Critical Bibliography: Korea, Japan, and Chinese Cultural Influence

This report provides a critical bibliography of six articles focusing on the historical and cultural connections between Korea, Japan, and China, with a specific emphasis on Chinese cultural transmission. The bibliography covers a wide range of topics, including the prehistoric era, mythological parallels, trade relationships, philosophical perspectives, and educational reforms. The articles examine the influence of Chinese artifacts and technologies, the similarities in myths of descent, the 'Sinocentric Tributary System' of trade, challenges to Sinocentrism in 18th-century Korea, Confucian thought in Japan, and the impact of the Kansei prohibition on education. Each article is summarized and critically analyzed, offering insights into the sociological, philosophical, and political dynamics that shaped the development of these East Asian nations. The report highlights the importance of these articles for future research into the growth and interconnectedness of Korea and Japan, and the impact of Chinese culture on the region.

Running head: CRITICAL BIBLIOGRAPHY
KOREA AND JAPAN: CHINESE CULTURAL TRANSMISSION
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author Note:

1CRITICAL BIBLIOGRAPHY
Introduction
Japanese and Korean history are closely connected on multiple platforms and we find
several instances of Chinese influence in the shaping of their development into the present
state. This article provides the critical bibliography of six articles related to the history of
Japan and Korea and on occasions, China, on various aspects ranging from the prehistoric era
to the 18th century innovations and regulations on society and education while even touching
mythological and cultural concepts as well. The objective of this article is to introduce
readers and enthusiasts alike to the rich history and proceed hereon to a more focussed and
research oriented analysis of the sociological paradigm of the history of the two nations
Critical Bibliography
1. Takashi, O., & Goodwin, J. (1993). Japan and the continent. The Cambridge history
of Japan, 1, 275.
In this article, the authors primarily focus on the history of Japan and the Eastern
Asian region beginning from the prehistoric era. The article also talks about Japan’s relation
with its neighbouring nations China and Korea. It elaborates how in the prehistoric Japan,
there was a transmission of artefacts and technologies from China, Korea and other
neighbouring nations (Takashi & Goodwin, 1993). With the newly imported techniques like
rice cultivation in paddy fields, and metallurgic innovations with bronze and iron etc. helped
establish japan into a settled and stratified society. Furthermore, the creation of the Japanese
state was made feasible through diplomatic contacts with foreign governments (Takashi &
Goodwin, 1993). This type of inter-continental connection and influence was instrumental in
paving the way for adoption of certain Chinese cultural and political patterns in the sixth and

2CRITICAL BIBLIOGRAPHY
seventh centuries (Takashi & Goodwin, 1993). The article examines Chinese records and
archaeological findings through which it elaborates Japan’s gradual transition from a
prehistoric era to an agrarian state and gradual movement towards a more political and trade
based society. As exemplified in an instance “According to Chinese records compiled in the
late third century, Japan (the land of Wa) was composed of a number of small states, thirty of
which maintained relations with the Chinese court” (Takashi & Goodwin, 1993, p. 283),
Japan saw an early development and progressively enhanced its social, cultural, economic
and political framework.
2. Taryō, Ō. (1984). Japanese myths of descent from heaven and their Korean
parallels. Asian Folklore Studies, 43(2), 171-184.
This paper presents a comparison between the myths of descent present in the
Japanese culture and the same myths in the Korean culture, and shows how the myths are
parallel to each other. The author elaborates certain aspects related to the myths of these two
nations in order to draw the parallel. Starting from the stories about the descent of deities
from heaven and their return, the author illustrates the stories of Ninigi, the younger brother
of Nigihayahi and the grandson of the sun goddess Amaterasu, alongside the Korean myths
of Tangun and Suro (Taryō, 1984). Afterwards he proceeds to comparing the weapons
depicted in the myths and how Swords, Bows and Arrows play a significant visual role in the
myths of not only Japanese and Korean mythology but also maintains a similarity with the
Chinese counterparts as well (pp. 176-178). Finally ending with drawing parallels between
the dynastic aspects of the myths, the overall framework of descent from and ascension to
heaven, rise of a leading figure and similar other visualisations, the author establishes the
possibility of a connected genetic ancestry between the Japanese and the Korean culture
(Taryō, 1984).

