History is written by the victors

It is said that history is written by the victors. On the other hand, it is also said that the smallest worm turns, being trod on. In other words, losers can become winners, and vice-versa. So, over time, history may look very different indeed in both books and films, as those who were winners become losers, and the losers themselves start rewriting history. I've been watching a Russian version of a move produced in 2010 about Japanese government just before Admiral Perry's "black ships" bombarded Yokohama Harbor, to "open up" the Japanese to trade with the West. It's called 13 Assassins. Now, the Russians are particularly notable for radically altering their perspectives on their history every few decades or so, as they adopt radically different approaches to government itself. So, they particularly enjoy seeing representations of other governments from other societies, that look as bad, or worse, than their own, since they are very well aware of the serious problems with Russian governments over the centuries. And, I'm quite sure they enjoyed this particular film a great deal, indeed, because it basically portrays the entire Samurai tradition as simply bloodthirsty, lustful, murdering, raping and destroying, for no purpose whatsoever, start to finish. Maybe the intention was to appeal to Americans, by suggesting maybe the assault on Japan by Admiral Perry wasn't such a bad thing after all. Actually, the Japanese do tend to portray this American nineteenth century military intervention as if it were some kind of a benevolent action, in general. Maybe they accept as a nation that they were by no means too well ruled at the time, and needed a change. Certainly, they do not feel the same way about the use A-bombs in WWII against Japan, which they see as the only true war crime of the entire war! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8In8cytL7Fc #philosophy #history #philosophyofhistory #ethics #Japan #Russia #sociology #government