The emperor in the history of Japan 3600-JA-CWJ-OG

The lecture concerns the history of official and non-official contacts between Poland and Japan, from the end of the 19th century till now. It presents many subjects concerning mainly political, diplomatic and cultural relations, but also a problem of the image of Japan in Poland. The main problems will be:
1-3. The place of emperors in the history of Japan – rulers or reigning?
4. Mutsuhito (1852-1912; 1868-1912). Image of modern ruler
5. Mutsuhito. “Divine” constitutional monarch. Main legal acts
6. Yoshihito (1879-1926; 1912-1926). The most important problems
7. Hirohito (1901-1989; 1926-1989). The education of the future emperor
8., 9. “Divine” emperor and emperor as a symbol. Changes in the emperor's position in postwar Japan
10. Akihito (born 1933; 1989-2019). The most important problems
11. Naruhito (born 1960; from 20190). The most important problems
12., 13. Court ceremonies and rituals
14., 15. The problem of succession to the throne and other problems of the Imperial House
The basis of the lecture are primary source, memoirs, literature on the topic, press articles etc.

Course coordinators

Ewa Pałasz-Rutkowska

Type of course

general courses

Mode

Classroom

Prerequisites (description)

- level of knowledge and skills resulting from completing at least the first year of first-cycle studies

Learning outcomes

Knowledge
- has basic knowledge in the range of theory of humanities necessary to understand chosen cultural aspects in history of Japan [K_W04];
- has organized knowledge of natural, geopolitical and economic environment and their importance for the historical situation of Japan [K_W11];
- knows and understands basic analysis and interpretation methods of various products of culture characteristic of chosen theories and schools of research within the scope of history [K_W18];

Skills
- can search for, analyze, evaluate and use information from different sources [K_U01];
- can use the knowledge of history of Japan to analyze and interpret events taking place in the modern world [K_U04];
- can appropriately place Japan in the context of circumstances pertinent to natural, geopolitical and economic environment [K_U05];
- can use the knowledge of socio-cultural issues of Japan in typical professional situations [K_U09];

Social competences
- has awareness of the cultural distinctness and its religious, philosophical, traditional and historical roots and its significance for understanding modern world [K_K05];
- sees the need of dialogue between cultures [K_K06];
- is aware of significance the culture of Japan has for the culture of the world [K_K07];

Assessment criteria

- Oral examination

- Attendance control

Bibliography

- Hoyt, Edwin, Hirohito. The Emperor and the Man, Praeger, New York 1992
- Keene Donald, Emperor of Japan. Meiji and His World, 1852-1912, Columbia University Press, New York 2002
- Kojiki czyli Księga dawnych wydarzeń, tłum. i oprac. Wieszław Kotański, PIW, Warszawa 1986
- Kotański, Wiesław, Opowieść o pierwszych władcach japońskich, Iskry, Warszawa 1990
- Large Stephen, Emperors of the Rising Sun. Three Biographies, Kodansha International, Tokyo, New York, London 1997
- Pałasz-Rutkowska, Ewa, Cesarz Meiji (1852-1912). Wizerunek władcy w modernizowanej Japonii (Emperor Meiji. The image of the ruler in modernized Japan), WUW, Warszawa 2012
- Pałasz-Rutkowska, Ewa, Dzieje kultury japońskiej (History of Japanese culture), Wydawnictwo Naukowe PWN, Warszawa 2023
- Pałasz-Rutkowska, Ewa, Hirohito. Wychowanie i edukacja przyszłego cesarza (THirohito. he upbringing and education of the future emperor), w: Japonia ery Shōwa (1926-1989). Kultura i realia społeczne, red. K Starecka, UW, Warszawa 2019, s. 43-67;
- Pałasz-Rutkowska Ewa, Intronizacja w erze Heisei. Tradycja i zmiany (Enthronement in the Heisei Era. Tradition and change), w: Japonia ery Heisei – alienacje i powroty, red. K. Starecka, A. Żuławska-Umeda, Japonica, Warszawa 2015, s. 37-57
- Pałasz-Rutkowska E., Kobieta na japońskim tronie? Problem sukcesji w rodzinie cesarskiej (A Woman on the Japanese throne? The problem of succession in the Imperial Family), w: Świat Orientu - Orient w świecie, red. A. Bareja-Starzyńska, P. Balcerowicz, J. Rogala, WUW, Warszawa 2010, s. 218-239;
- Pałasz-Rutkowska E., Starecka K., Japonia. Historia państw świata w XX wieku (Japan. History of the world's countries in the 20th century), red. naukowa E. Pałasz-Rutkowska, Wydawnictwo Trio, Warszawa 2004;
- The Emperors of Modern Japan, ed. B. A. Shillony, BRILL, Leiden, Boston 2008
- Titus, David, Palace and Politics in Prewar Japan, Columbia University Press, NY 1974
- Tubielewicz, Jolanta, Od mitu do historii (From myth to history), oprac. E. Pałasz-Rutkowska, Wydawnictwo Trio, Warszawa 2006

Additional information

Information on level of this course, year of study and semester when the course unit is delivered, types and amount of class hours - can be found in course structure diagrams of apropriate study programmes. This course is related to the following study programmes: