De hevige strijd om Pyongyang tijdens de Chinees-Japanse Oorlog 1894

Migita Toshihide created this woodblock print, depicting the battle of Pyongyang during the First Sino-Japanese War. It's important to recognize this image comes from a time of intense geopolitical struggle and colonial ambition. Japan sought to assert its dominance over Korea, then a tributary state of Qing China, leading to war. The print valorizes the Japanese military, showing their modern weaponry and organized ranks contrasted against what is shown as the chaotic disarray of the Chinese soldiers. The artist's choice to portray the Japanese forces as disciplined heroes reflects the nationalistic fervor of the Meiji era in Japan, which saw an embrace of Western military techniques combined with traditional samurai ideals. Consider the human cost of these battles, often glossed over in such depictions of martial glory. It invites us to reflect on how such images contribute to shaping historical memory.