3CRITICAL BIBLIOGRAPHY
3. Elisonas, J. (1991). The inseparable trinity: Japan's relations with China and
Korea. The Cambridge History of Japan, 4, 235-300.
This article spans the post 14th century era in the far eastern region and attempts to
analyse the trade and business relationships Japan shared with China and Korea (Elisonas,
1991). The timeline discussed in this paper puts Japan in the later middle age of the nation’s
history and describes the trade and economic relationship as a ‘Sinocentric Tributary System’
(Elisonas, 199). In this system, the central authority is China and the outlying states shared a
real or fictitious bond of allegiance with it. Ningpo (Chekiang province) was assigned to
Japan as the entry port to China (Elisonas, 1991, p. 236). The then Ming Government
engaged in making official purchases from the Japanese cargo ships and even allowed them
to privately trade with licenced brokers from China (p. 236). In the early half of the 15th
century, the Koreans maintained trade relations and management by controlling ship
allocation. As the author states “From the 1420s, the Koreans began to develop an elaborate
system of allotting the number of ships that could be licensed each year for trade by
individual Japanese.” (Elisona, 1991, p. 244).
4. Young-bae, S. (1999). Countering Sinocentrism in Eighteenth-Century Korea: Hong
Tae-Yong's Vision of" Relativism" and Iconoclasm for Reform. Philosophy East and
West, 278-297.
In this paper, the author focuses their attention on the studies of Hong Tae-yong,
especially on “the ‘modern’ aspect of Hong’s natural scientific theories based on his theory of
the rotation of the earth” (p. 278) and “into the philosophical significance of Hong's advocacy
of the ‘theory of identity or the equality of humans and things’” (p. 278). Young-bae (1999)
in this paper dives deep into two main philosophical problem statements. Firstly, the paper

4CRITICAL BIBLIOGRAPHY
attempts to identify the closeness of philosophical ideology of Hong in 18th century Korea
with the non – absolutist ideology of Weltanschauung of Chuang-tzu. Secondly, the author
also wanted to understand how the orthodox Sinocentrism that was taken for granted by most
18th century Korean Neo-Confucianists, was challenged by Hong using that non-absolutist
idea. According to Young-bae (1999), Hong realized that in order to gain consciousness of
the cultural identity of their own as well as accomplish social reform, Korean intellectuals
need to move beyond sinocentrism (Young-bae, 1999).
5. Minear, R. H. (1976). Ogyū Sorai's Instructions for Students: A Translation and
Commentary. Harvard Journal of Asiatic Studies, 5-81.
In this paper, Minear talks about the leading Japanese Confucian thinker Sorai and
attempts to analyse his “Instructions for Students”. The main content of the paper is based
upon Sorai’s visualisation of being a student from a Confucian viewpoint and how Sorai
identifies the best way to read and study the classics. In the first part of this paper, Minear
states and critically analyses seven instructions for students proposed by Sorai, using a deep
Confucian framework (1976). Afterwards he moves on to understanding some important
underlying concepts in Sorai’s framework, namely that of the sage (p. 33), everyone else (p.
36), Language (p. 39), Physical Realities (p. 41), Knowledge (p. 43) and Faith (p. 45). The
author then draws a western parallel with Erasmus before proceeding to establishing the
importance of Sorai in the Japanese intellectual population by highlighting Sorai’s view that
creation of sages is an artificial process which in essence is an antithesis to Confucian
viewpoint (Minear, 1976).

5CRITICAL BIBLIOGRAPHY
6. Backus, R. L. (1979). The Kansei prohibition of heterodoxy and its effects on
education. Harvard Journal of Asiatic Studies, 39(1), 55-106.
The author of this paper bases his theme on the historic Kansei reforms that happened
in Japan between the late 18th and early 19th century in which traditional and orthodox
practices were reinforced in the socio-political structure and heterodoxy was prohibited.
Based on the reformation, Backus narrows down the influence to education and centers the
attention of the article in a directive issued by Sadanobu (chief councillor to the Shogun) to
the rector of education commanding to exercise strict control on education and forbid
heterodoxy (Backus, 1979, p. 57). The author critically analyses the history of the Kansei
prohibition in term of how the prominence of heterodoxy was actually progressive for the
students but was seen by the overlords as depreciating to the traditional practices. Through
reinforcing orthodoxy and maintaining correlation with Confucian belief system, which was
almost decrepit in the late 18th century, the educational progress was heavily hindered
(Backus, 1979, p. 55).
Conclusion
The six articles, rich in their exploration of six unique yet interrelated historical
aspects of Japan and Korea, can serve as the foundation for a future research into the growth
of the two nations. The papers discussed above cover certain key aspects of the history of the
nations standing on a more sociological ground. They also serve as answers to a lot of
philosophical and politico-cultural problem statements and moving forward can serve as
important establishments for research in any connected field.

6CRITICAL BIBLIOGRAPHY
References
Backus, R. L. (1979). The Kansei prohibition of heterodoxy and its effects on
education. Harvard Journal of Asiatic Studies, 39(1), 55-106.
Elisonas, J. (1991). The inseparable trinity: Japan's relations with China and Korea. The
Cambridge History of Japan, 4, 235-300.
Minear, R. H. (1976). Ogyū Sorai's Instructions for Students: A Translation and
Commentary. Harvard Journal of Asiatic Studies, 5-81.
Takashi, O., & Goodwin, J. (1993). Japan and the continent. The Cambridge history of
Japan, 1, 275.
Taryō, Ō. (1984). Japanese myths of descent from heaven and their Korean parallels. Asian
Folklore Studies, 43(2), 171-184.
Young-bae, S. (1999). Countering Sinocentrism in Eighteenth-Century Korea: Hong Tae-
Yong's Vision of" Relativism" and Iconoclasm for Reform. Philosophy East and
West, 278-297.