PAN-ASIANISM: OKAKURA TENSHIN (KAKUZŌ) AND HIS PERCEPTION OF ASIA

Year 2023, , 759 - 774, 30.11.2023

Emine Sicim Kaplan

https://doi.org/10.9737/historystudies.1329115

Abstract

Okakura Tenshin (Kakuzō), one of the important thinkers of the Meiji Period, aimed to introduce Asian and the society, art, history and culture of Japan to the Western world by writing works in English throughout his life. As a matter of fact, he achieved his goal and became very popular in Europe and America after his works were published. On the other hand, he was not well known in Japan when he was alive, due to the fact that he did not produce works in native language. So he gained fame after his death. His thoughts attracted the attention of nationalist groups. Especially while the rhetoric of “Asia is one” was the key word of the Greater East Asian War, Okakura was described as a Pan-Asianist. Afterwards, his works started to be translated into Japanese one by one and Okakura became known by the Japanese society. The interesting point is that although he mostly wrote about art, Okakura was described as a Pan-Asianist. Also even though he was not alive when the World War II began, he was declared a war criminal. At this point, the following questions arise: What did Okakura really want to convey in his works? Is it really possible to qualify him as Pan-Asian, as stated? What did he actually mean by his famuos rhetoric of “Asia is one”, which made him known worldwide? In our study, firstly these questions will be try to find answers. And then whether Okakura is a Pan-Asianist or not and his perception of Asia will be examined through his works.

Keywords

Okakura Tenshin, Okakura Tenshin, Okakura Tenshin, Kakuzō, Kakuzō

PAN-ASYACILIK: OKAKURA TENSHİN (KAKUZŌ) VE ASYA ALGISI

Abstract

Meiji Dönemi önemli düşünürlerinden biri olan Okakura Tenshin (Kakuzō) hayatı boyunca İngilizce’de eser vererek Asya ve Japon toplumunu, sanatını, tarihini ve kültürünü Batı dünyasına tanıtmaya kendisine amaç edinmiştir. Nitekim hedefine ulaşmış, eserleri yayımlandıktan sonra Avrupa ve Amerika’da oldukça popüler olmuştur. Buna karşın ana dilinde eser vermemesinden dolayı hayattayken Japonya’da pek fazla tanınmamış, ölümünden sonra ün kazanmıştır. Onun düşünceleri milliyetçi grupların dikkatini çekmiş, özellikle “Asya tektir.” söylemi Büyük Doğu Asya Savaşı’nın kilit sözcüğü olurken Okakura da Pan-Asyacı olarak nitelendirilmiştir. Ardından eserleri tek tek Japonca’ya çevrilmeye başlanmış ve haliyle Okakura da Japon toplumu tarafından tanınır hale gelmiştir. İlginç olan nokta ise daha çok sanatla ilgili yazmasına rağmen Okakura’nın Pan-Asyacı olarak nitelendirilmesi ve II. Dünya Savaşı başladığında hayatta olmamasına karşın savaş suçlusu olarak ilan edilmesidir. Bu noktada karşımıza şu sorular çıkmaktadır: Okakura’nın eserlerinde asıl anlatmak istediği neydi? Gerçekten belirtildiği gibi onu Pan-Asyacı olarak nitelendirmek mümkün müdür? Dünyaca tanınmasını sağlayan “Asya tektir.” söylemi ile aslında kendisi ne anlatmak istemiştir? Çalışmamızda öncelikle sorulan sorulara cevaplar aranmaya çalışılarak, Okakura’nın Pan-Asyacı olup olmadığı ve Asya algısı eserleri üzerinden irdelenecektir.

Keywords

Pan-Asyacılık, Asya, Japonya, Okakura Tenshin, Okakura Tenshin, Kakuzō, Kakuzō, Kakuzō, Kakuzō

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