The first Diet was convened the following year, 1890. The Meiji Restoration, a significant era in Japanese history, saw the abolishment of the feudal system of the Tokagawa period. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. Those uprisings were repressed only with great difficulty by the newly formed army. First, the capital was moved from Kyoto to Edo, which became known as Tokyo. With this, many social changes occurred which assisted in the modernisation of Japan and its culture. Blending Ancient and Modern to Build Anew. While many upper-class Japanese did occasionally wear Western suits and dresses, most preferred the kimono. The Meiji Reformers wanted to modernize Japan in order to make it competitive in a changing world so as to compete with Western powers. In a wider context, however, the Meiji Restoration of 1868 came to be identified with the subsequent era of major political, economic, and social change—the Meiji period (1868–1912)—that brought about the modernization and Westernization of the country. Set out to improve manufacturing in Japan, which had been based on textiles and other such goods, shifting instead to heavy machinery and weapons manufacturing. The modernization invoked by the Meiji restoration was so considerable that it is reasonable to call the latter a revolution. Women of Japan were given the same rights as men, but were not treated as equals. The Meiji Restoration (明治維新) was a time of great change in Japan.In the Japanese language, Meiji-ishin is the term for the Meiji Restoration.The term describes a series of events that changed the shape of Japan’s political and social systems. These developments bore fruit in 1910s when Japan experienced an economic boom. Questions and answers about the Meiji Restoration. The formation of a national army. With this change came a 3% land tax imposed on the farmers. How did Japan change course in the late 1800s? Private firms were also encouraged by government financial support and aided by the institution of a European-style banking system in 1882. The latter concern had its origins in the efforts by Western powers to “open” Japan, beginning in the 1850s after more than two centuries of near isolation, and the fear that Japan could be subjected to the same imperialist pressures that they observed happening in nearby China. The Meiji emperor proclaiming the Meiji Constitution in 1889. • With the restoration of Emperor Meiji (Mutsuhito), Japan experienced both modernisation and a return to traditional belief. A constitution, that was mainly based off of Western countries’ constitution. Japan was well on its way to becoming a modern industrialized country. Commander Matthew Perry’s four gunboats in 1853 in Tokyo Bay, spurred the country to develop its military to match those of the U.S., Russia and … In 1885 a cabinet system was formed, and in 1886 work on the constitution began. The Meiji Restoration was a political and social revolution in Japan from 1866 to 1869 that ended the power of the Tokugawa shogun and returned the Emperor to a central position in Japanese politics and culture. "What Was the Meiji Restoration?" The first action, taken in 1868 while the country was still unsettled, was to relocate the imperial capital from Kyōto to the shogunal capital of Edo, which was renamed Tokyo (“eastern capital”). What Was the Meiji Restoration? Agriculture in Japan also faced new changes during the Meiji Period. This enlightened thinking encouraged during this period allowed farmers to own the land they worked. Politically, the shogun (military general, who was the real leader of Japan) was dissolved and replaced with the current diet (a parliamentary assembly). Yoshinobu mounted a brief civil war that ended with his surrender to imperial forces in June 1869. Japan changed under the Meiji restoration when the formal privileges of the Samurai were ended. By 1906, school attendance was as high as 95%, and Japan boasted one of the highest literacy rates in the world. The Reign of the Meiji Emperor When the Meiji emperor was restored as head of Japan in 1868, the nation was a militarily weak country, was primarily agricultural, and had little technological development. Rather than suffer a similar fate, some of Japan's elites sought to close the doors even tighter against foreign influence, but the more foresighted began to plan a modernization drive. Among the many reforms that took place during the Meiji period, those regarding the school system have contributed the most to the enlightenment of the Japanese people. After Japan’s Meiji Restoration of 1868, Japan changed forever. In two short decades, Japan was transformed from a closed medieval society into one of the world’s most modern nations. How did the Meiji Restoration change Japan? Background to the Meiji Restoration The death of the emperor Meiji in 1912 marked the end of the period, although several of the important Meiji leaders carried on as elder statesmen (genro) in the new regime (1912–26) of the Taishō emperor. • A personality cult was formed around the Emperor, who, according to the now official Shinto belief, was the descendent of … The reformers sought to bring far-reaching changes to Japanese society. It is named for Mutsuhito, the Meiji Emperor, who served as the figurehead for the movement. She has taught at the high school and university levels in the U.S. and South Korea. Japan would go on to ever greater power in East Asia until the tides turned against it in World War II. Nevertheless, though it was born in conflict, the Meiji Restoration did indeed open up Japan in myriad ways, and the country developed at a furious pace. The three major sources of Western music in Japan were the church, the schools, and the military.