[Molly Cowan-Johnson]

I will be missing the Saturday double session on May 14th for a family graduation. So I attended two different things. I attended a virtual tour of the Hare with the Amber Eyes, which is an exhibit of Japanese netsuke in the Jewish Museum of New York. The focus of the exhibit is art collection of the Ephrussi family, a Jewish banking family originally from Odessa, in modern Ukraine. The presentation discussed the craftmanship and purpose of the nastuke as an anchor for purses on the obi belt. The presentation also emphasized the influence of Japanese art in the 1800s after Japan opened after the Meiji Restoration. It was interesting to have side by side comparisons of Japanese artwork and the great painters of the Impressionist era painters in France like Vincent Van Gogh who kind of copied several Japanese works…. The later part of the presentation discussed the impacts of the Holocaust and how the natsukes were saved (264 of them). And then the journey of Ignace Ephrussi taking the natsukes and moving to Japan in 1947. And then eventually the natsukes coming into the possession of Edmund de Waal. It is interesting to imagine and think about the journey such tiny artifacts could be through. From their origin to being purchased by European art collectors, passed down through generations, returned to Japan and now in a museum in New York. It does make me wonder about what exactly the circumstances of their procurement of such pieces when there has been a lot of discussion globally about looted artwork during the age of Imperialism.

[Molly Cowan-Johnson]

I had some questions following our discussion.

We discussed how the Buddhist sects would gain power. Professor Dube talked about how they gained prominence which seems like how the Catholic Church gained prominence and influence all over Europe. What are the differences with Japanese Buddhism that allows for warrior monks, when Buddhism is against violence?

How then are some of the rulers or power players able to obliterate some of the Buddhist temples like Oda Nobunaga? How prominent is religion in the commoner’s lives that this wouldn’t result in uprisings like we saw in Europe with Protestant reformation?

Also, curious to know what people think will happen to the Japanese royal family in the future. The laws surrounding the succession and the royal family are pretty tight and have led to some issues if there isn’t a male heir. We’ve seen two of the princesses give up their royal titles to marry commoners and right now there is only one male heir under the age of 50 and what if he doesn’t have any sons. You would think by now the idea of a female ruler wouldn’t be that big of an issue….

[Molly Cowan-Johnson]

As I was working through the content this week over Japan, I couldn’t help but notice some interesting comparisons. My students always struggle with non-western history for many reasons but making comparisons is something we use not only has a historical skill in AP World history but also to make big picture connections across time and space. I thought Ashikaga Yoshinori sounded a LOT like Richard II of England in the way they rule and how their vassals perceive them and eventually their sticky end. But it is also a common occurrence leading into a time of political instability. In Japan it will lead into the Onin war and in England the War of the Roses.   

Another interesting comparison I noticed was the shifting war of women was also very similar to the shift in Europe. In class we discuss the role of women during the High Middle Ages and how because men were frequently gone women shouldered a lot of the burden of business, farming, and in some cases governing but once that turbulent time ended the cultural shift that saw women delegated to more menial tasks in society. When I discuss Japan with my students I always emphasis the social classes and that the samurai are social class and there are women in that social class who are taught to fight and defend their home. That is a major difference with Europe, there weren’t any shield maidens in Europe….

One thing from Professors Pitelka’s presentation about the Tokugawa era, he noted Tokugawa Ieyasu’s rule as almost like an absolute monarch. When I teach this I usually include Tokugawa Ieyasu as an absolute monarch. We usually use Louis XIV as the standard of absolutism and compare other rulers against him.  

[Molly Cowan-Johnson]

I think that some of these artifacts show that the Mongols recognized the traditions of the places they conquer and the innovations they can take advantage of like the preservation of the Rice cultivation artwork. If you think about it, of course they would embrace technology and systems already set up. The Mongols were a nomadic people who aren’t adept in farming so why would they want to change anything when they take over? The Ottomans are a good comparison, another nomadic people expect far less tolerant of religious and cultural differences…. For their far-flung empire, the Mongols were malleable in their approach for the areas they take over once they take it over. In my AP World history class, we look at how the Mongols shape and are shaped but the people they take over like in some of the Middle Eastern areas they take over where they kind of assimilate into the population.

I have questions about the last one, the Chess game. The description says the Iranians are dressed in Mongol costume, why? Are they some of the Mongol Khans in the Middle East? Are they people like Timur or Babur who claimed descent from the Mongols? Or is just a way to be identified on the same level of the Mongols? Or is it the artist trying to liken them to the Mongols?

[Molly Cowan-Johnson]

I want to state from the beginning....I am not a philosophy fan of any kind. I find these Chinese philosophies easier to digest than some existentialism from other philosophies. I understand thoroughly that these were a reaction to the Warring States era and basically looking to answer the question “How do we create an orderly society?” So I understand the basis for these philosophies trying to tackle the idea of setting up an order to society. It explains why each of these deal with social setup, law, and order. I get the overall picture but I struggle with the finer interpretations and purposes with some of these.

[Molly Cowan-Johnson]

I have often taught about Japan's declining population as an example in my class. After our discussion this evening about changing perspectives especially of our American students, I thought more about the aging population. I was surprised about China facing a declining population. I think that is something that we don’t often consider given China’s LARGE population especially with their relatively recent limits on family size. I plan to incorporate this discussion in my Modern World History class in our final unit which is the contemporary world, when we discuss the future changes in the world. When the world population is larger than it has EVER been, why is it a bad thing for the population to decline, in specific states and globally? 

[Molly Cowan-Johnson]

Hello Everyone,

My name Molly Cowan-Johnson. I teach Modern World History, AP World History, and Sociology outside of Kansas City. Besides teaching, I do a lot of things including photography and bagpiping. My husband, Clay, and I also love to travel, all over the United States, and internationally including Spain, Japan, and Peru. I have two corgis, Roland and Llewellyn and an old Bassett named Lily.  I wanted to attend this seminar because I love studying Asian history but didn't have the opportunity to do so either high school or college. I have read a lot of books, primarily on Japanese history, I still feel as if my comprehensive understanding of Asian history is lacking. I attached one of my favorite photos from our last trek through Japan, the view of Mt. Fuji from the Yamanaka Castle Ruins. 

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