This restoration, which began in 1868, marked the turning point of Japanese history in the modern age. Many historians compare the event with the French Revolution of 1789 and the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917 in Russia.
Restoration leaders took a series of quick steps to build national power under capitalist institutions and quickly push Japan towards regional and world powers.
In its development the Meiji Restoration in 1868 was later identified as an era of major changes in Japan's political, economic, and social affairs. The Meiji period brought modernization and westernization in the country.
Meiji Restoration Background
Since 1603 Japan has been under the authority of the Tokugawa Shogunate. The Shogun holds the highest authority of the state, whose authority is given by the kingdom. While the kingdom only holds symbolic authority like the papacy in Europe.
In this era the condition of Japan was very pathetic. Feudal rule and shogunate iron fist brought Japan into the dark ages for centuries.
Almost the same as other Asian countries, the Japanese economy at that time was still very dependent on agriculture and had very little industry. The country's economic sector was closed with international trade from 1636-1853 (only the Netherlands and China were allowed to trade).
In addition, Japanese military technology is still very backward compared to Western technology, so it is very vulnerable to colonialism.
The Japanese knew that they were far behind the West when an American commander Matthew C. Perry came to Japan in a large warship with weapons and sophisticated technology in 1853. The purpose of the US envoy was to try to make an agreement so that Japan would open up international trade. They did not hesitate to force the local authorities to make the business run smoothly.
After that event, Japanese leader Daimyō Shimazu Nariakira concluded that "if we take the initiative, we can dominate, if not, we will be dominated", which causes Japan to "open its doors to foreign technology." From then on Japan began to be open to taking technological knowledge from the West.
However, the presence of Western influence raises the pros and cons within the circle of the Japanese authorities themselves.
Some samurai revealed that they wanted the expulsion of the foreigner. Others decide that there is much they can learn from strangers and they are in a better position to expel strangers after learning knowledge from strangers. Their slogan is "Eastern Ethics, Western Science."
Satsuma and Choshu who are the shogun opposition group basically do not agree with studying some aspects of the West, but they hope that Japan can form a greater national power and not be subject to Western countries. They also expect the presence of an emperor who is able to bring Japan into a world-respected force.
Satsuma / Choshu Alliance and Boshin War 1868
In 1866, two southern Japanese daimyo regions - Hisamitsu of Satsuma Domain and Kido Takayoshi of Choshu Domain - formed an alliance against the Tokugawa Shogunate which had ruled from Tokyo on behalf of the Emperor since 1603.
Satsuma and Choshu leaders tried to overthrow the Tokugawa shogun and put Emperor Komei to the peak of power. Through the emperor, they felt they could more effectively deal with foreign threats. However, Komei died in January 1867 and his 14-year-old son Mutsuhito ascended to the throne as Emperor Meiji on February 3, 1867.
On November 19, 1867, Tokugawa Yoshinobu resigned from his position as the fifteenth Tokugawa shogun. His resignation officially transferred power to the young emperor, but the shogun did not relinquish the actual control of Japan easily.
When Meiji (trained by rulers Satsuma and Choshu) issued an imperial edict which dissolved the Tokugawa house, the shogun had no choice but to use weapons to fight the emperor. He sent an army of samurai to the imperial city of Kyoto, intending to capture and overthrow the emperor
On January 27, 1868, Yoshinobu's forces clashed with samurai from the Satsuma / Choshu alliance. The battle of Toba-Fushimi which lasted four days ended in a serious defeat to the Tokugawa camp as well as marking the start of the Boshin War.
The war continued until May 1869, but the emperor's army with their more modern weapons and tactics had the upper hand since the beginning of the war.
Tokugawa Yoshinobu surrendered to Saigo Takamori of Satsuma and surrendered the Edo Palace on April 11, 1869. Some more committed samurai and daimyo fought for another month in the strongholds in the north end of the country, even though the Meiji Restoration was unstoppable.
The start of the Meiji Restoration
Once his power was secure, Emperor Meiji (or rather on the advice of his advisers, former daimyo and oligarchs) began to turn Japan into a strong modern state.
