In Step With the Empire: The Cross-boundary, Overseas Territory Experiences, and National Consciousness of Takahashi Kyouko
Resource
臺大歷史學報, 52, 251-302
Journal
臺大歷史學報
Journal Issue
52
Pages
251-302
Date Issued
2013-12
Date
2013-12
Author(s)
Yen, H.J.
Abstract
This paper looks at the “Middle Class” woman, Takahashi Kyouko (1884-?), and reflects on the role of women in the process of Japanese Imperial expansion. Through case studies, this paper attempts to seek and explain the movement background, trajectory, and experiences, as well as the “cross boundary” and the transformation of national concepts and educational views brought about by Kyouko’s movement.
Kyouko was born into a family with samurai antecedents, and received higher education for women. After studying in Tokyo, she married and traveled as far as Inner Mongolia, Taiwan, and Manchukuo. Behind trajectory of this movement, lay the social changes brought about by the Meiji Restoration, the pioneering consciousness of school education, a husband facing difficulties with work, and the initiative for women’s education. At the same time, Japanese Imperial politics, economics, and territory expansion, were interwoven and impacted by the above internal and external forces.
Kyouko opened a school in Mongolia, was active in the colonial society of Japanese living in Taiwan, and took part in establishing institutions of higher education for women. Along with accumulating experiences in overseas territory (gaichi), and coming into contact with various cultural and educational associations, Kyouko’s national consciousness and educational views were increasingly strengthened. When the “Middle Class” was removed from the fringes of society within Japan, the border lands of the empire provided an area for one to come close to the power center and reach self-actualization. Cultivating and expanding her experiences in Mongolia and Taiwan also influenced her activities after returning to Japan, and they became more intertwined in the movement to Manchukuo. The movement also presented the transformation from “following the husband” and “following the older brother” to “the husband following along with the wife.” Riding on the winds of the time, Kyouko also wrote a book about her experiences abroad, once more explaining her own beliefs and encouraged women to go abroad to break new ground. Kyouko herself also actively took part in the expansion of the empire, and viewed the Japanese Empire from the fringes of the empire itself.
Kyouko’s movement was not only cross-boundary and followed the shift of geographical borders, but at the same time it also was one of social mobility, and crossing over the boundaries of male / female social norms. At the same time, the link between and the dual dilemma of wavering between “home” and “country” can also be seen.
This paper looks at the “Middle Class” woman, Takahashi Kyouko (1884-?), and reflects on the role of women in the process of Japanese Imperial expansion. Through case studies, this paper attempts to seek and explain the movement background, trajectory, and experiences, as well as the “cross boundary” and the transformation of national concepts and educational views brought about by Kyouko’s movement.
Kyouko was born into a family with samurai antecedents, and received higher education for women. After studying in Tokyo, she married and traveled as far as Inner Mongolia, Taiwan, and Manchukuo. Behind trajectory of this movement, lay the social changes brought about by the Meiji Restoration, the pioneering consciousness of school education, a husband facing difficulties with work, and the initiative for women’s education. At the same time, Japanese Imperial politics, economics, and territory expansion, were interwoven and impacted by the above internal and external forces.
Kyouko opened a school in Mongolia, was active in the colonial society of Japanese living in Taiwan, and took part in establishing institutions of higher education for women. Along with accumulating experiences in overseas territory (gaichi), and coming into contact with various cultural and educational associations, Kyouko’s national consciousness and educational views were increasingly strengthened. When the “Middle Class” was removed from the fringes of society within Japan, the border lands of the empire provided an area for one to come close to the power center and reach self-actualization. Cultivating and expanding her experiences in Mongolia and Taiwan also influenced her activities after returning to Japan, and they became more intertwined in the movement to Manchukuo. The movement also presented the transformation from “following the husband” and “following the older brother” to “the husband following along with the wife.” Riding on the winds of the time, Kyouko also wrote a book about her experiences abroad, once more explaining her own beliefs and encouraged women to go abroad to break new ground. Kyouko herself also actively took part in the expansion of the empire, and viewed the Japanese Empire from the fringes of the empire itself.
Kyouko’s movement was not only cross-boundary and followed the shift of geographical borders, but at the same time it also was one of social mobility, and crossing over the boundaries of male / female social norms. At the same time, the link between and the dual dilemma of wavering between “home” and “country” can also be seen.
Subjects
日治時代，在臺日人，中間層女性的移動，高橋鏡子，外地經驗
Japanese Period, Japanese in Taiwan, Movement of Middle Class Women,
Takahashi Kyouko, overseas territory experiences.
Takahashi Kyouko, overseas territory experiences.
SDGs
Type
journal article
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