China always considered itself to be the leading civilization in the world. Japan, its neighbor, borrowed heavily from Chinese culture. The Japanese writing system, religion (Confucianism and Buddhism), and political concepts of empire all originated in China (Fitzgerald). During the nineteenth and early twentieth century, the seeds of nationalism were sown and ultimately gave rise to present-day Japan and China (Bonnon, Gordon).
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Salomon, Alex. Japanese and Chinese Flags. Digital image. A Closer Look at Recent China - Japan Tensions: The Forest Behind the Trees. N.p., 18 Sept. 2002. Web. 27 Dec. 2015.
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