…. Among the many reforms that took place during the Meiji period, those regarding the school system have contributed the most to the enlightenment of the Japanese people. While modern Japan and the Orthodox have worked together to maintain the country’s traditional and cultural sensitivity, they have cooperated with modernization in order to promote the advancement of their country. https://www.thoughtco.com/what-was-the-meiji-restoration-195562 (accessed January 23, 2021). The government played a huge role in social change by creating new laws and a constitution. How did the Meiji Restoration change Japan? The Tokugawa period consisted of … ...The Meiji Restoration was a significant turning point in Japanese history because it led to revolutionary changes in Japan’s economic and political structures. Corrections? Their exports tripled and this enhanced the Japanese influence over other countries. Please select which sections you would like to print: While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Wholesale Westernization was somewhat checked in the 1880s, however, when a renewed appreciation of traditional Japanese values emerged. The Meiji Restoration stands as one of the turning points of Japanese history. The first problem to be solved was financing the national government budget. Iwakura understood that Japan would maintain sovereignty only if it embraced a certain degree of modernizatio… His resignation officially transferred power to the young emperor, but the shogun wouldn't give up actual control of Japan so easily. Members of the ruling samurai class had become concerned about the shogunate’s ability to protect the country as more Western countries attempted to “open” Japan after more than two hundred years of virtual isolation. 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 revolutionary changes carried out by restoration leaders, who acted in the name of the emperor, faced increasing opposition by the mid-1870s. While many upper-class Japanese did occasionally wear Western suits and dresses, most preferred the kimono. Szczepanski, Kallie. He sent his samurai army toward the imperial city of Kyoto, intending to capture or depose the emperor. ThoughtCo. The Reign of the Meiji Emperor. Another change in Meiji Japan was for womens roles. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Saigō Takamori, leader of a major revolt against the Meiji government in the 1870s. The reforms enacted during the Meiji emperor's rule brought about the modernization and Westernization of the country and paved the way for Japan to become a major international power. Japan underwent a vast array of changes after the Meiji Restoration. By the end of the Meiji Era, these situations were less common. … However, it should be noted that clothing did not change significantly for the majority of Japanese. Japan’s empire grew immensely thanks to the nation’s modernized military. "What Was the Meiji Restoration?" Japan's economic powers are a major influence on the industrial factor of its country as well. The enacting of a constitution and formalization of a parliamentary system of government. It was because of some of these new laws that helped Japan become the country that it is today. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/what-was-the-meiji-restoration-195562. The feudal system and all feudal class privileges were abolished. During early industrialisation, women were worked in factories under poor conditions. They wanted to unite the country under a new, centralized government in order to strengthen their army to defend against foreign influence. Consequently, Tokugawa shôgun who ruled Japan in the feudal period was deposed and the emperor was restored to the supreme position. The daimyo and samurai started a revolt to bring the Meiji emperor to power. The Meiji period is one of the four periods in modern Japanese history which was symbolized by the most radical changes in all spheres of public life, namely political, social, and economic. In 1868 the Tokugawa shôgun ("great general"), who ruled Japan in the feudal period, lost his power and the emperor was restored to the supreme position. However, it should be noted that clothing did not change significantly for the majority of Japanese. Meiji prints