Quote:
Originally Posted by DonQuigleone
What about the Sengoku Jidai? Onin War? Meiji Restoration? What about the way Japan was ruled by a feudal warrior class up until relatively recently?
Japan has as much martial achievements as any other country. The Tokugawa Shogunate was generally peaceful, but prior to that the country had almost no long periods of sustained peace.
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Harmony is different from peace. By harmony, it means that the rules of society at the national level are kept at the basic level, and that while there are wars and such, the main rules of society are kept.. Let me discuss your individual points.
Onin War (and aftermath): The "petty" disputes for power while the entire country was going to hell made the Ikkis arise, who were attempting to reestablish the
Sengoku: While there were fighting among ambitious daimyos, most were actually peaceful, and it was an established rule that the subjects (the regular farmers) were not to be touched. Almost all battles were done as "professionally" as possible, meaning only the armies would clash and die, something unlike what usually went on in Europe.
Meiji Restoration: Again, the main problem was that the Shogunate was not living up to the standards imposed upon by society, and with the weakening of power following the coming of the West, the ruling part was changed to continue on.