Meiji Restoration

Elona MacRae

MeijiMeiji Restoration began 3rd January, 1869.Tokugawa Shogun was terminated.Emperor Meiji Mutsuhito (pictured) was instated. Meiji (enlightened rule).During the Restoration:

Emperor was restored to head of state.Borders opened to western society.Modern economy developed.Military strengthened.Education improved.Rigid society eliminated.

Fukoku-kyohei (enrich the country, strengthen the military).Bummei-kaika (civilisation and enlightenment)

Source: http://meijiemperor.net.

Restoration of the Emperor

During the Tokugawa Shogunate Japan was ruled out of Edo by bakufu (military administration).Oligarchy resorted Emperor to head of state.Ōsei-fukko (restoration of imperial rule).1868 Emperor Meiji was moved to Tokyo (former Edo) (pictured).Meiji Constitution of 1889 reinforce the Emperors status.

Source: WG Beasley, The Meiji Restoration, Stanford,

1972, p. x.

Borders Opened During the rule of Tokugawa Iemitsu (1623-51) sakoku was issued.

Sakoku (closed country).

Commodore Perry’s arrival at Edo Bay in 1853 marked the beginning of kaikoku.

Kaikoku (opening the country). Source: http://uk.geocities.com

Modern Economy

Oitsuke oikose (catch up (to the west), overtake).1869, first telegraph system linked Tokyo to Yokohama.1873, submarine cable connected Tokyo with Europe.1871, British style postal system was founded.1869, railway line opened up connecting Tokyo with Yokohama. Government set up a variety of small business to contribute to growing economy. Great fortunes, such as Mitsubishi, Mitsui and Sumitomo, were founded or greatly expanded.

Military Strengthened

Japan’s military was very limited previous to Meiji Restoration. Meiji Government invested large amounts of the national budget into the military.Borrowed naval technologies form Britain.Army based on European models. Mandatory three years military service.Served the government.Trained to use modern weaponry.

Source: M Avakian, The Meiji Restoration and the Rise of Modern Japan, New Jersey, 1991, p.38.

Education Improved

People were no longer judged on their wealth or noble birth but on their ability.Originally only samurai had adequate education.American model of a three-tiered system was adopted.Students were sent overseas.Foreign scholar were brought to Japan.Public school system was created.

1872, primary education was made compulsory.

Rigid Society EliminatedSocial structure of the Tokugawa Era:

royal family and shogun ruleddaimyosamurai farmersmerchants and artisansburakumin indigenous ainu.

Talent was valued over wealth or decent.Restrictions on dress were removed as Western style was adopted (pictured).

Source: Avakian, The Meiji Restoration, 1991, p.43.

Bibliography

Akamatsu, P, Meiji 1868: Revolution and Counter-Revolution in Japan, Haper and Row Publishers, New York, 1972.

Avakian, M, The Meiji Restoration and the Rise of Modern Japan, Silver Burnett Press, New Jersey, 1991.

Beasley, WG, The Meiji Restoration, Stanford University Press, Stanford, 1972.

Danaher, M, Study Guide:HIST 11038, 2008.Duiker, WJ & JJ Spielvogel, The Essential World History: Volume II, Third

Edition, Thomson Wadsworth, Belmont, 2008.Hunter, J. E, The Emergence of Modern Japan An Introduction History since

1853, Longman Group UK Limited, Essex, 1991.Totman, C, A History of Japan, Blackwell Publishing, Melbourne, 2000.