In this book David Wittner situates Japan s Meiji Era experience
of technology transfer and industrial modernization within the
realm of culture, politics, and symbolism, examining how nineteenth
century beliefs in civilization and enlightenment influenced the
process of technological choice.
Through case studies of the iron and silk industries, Wittner
argues that the Meiji government s guiding principle was not simply
economic development or providing a technical model for private
industry as is commonly claimed. Choice of technique was based on
the ability of a technological artifact to import Western
"civilization" to Japan: Meiji officials technological choices were
firmly situated within perceptions of authority, modernity, and
their varying political agendas. Technological artifacts could also
be used as instruments of political legitimization. By late the
Meiji Era, the former icons of Western civilization had been
transformed into the symbols of Japanese industrial and military
might.
A fresh and engaging re-examination of Japanese
industrialization within the larger framework of the Meiji Era,
this book will appeal to scholars and students of science,
technology, and society as well as Japanese history and
culture.
General
Is the information for this product incomplete, wrong or inappropriate?
Let us know about it.
Does this product have an incorrect or missing image?
Send us a new image.
Is this product missing categories?
Add more categories.
Review This Product
No reviews yet - be the first to create one!