by Angela Xie Sun Yat-sen (1866-1925) was a notable Chinese revolutionary and politician who was instrumental in deposing the Qing Dynasty and establishing the Republic of China. While Sun Yat-sen is known as the father of modern China, very little is known of his strong ties with modernized Japan, which affected his political theory and revolutionary activity.
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by Jolin Chan The Chinese diaspora has a long, complex history, encompassing six continents spanning hundreds of years. The simple categorization of Chinese immigrants as "overseas Chinese" often belies the multiplicity and heterogeneity of the group, as well as the many forces that influenced their movement, including colonialism, imperialism, and war. These forces pushed them to all parts of the globe, from Peru to Malaysia, and at the same time, they brought their language, food, traditions, and beliefs along with them—but not without facing resentment and xenophobia.
by Angela Xie In the movie The Last Emperor, directed by Bernardo Bertolucci, the last Chinese emperor, Puyi, had a traumatic life due to political unrest and the fall of the Qing Dynasty. The government showed a very negative attitude towards Western ideas, which made the whole Chinese society very isolated and detached from the industrialized world. When Puyi got his first pair of nearsighted glasses, everyone was shocked and very upset that the young emperor accepted something from the West as they believed that the Westerners were "barbarians" who were less cultured than the Chinese. This post examines the factors that weakened the authority of the Qing Dynasty and how that led to its eventual downfall, primarily focusing on the resistance to industrialization and modernization. by Maggie Murray The Tokyo Tribunal (1946 -1948) found 28 Japanese military officers guilty of committing war crimes. While the Tokyo Tribunal is regarded as having prosecuted the most egregious cases, subsequent trials across the United States and other countries worldwide implicated more than 5,000 Japanese war criminals.[1] However, in 1958, all imprisoned Japanese war criminals were released.[2] Not only were most sentences left uncompleted, but the United States covered up certain atrocities, and those involved never faced trial. by Angela Xie Born on November 13, 1896, Kishi Nobusuke was a prominent Japanese political leader from a family with roots in the Meiji Restoration. Growing up in a small town in Japan, Kishi Nobusuke seemed to have little chance to rule Manchuria and Japan when he got older; nobody would connect him with the prime minister of Japan. However, he eventually pursued his dream of becoming a government official who aimed at modernizing Japan. Kishi was easily one of the most controversial characters of the 20th century as he went from a Class A War Criminal after WW2 to prime minister of Japan within ten years. by Maggie Murray Ambitious and deeply patriotic, Margaret Chung was the first practicing Asian American female physician. Coming from an impoverished background, Chung succeeded in medical school and started her own practice in the male-dominated field. When the Japanese invaded Manchuria in 1931, Chung became deeply invested in the war effort and assumed her role as 'Mom Chung.' and became the surrogate mother for hundreds of U.S. soldiers. Becoming 'Mom Chung' was not a straightforward journey but resulted from unwavering effort and determination. by Emma Sampson-Green In the annals of Hollywood history, only a few actors have managed to transcend racial barriers and achieve international fame. One such trailblazer was Anna May Wong, the first Chinese-American actress to impact the big screen during the 20th century significantly. Beyond her remarkable contributions to the entertainment industry, Wong was also a fervent advocate for the China Relief Fund. This charitable endeavor aimed to provide aid and support to China during World War II, using her fame to support this critical humanitarian cause during a tumultuous historical period. In this article, we will delve into the life of Anna May Wong and her remarkable efforts in supporting the China Relief Fund. by Maggie Murray Saionji Kimnochi, the last Genro with an everlasting impact on Imperial Japan, was born in Kyoto in 1849. Biologically the son of Tokudajiji Kinzumi, Prince Saionji was adopted into the Saionji family, a relative and childless kuge(公家) family of similar status. A kuge was a Japanese aristocratic class that dominated the Japanese Imperial Court in Kyoto. As a young child, Saionji was appointed Chamberlain and became a Minor General of the Right Imperial Guard. While his official duties were minimal, it was through this position Saionji became acquainted with and the playmate of the future Meiji Emperor, Mutsuhito. [1] by Jenna Marcus Overview Shigenori Togo was Japan’s minister of foreign affairs at both the beginning and end of the Japanese-Allied conflict during World War II.[1] Opposed to war, Togo, in 1941, unsuccessfully tried to arrange face-to-face negotiations between US President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Japanese Prime Minister Fumimaro Konoe to prevent the outbreak of armed conflict.[2] His efforts, however, were ultimately unsuccessful. Togo resigned in 1942 but was asked to again become foreign minister in 1945. During this time, Togo was a strong advocate for the Japanese surrender, though his efforts again failed.[3] by Sean Wu The vast expanse of the world's oceans has always presented unique challenges for naval warfare. Nations have continuously developed advanced weaponry to overcome these challenges and maintain supremacy at sea, including in the underwater domain. Among the weapons produced in World War 2, the Type 93 Torpedo stands out as a formidable piece of naval technology due to its unique features, capabilities, and historical significance. Even though this new technology helped Japan sink many ships, its advantages would also be its downfall after a miracle discovery by the US Navy and scientists. |