SDHF Newsletter No.204 KO BUNYU’s Defining History 7

KO BUN’YU’S DEFINING HISTORY
A macroscopic analysis of the differences among the histories of
East Asian nations: Japan, China, Taiwan, and Korea
No.7- Chapter 6: How Japan Can Win the History Wars Instigated by China

March 19, 2018

What is a “history war”? A history war refers to one nation dwelling on another nation’s past in order to denounce and demean it. This is followed by demands for “repentance and apology”, and even reparations.
It is important to remember that the outcome of a history war cannot alter the past. What can be influenced, however, is the future. Even if some facts of the past are worthy of censure, continually opening old wounds in the present day is a different matter. Denouncing historical incidents of the distant past serves no purpose unless one’s goal is to resolve a present-day problem. Without a currently relevant issue, dragging up old history is denunciation merely for the sake of denunciation, which does no good for countries either doing the denouncing or the countries being denounced.
Since accusations instigated by China are mostly NOT factually based but based on fabrications, there are may ways to counter their attacks. In this regard, Mr. Ko Bunyu proposes several approaches. First, one needs to develop a broad historical perspective and second, this might seem strange to foreigners, to win the history wars at home. Third, utilize the UN and other international organizations, and finally, resolve territorial disputes at the UN.
However, the history war itself should be terminated, because it is not at all constructive to simply dredge up matters of history for the purpose of aspersion and moralizing. It’s one thing to praise something in the past that deserves praise. However, it is quite a different matter to expressly single out for denunciation certain incidents from another country’s past, even if the incidents really deserve condemnation.

URL: https://www.sdh-fact.com/book-article/1140/

PDF: https://www.sdh-fact.com/CL/KO-BUNYU-No.7.pdf

Links to No. 1 to No.6 of this series are listed below:

No.1 Forward & TOC
https://www.sdh-fact.com/CL/KO-BUNYU-No.1.pdf
No. 2 Ch. 1 Defining History
https://www.sdh-fact.com/CL/KO-BUNYU-No.2.pdf
No. 3 Ch. 2 Principles of Chinese Civilization
https://www.sdh-fact.com/CL/KO-BUNYU-No.3.pdf

No. 4 Ch. 3 The Brutal History of Chinese Warfare
https://www.sdh-fact.com/CL/KO-BUNYU-No.4.pdf

No. 5 Ch. 4 Japanese History: Progress Without Murder
https://www.sdh-fact.com/CL/KO-BUNYU-No.5.pdf

No. 6 Ch. 5 Emperor System Paves Way for Peaceful Progress in Japan
https://www.sdh-fact.com/CL/KO-BUNYU-No.6.pdf

Questions are welcome.

MOTEKI Hiromichi, Acting Chairman
for KASE Hideaki, Chairman
Society for the Dissemination of Historical Fact