Which nation was especially worried about Japan's victory in the Sino-Japanese War? In addition, the new regime opened the country once again to Western trade and influence and oversaw a buildup of military strength that would soon propel Japan onto the world stage. Finally, in 1876, this commutation was made compulsory. The Restoration led to enormous changes in Japan's political and social structure and spanned both the late Edo period (often called the Bakumatsu) and the beginning of the Meiji era, during which time Japan rapidly industrialized and adopted Western ideas and production methods. How did the Meiji Restoration change Japan? Based on the evidence gathered, Japan underwent a revolution similar to the French or American Revolution, after the restoration of a past power. All Tokugawa lands were seized and placed under "imperial control", thus placing them under the prerogative of the new Meiji government. Japan's economic powers are a major influence on the industrial factor of its country as well. There were fewer subsequent samurai uprisings and the distinction became all but a name as the samurai joined the new society. HISTORY reviews and updates its content regularly to ensure it is complete and accurate. Graham Squires is a senior lecturer in Japanese Studies at the University of Newcastle in Australia. After the Meiji Restoration, class restrictions vanished and allowed education to be open to all people. The Meiji Restoration consolidated the political system under the Emperor of Japan with practical abilities. A century and a half after the Meiji Period (1868-1912) began, we wondered what value the period had for Japan, and whether the path the country took as a result had meaning. [13] Sign up for our free weekly email newsletter! In 1867, two powerful anti-Tokugawa clans, the Choshu and Satsuma, combined forces to topple the shogunate, and the following year declared an imperial restoration in the name of the young Emperor Meiji, who was just 14 years old at the time. The Genroku era (1688-1704) in particular saw the rise of Kabuki theater and Bunraku puppet theater, literature (especially Matsuo Basho, the master of haiku) and woodblock printing. Responding to those pressures, the government issued a statement in 1881 promising a constitution by 1890. Inclusive in the deification of the Emperor, and the Shinto mythology of the creation of the world, came the logical conclusion that Japanese people were superior to all other races. Japans first Ministry of Education was established in 1871 to develop a national system of education; it led to the promulgation of the Gakusei, or Education System Order, in 1872 and to the introduction of universal education in the country, which initially put emphasis on Western learning. [6] On 3 January 1868, the Emperor stripped Yoshinobu of all power and made a formal declaration of the restoration of his power: The Emperor of Japan announces to the sovereigns of all foreign countries and to their subjects that permission has been granted to the Shgun Tokugawa Yoshinobu to return the governing power in accordance with his own request. Other daimy were subsequently persuaded to do so, thus creating a central government in Japan which exercised direct power through the entire "realm". However, after the shogunates brutal repression of a Christian rebellion on the Shimabara Peninsula in 1637-38, Christianity was forced underground. The samurai, being better educated than most of the population, became teachers, gun makers, government officials, and/or military officers. Meiji Restoration, Overthrow of Japans Tokugawa shogunate (see Tokugawa period) and restoration of direct imperial rule (through the Meiji emperor) in 1868. With each samurai being paid fixed stipends, their upkeep presented a tremendous financial burden, which may have prompted the oligarchs to action. The Russo-Japanese War was also a naval conflict, with ships exchanging fire in the read more, Born to a minor warlord in Okazaki, Japan, Tokugawa Ieyasu (1543-1616) began his military training with the Imagawa family. In the 18th century, the imperial family began to acquire influence from a different source. There were three main reasons for the Meiji Restoration: the bakuhan system introduced by the Tokugawa, foreign threats and demands for opening the country by industrialised nations, and the rise of imperial loyalism. Meiji Restoration, Overthrow of Japan's Tokugawa shogunate ( see Tokugawa period) and restoration of direct imperial rule (through the Meiji emperor) in 1868. [1] Figures like Shimazu Nariakira concluded that "if we take the initiative, we can dominate; if we do not, we will be dominated", leading Japan to "throw open its doors to foreign technology.". During the time, sword making was active again. In the heyday of modernisation theory, Meiji-period Japan was often cited as a good example of this process, and the Meiji Restoration was viewed from this perspective. The defeat of the armies of the former shgun (led by Enomoto Takeaki and Hijikata Toshiz) marked the final end of the Tokugawa shogunate, with the Emperor's power fully restored. Japan built industries such as shipyards, iron smelters, and spinning mills, which were then sold to well-connected entrepreneurs. This period also saw Japan change from being a feudal society to having a market economy and left the Japanese with a lingering influence of Modernity.[3]. Shortly thereafter in January 1868, the Boshin War started with the Battle of TobaFushimi in which Chsh and Satsuma's forces defeated the ex-shgun's army. He was the first Mongol to rule over China when he conquered the Song Dynasty of southern China in 1279. The Meiji Restoration , also known as the Meiji Ishin, Renovation, Revolution, Reform or Renewal, was a chain of events that restored practical imperial rule to Japan in 1868 under Emperor Meiji. Then many other foreign specialists were hired. Throughout Japan at the time, the samurai numbered 1.9 million. Hunt, Lynn, Thomas R. Martin, Barbara H. Rosenwein, R. Po-chia Hsia et al.. Emperor Meiji (1852-1912) Background End of the Shogunate Restoration of Imperial Power Modernization of Japan Westernization of Japan Comeback of Traditional Values Japan on the International Scene Meiji Jingu Shrine Japan was a proud and feudal country for many centuries, until confrontation with powerful western countries. Numerous educational institutions recommend us, including Oxford University and University of Missouri. To prevent Japan becoming a colony, it was necessary to overthrow the bakufu and create a new government. . New York: Macmillan Reference USA, 2001. . The fact that the Meiji Restoration was not accompanied by a great deal of destruction was important because it meant the new Meiji government had a relatively stable foundation from which to launch its reforms. When republishing on the web a hyperlink back to the original content source URL must be included. 4 vols. All of these things in turn played a part in expanding the people of Japan's knowledge on western customs, technology and institutions. Following his victory in the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600, however, Tokugawa Ieyasu swiftly consolidated power from his heavily fortified castle at Edo (now Tokyo). Updates? In response, young samurai from feudal domains historically hostile to the Tokugawa regime took up arms against the government. For only $5 per month you can become a member and support our mission to engage people with cultural heritage and to improve history education worldwide. With the Act of Seclusion (1636), Japan was effectively cut off from Western nations for the next 200 years (with the exception of a small Dutch outpost in Nagasaki Harbor). This sent a strong message to the dissenting samurai that their time was indeed over. By the end of the 19th century, Japan had become one of the leading industrialized countries in the world. Where did the Meiji Restoration happen what did it do? It is called the Meiji Restoration . Books At the same time, they were expected to maintain their warrior pride and military preparedness, which led to much frustration in their ranks. We contribute a share of our revenue to remove carbon from the atmosphere and we offset our team's carbon footprint. ): McAleavy, Henry. With industrialization came the demand for coal. 2. The Economist.Gunboat Diplomacy. The political structure, established by Ieyasu and solidified under his two immediate successors, his son Hidetada (who ruled from 1616-23) and grandson Iemitsu (1623-51), bound all daimyos to the shogunate and limited any individual daimyo from acquiring too much land or power. Consequently, domestic companies became consumers of Western technology and applied it to produce items that would be sold cheaply in the international market. Consequently, the title of Emperor must be substituted for that of Taikun, in which the treaties have been made. When did the Meiji Restoration end? While the year 1868 was crucial to the fall of the shogunate and the establishment of a new government . SQ 6. With the Dampatsurei Edict of 1871 issued by Emperor Meiji during the early Meiji Era, men of the samurai classes were forced to cut their hair short, effectively abandoning the chonmage (chonmage) hairstyle. In 1869, the daimys of the Tosa, Hizen, Satsuma and Chsh Domains, who were pushing most fiercely against the shogunate, were persuaded to "return their domains to the Emperor". At that time, the Tokugawa controlled about 30% of the land in Japan, and about 270 hereditary daimyo families controlled the rest. Background to the Meiji Restoration Among other accomplishments, during the Meiji period Japan adopted a constitution and a parliamentary system, instituted universal education, built railroads and installed telegraph lines, and established strong army and navy forces. Squires, Graham. There was quite a diverse range of thinkers in this group, but it included people associated with kokugaku ("national learning" or "nativism") and the Mito School as well as more independent writers like Rai San'yo (1780-1832) whose book An Unofficial History of Japan (1827) became very influential. Although the Tokugawa put in place various policies to control the daimyo, within their own han, they could more or less govern as they pleased. The Tokugawa political system is often described as being feudal, but feudalism in medieval Japan was different from feudalism in Europe in the Middle Ages. To understand the Meiji Restoration, rather than approaching it from a theoretical perspective, it is best to think of it as an event that had both causes and consequences that were unique to Japan. Besides drastic changes to the social structure of Japan, in an attempt to create a strong centralized state defining its national identity, the government established a dominant national dialect, called "standard language" (, hyjungo), that replaced local and regional dialects and was based on the patterns of Tokyo's samurai classes. Meiji Restoration, in Japanese history, the political revolution in 1868 that brought about the final demise of the Tokugawa shogunate (military government)thus ending the Edo (Tokugawa) period (1603-1867)and, at least nominally, returned control of the country to direct imperial rule under Mutsuhito (the emperor Meiji ). The American challenge to Japan turned out to be the trigger for the Meiji Restoration, the broad-brush descriptor for Japan's radical remaking in the image of its would-be conquerors. Nippon.com.After 150 years, why does the Meiji restoration matter? Corrections? Vol. Being compelled to sign these treaties exposed the weakness of the Tokugawa government, and