enthusiastically portrayed the latest in Western fashions, leaving the impression that everyone embraced suits and dresses. Japan's political elites realized that the U.S. and other countries were ahead in terms of military technology, and (quite rightly) felt threatened by western imperialism. Commodore Matthew Perry’s arrival at Edo Bay (Tokyo was once named Edo) in 1853 demonstrated to Japan the superior military power of the West. They felt that it was important to have a strong Emperor at the center of Japan's political organization to project Japanese power and fend off Western imperialism. Also Know, what was the main goal of Japanese modernization? And it didn't happen in a vacuum. Ring in the new year with a Britannica Membership, This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/event/Meiji-Restoration, Lehigh University - The Meiji Restoration: Roots of Modern Japan, The abolition of the feudal system and all feudal class privileges, The construction of transport and communication systems. Over the course of just a few decades, these changes took Japan from being a semi-isolated island nation threatened by foreign imperialism, to being an imperial power in its own right. A constitution, that was mainly based off of Western countries’ constitution. The Meiji Program of Economic Development. The Meiji Restoration is sometimes characterized as a coup d'etat or revolution ending the shogunal system for modern Western governmental and military methods. Also in 1871 a national army was formed, which was further strengthened two years later by a universal conscription law. The Meiji Restoration : Change And Domitarianism In Japan 1119 Words | 5 Pages. The Meiji Era: The Meiji Period would last from 1868 until 1912. Their economy collapsed in the 1920s but began recovering in the early 1930s. ThoughtCo, Aug. 26, 2020, thoughtco.com/what-was-the-meiji-restoration-195562. Finally in 1889 the Meiji Constitution, presented as a gift from the emperor to the people, was officially promulgated. 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 emperor took the name Meiji ("enlightened rule") as his reign name; this event was known as the Meiji Restoration. Question: How did Japan not change under the Meiji Restoration? The Meiji Emperor brought about the Meiji Restoration, which included the forming of a strong military. The Satsuma and Choshu leaders sought to overthrow the Tokugawa shogun and place the Emperor Komei into a position of real power. rule by the Emperor of Japan. The reforms enacted during the Meiji emperor’s rule brought about the modernization and Westernization of the country and paved the way for Japan to become a major international power. The Meiji period that followed the Restoration was an era of major political, economic, and social change in Japan. At the time a global political transformation was underway, involving the rise of nationalism and nation-states. Responding to those pressures, the government issued a statement in 1881 promising a constitution by 1890. The administrative reorganization had been largely accomplished by 1871, when the domains were officially abolished and replaced by a prefecture system that has remained in place to the present day. 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. By 1906, school attendance was as high as 95%, and Japan boasted one of the highest literacy rates in the world. After all, mighty Qing China had been brought to its knees by Britain fourteen years earlier in the First Opium War, and would soon lose the Second Opium War as well. Dr. Kallie Szczepanski is a history teacher specializing in Asian history and culture. Those efforts at modernization required Western science and technology, and under the banner of “Civilization and Enlightenment” (Bunmei kaika), Western culture, from current intellectual trends to clothing and architecture, was widely promoted. Meeting of Russian and Japanese generals during the Russo-Japanese War (1904–05) to discuss terms of the Russian surrender of Port Arthur (present-day Lüshun, China). Updates? Although the economy still depended on agriculture, industrialization was the primary goal of the government, which directed the development of strategic industries, transportation, and communications. The Meiji Restoration was a time for change and life of women was changing. The restoration event itself consisted of a coup d’état in the ancient imperial capital of Kyōto on January 3, 1868. Omissions? They were constantly exploited and denied any freedom. Although the Meiji Restoration caused a lot of trauma and social dislocation in Japan, it also enabled the country to join the ranks of world powers in the early 20th century. Did it create a more modern, representative and stable governmental struture in Japan?' Japan underwent many changes after the Meiji Restoration. Those precepts were codified in 1890 with the enactment of the Imperial Rescript on Education (Kyōiku Chokugo). 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