as opposed to the industry production experienced in the modern society in China. Farming changed from small scale to large-scale farming because of the introduction of agricultural machines that were used by farmers (Grasso, Corrin and Kort 41).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Process of Modernization and How It Affected the Cultures of China and Japan specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Agrarian revolution in China led to the emergent of new farming tools that include t ractors, harvesters, mowers and ploughs among others. Animal power came into existence along side with the use of power driven machines in agriculture. This clearly demonstrates how modernization affected the Chinese cultural system. Development of intellectual economy encompass the introduction of new syllabus that entails both writing and reading of written materials such as books, journals, newsletters among others. New disciplines emerged that included medicine, engineering, law and religion that captured the attention of many scholars in China. Education system changed from non-formal into informal education. This happened because of high level of civilization among the Chinese people. China through modernization learnt new or foreign languages that were universal to those of other countries in Asia for instance the use of French and English became common in China. Marriage system changed from the traditional ones into modern ones that involve church weddings and court marriage . Japan also experienced several implications of change through modernization process just like the China (Grasso, Corrin and Kort 57). Modernization in Japan was confused with westernization by many people because they believed that modernization was an act of accepting western culture that had a great influence in people lives. It came alongside with the industrial revolution that began in England and extended or expanded into other nations including Japan and China. Japanese culture was altered by the introduction of spinning machine during the industrial revolution era.Advertising Looking for essay on asian? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More People began using modern tools and equipments (machines) that were considered faster because some of them were power driven machines. Agriculture shift from animal keeping into the growing of crops both indigenous and cash crops. Japanese embraced modernity by adopting western culture whereby they began wearing clothes that belongs to western people (Gbosoe 21). They inherited new hairstyles from western and also their houses and other structures were made from western design. The advancement in technology gave birth to the introduction of new machines critical in communication field such as emergent and use of telephones, airplanes, TV, computers and surveillance cameras. All these illustrate the achievement of modernization in Japan. Through technology advancement, Japan had experienced rapid economic growth. I pre-modern Japan, communication was made through face-to-face expression which was a slow means of conveying public information. Telephones speed up the spread of informat ion in Japan within a short duration or period of time. In the traditional or pre-Japan society, people used to spend most of their times in farms. Modernization altered people ways of living through rural-urban migration that came because of industrial revolution that led to development of cities. Japanese migrated into the city looking for jobs, which was contrary to the traditional ways of living in pre-modern era (Barrett 45). Modernization process brought transition from traditional small scale social institutions into modern large scale social institutions that include the government, industry and businesses among others. This is a clear implication of the effects or impacts of modernization process in Japan. Modernization led to increasingly spread of science that resulted into high levels of literacy in Japan just like in any other Asian nation. In traditional Japan, religious activities were conducted in shrines whereby people used to slaughter animals such as sheep, goats and cows as means of giving thanks to their God or creator. This changed gradually with the spread of industrial revolution in Japan that led to modernization. People started carrying out their religious activities in temples or churches. Conclusion Modernization process as discussed within the context of this study paved in through industrial revolution. Many East Asia countries such as China and Japan were severely affected by modernization process since it brings about alterations in their cultural systems. Through modernization, both China and Japan witnessed the development of large-scale social institutions that played vital role in countries economy. The study is of much help or useful to the reader because it explores the concept of modernization process based on its origin and impacts on people ways of living (culture). Works Cited Barrett, Brendan. Ecological modernization and Japan. New York: Routledge Publishers, 2005. Print. Gbosoe, Gbingba. Modernization of Japan. Unit ed Kingdom: Universe Publishers, 2006. Print. Grasso, June, Corrin, Jay and Kort, Michael. Modernization and revolution in China: From the opium wars to the Olympics. London: M.E. Sharpe, 2009. Print. Meng, Fanchen. China on the way to modernization: perspectives from Chinese view. London: Cuvillier Verlag, 2005. This essay on Process of Modernization and How It Affected the Cultures of China and Japan was written and submitted by user Mia C. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.