opponents accused it of failing to defend the country. [9], Emperor Meiji announced in his 1868 Charter Oath that "Knowledge shall be sought all over the world, and thereby the foundations of imperial rule shall be strengthened. It is named for Mutsuhito, the Meiji Emperor, who served as the figurehead for the movement. The warrior government the Tokugawa established was called a bakufu, and the lands the daimyo controlled were called han. What period is Japan in now? The Meiji period was named for Emperor Meiji, who came to power during this time. Answer (1 of 2): Samurai from the Satsuma domain were instrumental in helping to bring about the Meiji restoration. Again, the early Meiji years had set the stage. Modernization of the education system was one of the main goals of the new Meiji government. Students also attended courses in "moral training" which reinforced their duty to the Emperor and to the Japanese state. Despite the help Japan received from other powers, one of the key factors in Japan's industrializing success was its relative lack of resources, which made it unattractive to Western imperialism. Modern historians call this arrangement the bakuhan system. If the daimys peacefully complied, they were given a prominent voice in the new Meiji government. The Meiji Reformers needed to modernize Japan so as to make it competitive in a changing world in order to contend with Western forces. 14. This was an unequal treaty because it included a clause setting a low tariff on imported goods and another which meant foreigners were not subject to Japanese law. 2. "Meiji Restoration." The war ended with Japanese victory and the signing of the Treaty of Portsmouth, which was mediated by U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt (who later won the Nobel Prize for his role in the talks). World History Encyclopedia, 29 Oct 2022. But if you see something that doesn't look right, click here to contact us! The shogun and daimyo were abolished. The tozama daimyo were less trusted, and their territories tended to be large but far from the political centre of Japan. It was signed under duress when Commodore Matthew Perry, who used the tactics of gunboat diplomacy by menacingly sending his American battle fleet into Japanese waters. https://www.worldhistory.org/Meiji_Restoration/. The Meiji Restoration was a coup dtat that resulted in the dissolution of Japans feudal system of government and the restoration of the imperial system. In 1868, the Emperor Meiji (the name means "enlightened rule") replaced the Tokugawa Shogun as leader. He is popularly known as "The Last Samurai," and proved so beloved that Emperor Meiji felt compelled to issue him a posthumous pardon in 1889. The Meiji Restoration basically took Japan from a feudal system to becoming a fully industrialized country in just a few decades. This set the stage for the Boshin War, a war between supporters of the court and the bakufu. It was in the interests of the Tokugawa, however, to build up the prestige of the imperial family because this, in turn, gave them greater legitimacy. The Meiji Restoration is almost universally regarded as the dividing line between 'traditional' and 'modern' Japan. The bakufu also launched a punitive expedition against Choshu, but a negotiated settlement was reached, and the attack was called off. Several clans, dissatisfied with the Tokugawa regime, wanted to reinstate the imperial line to power. The causes of the Meiji Restoration can be summarised as follows: The first of the long-term causes can be found in the political system the Tokugawa imposed on Japan after the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600. The Tokugawa had been able to adopt this policy partly because Japan was far from Europe and also because, in the 17th century, the level of technology in Japan and foreign countries was more or less the same. Subscribe for fascinating stories connecting the past to the present. The emperor then took the reign name "Meiji" meaning "enlightened rule," Hence the title, "Meiji Restoration" of 1868. In ancient times, power was mostly in the hands of the court aristocracy, and later in those of powerful warrior families like the Minamoto and Ashikaga. As agricultural production lagged in comparison to the mercantile and commercial sectors, samurai and daimyo did not fare as well as the merchant class. The political structure, established by Tokugawa Ieyasu and solidified under his two immediate successors, his son Tokugawa Hidetada (who ruled from 1616 to 1623) and grandson Tokugawa Iemitsu (162351), bound all daimys to the shogunate and limited any individual daimy from acquiring too much land or power. The Meiji restoration boomed throughout and modernized Japan by the end of the 1890's. The Meiji restoration may not have effected other many countries with it's own internal revolution, but it did revolutionize the entirety of Japan in less than a hundred years. At the beginning of the 19th century, European ships armed with industrial-age weapons began to approach Japan demanding that the country open to foreign trade. Heisei era The current era is Reiwa (), which began on 1 May 2019, following the 31st (and final) year of the Heisei era (31). The Meiji period ( Meiji-jidai) was an era in Japanese history that extended from September 1868 through July 1912. When did the Meiji Period End? A large imperial army then surrounded the city of Edo (modern-day Tokyo), but negotiations resulted in the peaceful surrender of Edo Castle. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Moreover, the samurai in Japan were not merely the lords, but also their higher retainerspeople who actually worked. The idea that Japan was a 'divine land' countered the Confucian presumption that only China was 'civilised and that surrounding countries like Korea and Japan were 'barbarian'.