The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1942-09-25
After Many
Years
Why Japan Fights
With the Ais
And Why w. Fight
With China
Philosophy Of Life
Is me Issue
n, Y. 7. SHORT

~ Y. T. SHORT
CHARITY contrasting with the
- exposition Of Chinese philosophy
Of life and government. is the pic
ture which Or. Hu Shih. retiring
Chinese ambassador. draws from
the history Of Japan. Even though
DR.. Shin might be somewhat
biased in favor of his own coun-
try. in this concluding instsllment
ne goes into history to set up the
difference between China and
Japan. Having done that It is
easy 10 understand why China
fights Japan, and why japan, of
ell the non-Europesn nations join
Cd the axis powers. II also ex-
plains why the United States
fights on the side Of China and
against Japan.
The position of Japan in the
world situations today Ia not an
accident. History tells that from
the early part of the seventeenth
century and for quite a period
thereafter Japan was ruled by a
sort Of feudal oligarchy with
philosophy in many respects SINH
lar to that Of the totalitarian
states There was the self-con-
stituted ruling class, restriction of
personal liberty, censorship. secret
police and the doctrine that the
Individual exists for the state.
When this regime broke down of
its own weight and was over
thrown in 1868, it was replaced
BY a bureaucracy with many of
the features of totalitarianism.
Also sharply contrasting with
the free intellectual growth of
China Is the rather slavish accept
ance of authority and tradition in
Japanese intellectual life. To
question such trsditionally accept
cd myths as those OF the divine
descent of Japanese dynasty and
nobility: the authenticity Of the
Sun Goddess. the date Of February
IL. $50 B. c., as the founding of |
the empire, or Of the Three Sacred |
Treasures Mirror, the Jewel
and the Sword-handed down by |
the gods, is next to treason.
DR.. Shin finds in the same his
torical background an explanation
Of the ease with which Japan has
been transformed into q firx class
militaristic power. OF all the nom
European nations Japan alone
found companionship in the mill
taristic axis group.
This policy. says DR.. Shin, has
It's roots in a philosophy expressed
by Hideyoshi, the great military
hero of medieval Japan. In letters
sent to the rulers of China, Korea,
the Philippines and India he In
formed them that he was embark
ing on program Of world con-
quest. The following paragraphs
from the letter to the king of
Korea are typical:
"Hideyoshi, the Supreme I'm
perial Adviser OF the Emperor OF |
Japan, hereby addresses His Ex-
cellency the King of Korea. -
Although l WAS born to
family of low rank. my mother
conceived me Immediately after
she had dreamed that the Sun had |
entered into her bosom. A ply |
siognomist interpreted this dream |
and predicted that I was destined |
10 extend my authority TO all parts
Of the world where the sun |
shines.
Because I was born with so
great destiny, which was re-
vealed by this omen, those who
have fostered feelings Of enmity
and opposition have been crushed
and destroyed. Whenever and
against whomever / have waged
war, the victory has always been
mine. The lands and districts in
vaded by me have always been
conquered.
Il am not willing to spend the
remaining years of my life in the
land of my birth. According TO
my idea, the nation that ! would
create should not be separated by
mountains and seas. but should IN
clude them all.
In starting my conquest
planned that our forces should pro-
coed to China and compel the peo-
pie there TO adopt our customs and
manners. Then that vast coun-
try consisting of more than 400
provinces, would enjoy our I'M
perial protection and benevolence
Tor millions of years TO come.
You, King of Korea. are hereby
instructed to join Us at the head
Of all your fighting men when we
proceed to China"
When he received no satisfsc-
tory reply from Korea, Hideyoshi
sent an army Of 3o5, 900 men across
the sea to invade China through
Korea early in 1892. This war OF
unprovoked invasion lasted years
and was ended only after the death
Of Hideyoshi himself.
AZ the outset Of his campaign
Hideyoshi worked out q timetable
according TO which his army was
10 conquer Korea. before the end
OF May, 1892. and 20 occupy
Psking, the capital Of China, be
Tore the END OF the year. In 1924
me Japanese Imperial Court would
o. removed to Peking. where the