Figure 1.--Crown Prince Akahito married a commoner, Michiko Shoda, in 1959. Here are two of their three children in 1966. Naruhito (1960- ) and Akishino (1965- ). |
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Asia like Europe was governed by monarchies. We know less about them because they have not been well covered by Western historians. Of course Asian history has been dominated by China and the Chinese emperors and their dynadsties. In fact when Chinese emperors were strong they impacted Western history as well because they drove the war-like tribes of Central Asia west. The Chinese monarchy proved to be an impediment to modnization in contrast to Japan where it led the modernization of the country. The longest surviving modern monarchy is that of Japan. The Japanese monarchy used Shinto and emperor worship to launch the disaterous Pacific War, but the emperor survived. Indian monarchs have also played important roles, although here due the sub-Continents political fragmentation, the historical accont is more complicated.
Assam or Vietnam also, like China, also had an emperor. The Vietnamese were more like kings, but because the Vietnamese did not want to be seen as of a lesser rank than the Chinese imperial monarchy, the monarch was also styled an emperor. The emperial capital was located at Hue. The French tried to ruke Vietnam which they called Indochina theough a colonil regime using the emperor as a figurehead. The Vietnamese emporors, however, proved to be difficult to manage.
The Kymer once dominated Southeast Asia from Angkor Wat in western Canbodia. We have no information on Cambodia's long royal line. The only monarch we know about at this time is long reigning King Sihanouk. Cambodia at the time was part of French Indochina. The French placed him on the throne (1941).
Perhaps the most fabled royal dynasties, certainly in Asia, are those of China. Once Chianaas unified, much of modern history have been affected by the Chinese emperors and developments in China. Several of the dynasties have been foreign. The last dynasty was the Manchu (Qing) and the last Manchu emperor was Puyi.
Indian royal lines are an extremely complicated topic. There have been many Indian kingdomes. The most important was the empire established by the Islamic Mogul invaders who for the first time united most of India. For a brief moment in time it looked like one of the Mogul emperors was suceeding in establishing a highly tolerant multi-cultural India. Hid descendents, however, embraced less-tolerant Islamic vision fir India. By the time the British arrived in India, the Mogul emperor in Deli had lost most of his authority. India was divided into many small principalities. We have not yet assessed these principalities. In addition there was the Aga Kahn who was a hereditary Islamic religious leader. When Indias became a republic at independence (1947), the princes or nabobs surrendered their authority to the republic.
The Japanese imperial family is the world's oldest hereditary monarchy.. Emperors were, and are known by the name, or names of their reigns. The current reigning Emperor, Akihito is number 125 in the unbroken chain of sucession. The first was, Jimmu (660-585 B.C.). The Japanese word for Emperor is Tenno. Since the foundation of Japan in about 600 BC, The Imperial Household of Japan (in Japanese, Koshitsu) has been keep the unbroken line of the Family and Emperors as the only dynasty in Japan for over 2600 years. More than 90 percent of Japanese people reportedly support the Imperial Household and His Majesty the Emperor. The Imperial family in a very real sence has become the modern symbol of the unity of the Japanese nation. For a long term of the periods of Japan, the Emperor has been a mere figurehead and real power was yielded by a series of military shogans. Even through this period, however, the dynastic chain remained unbroken and the Emperor's continued to be vernerated by the Japanese peolple. To understand Japan, it is necessary to know about the Imperial family. The first article of the Japanese constitution states that "the Emperor shall be the symbol of the State and of the unity of them people, deriving his position from the will of the people with whom resides sovereign power." This established a new role for the Japanese Imperial Family in Japanese society, bringing into line with that of royal families in most other countries. As most other present-day royal or Imperial Heads of State, the Japanese Emperor has no powers related to government, and can only act in matters of the state as described in the constitution. (Article 4), the Emperor performs official duties such as the promulgation of laws and treaties, convoking the Diet, proclamation of general elections, awarding of honours, etc. with the advice and approval of the Cabinet (Article 7).
The Thai monarchy is little knowm outside of Southeast Asia. All that most Westerners know is that there was a Thai monarchy as a result of the wonderful play and movie: "Ana and the King of Siam"/"The King and I". The Chakrias are the current reigning dynasty. The dynasty has reigned since 1782. In the more than two centuries there have been nine reigning kings, a remarkably small number. Each of the Chakria kings has taken the name Rama. The famous king in the "King and I" was King Chulalongkorn (Rama V). Chulalongkorn took many steps to modernize the country and prevent seizure by the European colonial powers. Thialand (then called Siam) was located between British Burma to the west and Frech Indochina to the east. He abolished slavery among other modernizing steps. He was succeeded by two of his sons, first Vajiravudh (1910) and Prajadhipok (1925). King Prajadhipok died unexpectedly (1935). The crown then passed to to Prajadhipok's nephew--Ananda Mahidol. King Mahidol was assasinated (1946). The throne then passed to his younger brother--Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX). He is greatly revered in Thailand although his real power is limited. The king and Queen Sirikit married in 1950. King Adulyadej is still the Thai monarch, the longest reigning living monarch. The royal couple have four children, including the Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn, who is heir to the throne.
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