What was the Meiji
Restoration?
L/O – To identify the causes, events and significance
of the Meiji Restoration 1868-1913
The Meiji Restoration
• Before 1868, Japan was a feudal country, mainly
agricultural, militarily weak and lacked technological
development.
• By 1912 when Emperor Meiji died, Japan had:
• A highly centralised, bureaucratic government;
• A constitution establishing an elected parliament;
• A well-developed transport and communications system;
• A highly educated population, free of class restrictions
• An established and growing industrial sector
• A powerful army and navy with a growing overseas
empire.
1842 – British victory over China in Opium War
worries Japan: could it happen to them?
1853 – US Commodore Matthew Perry sails into Edo,
with letter from President Filmore demanding Japan
opens its ports to trade
1854 – Treaty of Kanagawa – Japan forced to
open two ports and is humiliated – followed
by European powers
1867 – Domains of Satsuma & Choshu
march on Kyoto, take control of government
1868 – Meiji Restoration Declared,
Bakufu abolished
1868
Charter
Oath,
New
goals of
society
declared
1871 – Members of government travel
to West to gather ideas
1889 – Meiji Constitution ‘gifted’
1890s - Unequal treaties abolished
1894-5 – Sino-Japanese War, Japan gains
Taiwan and Korea becomes a Japanese
protectorate
1904-5 – Russo-Japanese War, Japan
beats Russia. First Asian country to beat
European nation!
Japan before the Meiji Restoration
• Between 1460s-1600,
a period of civil war
existed in Japan
known as the
‘Sengoku-Jidai’.
• Rival domains, each
led by a Daimyo
(lord), who competed
to extend their power
and influence.
The Unification of Japan
• In 1600 after the Battle of
Sekigahara, Tokugawa Ieyasu unified
Japan and was declared ‘Shogun’,
creating a stable government for
this first time in hundreds of years.
• The new capital was based at Edo
(Tokyo).
• He controlled the Daimyo by forcing
them to live and keep their family in
Edo every other year (Sankin Kotai).
1600 A.D. - The Battle of Sekigahara
The Tokugawa Bakufu
• The new government was called
the Bakufu (military government)
and the period of 1600-1868 is
known as the ‘Tokugawa Bakufu’.
• The Tokugawa Bakufu centralised
political power in Edo but didn’t
change the Feudal structure of
government drastically.
• Regional domains led by Daimyo
were still largely independent.
Emperor
Shogun
Daimyo
Samurai
Japan before the Meiji Restoration
• Society was still rigidly controlled by
a strict class system known as the
Samuari - shi
‘shi-no-ko-sho’ (four divisions of
society).
Farmers - no
• Class was determined by birth and
people couldn’t change professions!
• The system was influenced by the
Confucian ideals of piety, loyalty,
and stoicism = each person had
their place in society.
Artisans - ko
Merchants sho
Japan before the Meiji Restoration
• Because of Shi-no-ko-sho there
was a lack of ‘social mobility’ in
society which caused tensions
to mount, especially between
the samurai and merchants.
• Samurai resented the growing
power and wealth of the
merchants class whilst many
resented the Samurai, who
seemed to offer nothing to
society whilst claiming food
and stipends from their
domains.
Japan at the time of Commodore Perry
• When US Commodore Perry
arrived in Japan in 1853, the
Tokugawa Bakufu system of
government was facing problems.
• It had no centralised tax system, no
national army and many domains
still operated independently.
• It is no wonder that when Perry
returned in 1854, Japan was forced
to sign humiliating treaties.
Collapse of the Tokugawa Bakufu
• The arrival of Perry therefore acted
as a catalyst in triggering a series of
events and unleashing tensions
already existing in Japan.
• Many Samuari, especially from
distant domains such as Satsuma
and Choshu began to loose faith in
the Shogunate and called for
‘Sonno Joi’ – revere the emperor
and repel the barbarians. They
wanted a return of the emperor.
Collapse of the Tokugawa Bakufu
• In 1866, Choshu and Satsuma agreed
a secret and illegal alliance. This
angered the new Shogun, Tokugawa
Yoshinobu, who launched a military
campaign.
• The Bakufu army was defeated and
forced into a humiliating retreat
across Japan back to Edo.
• The Bakufu was shown to be military
inadequate – losing legitimacy.
Collapse of the Tokugawa Bakufu
• The Daimyo of Satsuma and Choshu
took advantage of this defeat and
marched on Kyoto in Dec 1867.
• They occupied the city and took
control of the imperial palace.
• They convinced the new Emperor
Meiji to pronounce an imperial
restoration, abolishing the bakufu
by imperial decree in January 1868.
Aims of the Meiji Restoration
• The new government to reverse the humiliations of
the Unequal Treaties by turning Japan into a
‘modern’ and ‘civilised’ country.
• The new government put absolute power in the
hands of the emperor however in reality, decisions
were made by a group of advisors known as the
‘genro’.
• These were ex-samurai advisors from Satsuma &
Choshu who fought to restore the emperor.
The Charter
Oath
• In April
1868 the
emperor
issued the
Charter
Oath, listing
five aims of
the new
government
1. Deliberative assemblies shall be widely
established and all matters decided by public
discussion.
2. All classes, high and low, shall unite in vigorously
carrying out the administration of affairs of state.
3. The common people, no less than the civil and
military officials, shall each be allowed to pursue
his own calling so that there may be no discontent.
4. Evil customs of the past shall be broken off and
everything based upon the just laws of Nature.
5. Knowledge shall be sought throughout the
world so as to strengthen the foundations of
imperial rule.
The 1889 Constitution
• In 1889 the Emperor ‘gifted’ a new constitution to
the Japanese people.
• This established a bicameral parliament (Diet), with
an elected lower house and appointed upper house
and rights for citizens.
• However debates range over whether the
constitution was a strategic move by the Genro to
prevent popular involvement in politics or was it a
genuine attempt at reform?
Plenary
1. Who unified Japan in 1600?
2. What is the period of 1600-1868 known as?
3. What were the four divisions of society before the Meiji
restoration?
4. Which two domains led a rebellion against Tokugawa
Yoshinobu?
5. Describe at least two points from the Charter Oath
6. What changes did the 1889 Constitution introduce?
7. Why was the Meiji Restoration such as significant change?
Did we meet our learning objective?
L/O – To identify the causes, events and significance
of the Meiji Restoration 1868-1913