The initial objectives of the new government were revealed in the Oath Charter (April 1868):
Establishment of a broad council in various regions, all important issues discussed together
All parties, above and below, must unite in carrying out state affairs.
Ordinary people, as well as central and military officials, must be allowed to do the things they want so they don't get bored.
The old bad policies were abandoned and everything was left based on natural law.
Knowledge must be sought throughout the world in order to strengthen the foundation of imperial power
The first action, taken by the new government in 1868, was to move the imperial capital from Kyōto to the Edo Shogunate capital called Tokyo ("eastern capital").
The administrative reorganization was largely completed in 1871, when the feudal areas were officially abolished and replaced by the prefectural system which still survives today. All feudal class privileges were also abolished.
In 1871 a national army was formed, which was later strengthened two years later by universal statutory law.
In an effort to modernize the military and navy, Meiji headed to western Europe. Delegates were sent to study the European armed forces. At first they were interested in using French weaponry, but later turned to England because it was considered more sophisticated.
The Meiji government then went to England to buy their warships. Most of the Japanese Empire's warships in this early period came from British shipyards.
In the economic field, the new government implemented a policy to unify the monetary and tax system. With the agricultural tax reform of 1873 making agriculture as the country's main source of income.
To create a modern nation, Meiji and his advisers realized that a comprehensive education system was very important. In 1871 a ministry of education was created to carry out educational reforms.
One year later the government introduced the universal education system in the country, which at first modeled on Western learning. Both Japanese men and women are given the right to education.
The revolutionary changes made by the leaders of the restoration, acting on behalf of the emperor, faced challenges in the mid-1870s. The dissatisfied samurai participated in several rebellions against the government, the most famous uprising was led by former recovery hero Saigō Takamori from Satsuma.
Farmers, who did not believe in the new regime and were dissatisfied with agrarian policies, also took part in an uprising that peaked in the 1880s.
These revolts had to be extinguished with difficulty by the newly formed army.
In the same period, a popular movement driven by the introduction of liberal Western ideas emerged. Supporters of the movement are calling for the formation of a constitutional government and broader participation through deliberative assemblies. In response to this pressure, the government issued a statement in 1881 promising a law in 1890.
In 1885 a cabinet system was formed and work to form a constitution began in 1886.
Finally the Meiji Constitution which was presented as a gift from the emperor to the people was officially promulgated in 1889. The constitution formed a bicameral parliament, called (Teikoku Gikai). Teikoku Gikai was chosen through a limited vote. The first election was held the following year, 1890.
Impact of the Meiji Restoration
Economic and social changes are in line with the political transformation of the Meiji period. Although the economy is still dependent on agriculture, industrialization is the main objective of the government which directs the development of strategic industries, transportation and communication.
The first railroad was built in 1872 and by 1890 the country had 1,400 miles of railroad (2,250 km).
Telegraph network was built to connect all major cities in 1880.
Private companies were also encouraged by government financial support and assisted by European-style banking system institutions in 1882.
All these modernization efforts require Western science and technology. As a result westernization was widely promoted.
Despite this massive westerniasmation began to be tightened in the 1880s, when a new appreciation of traditional Japanese values emerged. The impact, although the development of the modern education system is influenced by Western theory and practice, it still emphasizes the traditional values of samurai loyalty and social harmony.
The precepts were codified in 1890 with the enactment of the Great Rescriptor for Education (Kyōiku Chokugo). The same tendency applies in art and literature, where the Western style was first emulated.
In the early 20th century, the goals of the Meiji Restoration have been largely achieved. Japan at that time moved quickly to become a modern industrial country.
An unfair treaty which had granted foreign legal and economic privileges to foreigners through extraterritorialisation was revised in 1894.
In 1902 Japan and Britain formed an alliance (Anglo-Japanese Alliance) to counter the threats posed by Russia against Britain India and the Far East, especially Japanese interests in Korea.
Japan's name is increasingly taken into account by the world after winning two wars (in China in 1894-95 and Russia in 1904-05).
The death of the Meiji emperor in 1912 marked the end of the restoration period. Despite this some important Meiji leaders were brought as old statesmen (genro) in the new regime (1912-26) of the Taishō emperor and continued to try to make Japan a major rival to Western nations.
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