Final answer:
Japan selectively adopted European ideas during the Edo period to maintain sovereignty and cultural integrity while benefiting from Western technology and knowledge. The stance of isolation versus selective integration with the West was influenced by the need to industrialize, maintain the social order, and address internal and external pressures until forced interactions ultimately led to Japan's more open engagement in global affairs.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the 17th and 18th centuries, Japan adopted certain European ideas while rejecting others as a means to maintain sovereignty and cultural identity while also benefiting from selected aspects of Western technology and knowledge. The Edo period under the Tokugawa shogunate saw a policy of isolation, yet trade was carefully maintained through specified ports and Europeans were largely kept at bay to minimize foreign influences. However, knowledge from the Dutch on Dejima, known as "Dutch learning," was an exception—in areas like medicine, science, and technology, Europeans provided a wealth of information that was selectively integrated into Japanese society. This careful adoption of European ideas was influenced by several factors, including the arrival of Western colonial powers in Asia, the subsequent need to industrialize, and internal class dynamics and social order that shaped Japanese policies.
While Japan sought to preserve its cultural integrity and prevent the spread of Christianity by banning Europeans and their religious texts, the government showed pragmatism by allowing the introduction of firearms and selectively incorporating Western scientific and medical knowledge, recognizing its utility for Japan's development.