New History Textbook (Chapter 4 & 5) 2005 version - Bakumatsu Films

What It Means To Study History
The History Our Ancestors Lived
Most people may believe that the reason for studying history is to learn what happened in the past,
but that is not necessarily correct. A more accurate definition of history as a discipline is learning
how people of the past lived in the context of the events of the past — what they believed, what
caused them pain, and how they overcame difficulties.
The history you are about to study is the history of Japan. In other words, you will be familiarizing
yourselves with the stories of your ancestors — your blood relatives. Your closest ancestors are
your parents, who were preceded by your four grandparents. As you go back further in time, the
number of ancestors increases with each generation. Then you realize that the humans who
populated the Japanese Archipelago are ancestors you share with the other students in your
classroom. In every era, Japanese history was made by ancestors common to all of us.
Traditions of the Japanese Civilization
Every nation in the world has a unique history; Japan is no exception. From time immemorial, our
land has been the wellspring of civilization and unique traditions. In ancient times, the Japanese
studied and appreciated the civilization that arose in China, but they never lost sight of their own
traditions. Over the centuries, they built an independent nation. To see our ancestors’
accomplishments, you need only visit important cultural and historical sites.
In the modern era, the U.S. and Western European nations threatened to engulf East Asia.
But Japan sought harmony with Western civilization — a harmony that could be achieved while
retaining Japanese traditions. As Japan transformed itself into a modern nation, it made every
effort to maintain independence. But those were difficult times, and tension and friction arose
between Japan and other nations. We must be grateful to our ancestors for their unceasing efforts,
which made Japan a wealthy and safe nation (the safest in the world, in fact).
Identifying with Out Ancestors
The most important aspects of studying history are to become knowledgeable about the problems
our ancestors faced throughout history, and to imagine what you might have done in their place.
Then you will see that historical facts are not simply disconnected events to be memorized. You
will awaken to people’s hopes and inspirations, and the connection between one event and others.
The more you delve into history, the more likely you are to make unexpected discoveries and to
develop the ability to see events from different perspectives.
When you study history, you are holding a conversation with people of the past — a conversation
that looks to the future.
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