Negotiations Between Japan, China, and Korea

Japanese military and political conflict within East Asia began with disputes over control of the Korean peninsula, as dramatized here in a print meant for Japanese audiences. The Japanese military commanders are easily identified because they wear Western-style military dress, a preference also shown in the nearby portrait of the Meiji royal family. Japan evolved to meet challenges arising from Western imperialism in the mid-19th century by adopting political and economic mindsets introduced by the West. Here the Japanese diplomats stand in contrast to the seated Chinese and Korean diplomats clothed in traditional garb. Together, they engage in negotiations over the Chinese presence in Korea. The failure of these negotiations brought about the first Sino-Japanese War (1894-95). -Written by Adam Kuehnl