Why did China and Japan reject Westernization only later to adopt it?

Question

I've been studying a little bit of history and I know that the Chinese and Japanese like to think of themselves as a great and powerful culture with a rich history.

However, when Europeans first arrived in their lands, they were not interested in adapting European culture or technology. But as the Europeans progressed, they eventually decided they had to modernize. (Japan being first because of their imperial ambitions and forced relations with the United States.)

So, did they decide that their forefathers were incorrect to shun the Western way of life?

Answer 1

It would not have been honorable, or possible for the Asians to adopt western culture when the Europeans arrived. The Europeans didn't even take baths! Western military technology however was too much to ignore.
They didn't like the idea, but were forced to deal with the barbarians. So I believe that they still feel that their forefathers were correct in avoiding a culture that conflicted with their values.

Answer 2

I think that many Japanese and Chinese respect their forefathers for preserving the old ways for as long as possible. However, it eventually came to the point where it was absolutely essential to modernize, or else they would be walked all over by the western world.

Answer 3

Not really.

Both china and japan was forced to open their markets to western goods;
China in the Opium wars, and Japan by threat of naval shelling by the US navy in 1854.

After this was a fact, the Japanese eagerly sought to become a industrial nation, while the chinese where more reluctant to modernize.

Answer 4

JAPAN EMBRACED THE BEST THE WEST HAD TO OFFER BECAUSE THEY HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO CHANGE IF THEY WISHED TO SURVIVE. CHINA WAS BULLIED BY THE WESTERN NATIONS WHO CHOPPED LITTLE PORTIONS OFF FOR THEMSELVES, MACAO (PORTUGAL) HONG KONG (GREAT BRITAIN) BEING THE MOST FAMOUS EXAMPLE.
BEAR IN MIND MOST CHINESE ADOPTED WESTERN IDEAS SLOWLY WHILE JAPAN HAD TWO POWERFUL FACTIONS THAT STRUGGLED FOR CONTROL OF JAPAN, THE WINNERS CREATED THE MEIJI RESTORATION AND ABOLISHED THE OLD WAY OF GOVERNMENT DEPOSING THE TOKUGAWA SHOGUNATE WHICH HAD RULED JAPAN FOR OVER 200 YEARS.
CHINA WAS NEVER AS FORTUNATE BECAUSE THE MANCHUS HAD SLOWLY LOST CONTROL OF THE EMPIRE. CHINA WAS ALSO MORE BIGGER AND MORE POPULATED WHICH MADE IT HARDER TO INTRODUCE IDEAS WHICH WOULD BE ACCEPTED BY EVERYONE. JAPAN UNDER THE TOKUGAWA'S RULE WITH THE EXCEPTIONS OF THE PEASANT REBELLIONS WAS A ISLAND NATION UNDER ONE UNITED GOVERNMENT.
THE JAPANESE TOOK THE BEST THE WEST OFFERED AND ADAPTED IT TO SUIT THEIR NEEDS CREATING A STRONG CENTRAL GOVERNMENT, A STRONG NAVY AND SOLID ARMY. THE ARMY OF THE MANCHUS WAS WEAKENED BY THE VARIOUS WARLORDS WHO WERE MORE INTENT ON KEEPING THEIR STATUS, SO UNIFICATION REALLY WAS NOT IN THEIR BEST INTERESTS.
JAPAN REBUILT THEIR MILITARY DOING AWAY WITH THE OLD SAMURAI AND DAIMAYO. THE ARMY WAS OPEN TO ALL AND LOYALTY WAS ALWAYS MORE IMPORTANT TO THE JAPANESE WHO WOULD RATHER COMMIT RITUAL SUICIDE THAN DISHONOR THEMSELVES OR THEIR FAMILIES. CHINESE SOLDIERS DID NOT USUALLY KILL THEMSELVES WHEN THEIR LEADERS WERE KILLED. JAPANESE SOLDIERS DID NOT HESITATE TO DIE.
THIS IS NOT TO SAY THAT THE CHINESE HAD LESS HONOR, BUT THEY DID NOT TAKE IT TO THE EXTREMES THE JAPANESE DID.

Answer 5

People want modernization, not Westernization.

It is possible to have modernization without Westernization.

Would you want to be Easternize?

Answer 6

They were forced to it after WW2

Answer 7

something to do with an Atom Bomb, I think.