| Shibusawa Eiichi is an influential figure in Japanese modern history and is widely recognized as the "Father of Japanese Capitalism. Primarily based on Shibusawa Eiichi Biographical Materials, the paper adopts a theoretical framework focusing on the relations between Kingly Way and Despotism to examine Shibusawa Eiichi’s perception toward China and his practices in China in various fields such as business, diplomacy, charity and education. By investigating the reciprocal process between Shibusawa and China, the paper probes deeper and attempts to reflect certain traits of the complex China- Japan relations in modern history from Shibusawa’s perspective.Shibusawa Eiichi was born in a wealthy peasant family. Not only did he receive Confucianism education at a relatively young age, he was also deeply influenced by the commercial ethics of his family business. As Shibusawa grew up, he visited Europe to broaden his horizon, and served as an economic advisor in Meiji government after he came back. He then resigned from governmental position, and bent his efforts for the establishment of a series of Japanese modern enterprises and institutions, thus earning him an unparalleled reputation in Japanese modern industrial history. In addition, he also made a good name in the areas of education, charity, and non-governmental diplomacy in modern Japan, and more importantly developed his renowned theory on morality of entrepreneurship---- so called "the Analects and the Abacus". He insisted that commerce was not invariably incompatible with moral principles; economy could not grow without the moral guide, and to maximize the benefit of the society, commerce would have to comply with moral principles.Shibusawa passed by Shanghai on the way to Europe in 1868, and this brief encounter impressed him with a declining China. When he came to China the second time ten years later, his purpose is to negotiate with Chinese authority about providing loans to China. Though the two negotiations failed eventually, Shibusawa became aware of the importance of Chinese market, and launched a series of business ventures in China from then on. Japan did not adopt expansionist policy toward China prior to the outbreak of the Sino- Japanese War in 1894, and Shibusawa’s endeavors were mostly ordinary trade of merchandise. However, Japan’s victory in the war changed the situation, thus giving rise to different expansionist views such as "departure from Asia for Europe", "leading East Asia". Influenced by the political climate, Shibusawa’s attitude was also characteristic of Japanese active expansionism instead of the cautious hesitation and calculation. He not only started several investigations into China, but also interfered with the establishment and financing of many enterprises and banks such as Hunan Steamship Company, Ri-Qing Steamship Company, Donghua Textile Company, Ri-Qing Bank, and East Asian Industrial Bank. At the beginning of 20th century, the process of Japanese expansion in China was facing challenges not simply from Chinese domestic resistance, but from the competition with Western Powers and Japan’s poorer financial capacity. To find a solution, Shibusawa conceived of a plan to exploit China together with the western Powers, and endeavored to put it into practice. On one hand, he proposed to US government that Japan and America should jointly build a bank in China; on the other hand, he came to Peking in person to negotiate with the Qing government about the founding of the Chinese Industrial Company which was known later as the Zhong-Ri Industrial Company. As things turned out, the actual operation of the company was considered problematic, and the banking plan went in vain in the end. The claim of "Co-managing China" sounded just though; it was another method of expansionism in nature. "Do unto others as you would have done unto you", as Shibusawa cited from the Analects and proclaimed that business should be done in a moral method; his activities in China contrarily unmasked his enthusiasm for a strong and imperial Japan.In terms of diplomacy toward China, Shibusawa criticized Japanese government for its changeable tactics which would easily cause the dissatisfaction and revolt of Chinese people. He thus put forward diplomatic ideas of "loyalty’’(忠恕)and "Respect"(敬爱),and played an active role in the "folk diplomacy’’(民间外交)with China. The Ri-Hua Industrial Association, in which Shibusawa was appointed the president, came into being under such circumstances. Taking the association as his basis, Shibusawa had the opportunities to converse closely with many important figures in politics and business such as Sun Yat-sen, Chiang Kai-shek, Zhang Jian, Yu Qiaqing. Yet the association could not serve as a conflict-solving mechanism between China and Japan, and its incapability was best expressed in such issues as the abolishment of the unequal treaties, the modification of tariff and the Anti-Japanese nationalist movement. In addition, the association was built on maintaining Japan’s vested interest, and it could not effectively apply to Shibusawa’s diplomatic ideas.It was usually normal to see in Shibusawa’s activities in China that his investment in charity and his approval for Japan’s militia expansion formed the two-fold character of Shibusawa’s thoughts:the Kingly Way and Despotism. Of course, it was believed that there was concrete interest behind his philanthropy; it was also fair to say that his charitable work conveyed his diplomatic ideas and his belief in "Kingly Way". He provided financial assistance to Chinese victims in several natural disasters and supported Chinese students studying in Japan in various forms; he once planned to establish the Qingdao School of Business, and participated in funding the Xue Yi University in Shanghai. On the contrary, his "despotism" trait in Shibusawa was incarnated in his attitude toward Japanese imperial expansion. He overtly supported several military intrusions to China, and in general he approved the imperialist policy adopted by Japanese government. Nonetheless, the contrast of the two features about Shibusawa’s thoughts was not beyond understanding. Behind all the activities lied the economic interest of his own business or the national interest of Japan; even the financial aids and philanthropy work in some degree functioned as a tool of accelerating the Japan’s economic interest.To sum up, Shibusawa Eiichi’s perception of China were characteristic of the combination of the Kingly Way and Despotism. Engrossed in Chinese cultural classics at a relatively young age, Shibusawa tried to apply the Kingly Way to the "folk diplomacy" and disapproved the foreign policy that Japanese government adopted and Japanese militarism toward East Asian countries. He believed in the ideas of "Loyalty" and "Respect", and through philanthropy and economic, cultural interactions with Chinese celebrities he attempted to put the Kingly Way into practice. However, the notion of Kingly Way itself was obvious of the nationalist sentiment and was not built on the basis of equality of all nation states. His aggressive business ventures in China corresponded with Japan’s expansionist foreign policy, and objectively accelerated the process of Japanese Imperialism in 20th century. |
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