The Meiji Restoration
Its implications
Its achievements
What did the Restoration
imply?
 Ishin in Japanese is loosely translated as ‘restoration’ but more
accurately refers to rebirth or new beginings
 An attempt to reverse the structural and ideological weaknesses
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of the Shogunate
It followed protest by the Shishi against Japan’s semi-colonial
status
The leaders of the Restoration were sympathetic to the
problems confronting their countrymen but wanted to solve it on
their own terms
Felt that the time had come to create more flexible institutions
and attract men of talent and work together to harness the
energies of all sections of society
In a sense they were continuing a process begun by other
daimyo, that the development of industry and trade could
enhance national strength and increase domestic prosperity
Was it a revolution or a
‘restoration’?
 When compared with revolutions such
as the French or the Russian or Chinese
it pales in comparison
 However the revolution dramatic in its
own right: the Samurai, highly idealistic
men were fighting to change the system
 In terms of fighting and bloodshed while
there were some executions but for the
most part there was little bloodshed
A typical revolution:
 Drama and bloodshed
 Large scale emigration
 Irrevocable change
 Universal revolutionary ideology: e.g.
liberte, fraternite, egalite
 Class struggle
 nationalism
Motives of the Samurai
 Key focus was on strengthening the
country rather than to weaken, the aim
was to unite the country against a
common threat
 It did not provoke widespread emigration
as Japan was emerging from a period of
isolation
 On the whole the motive was essentially
nationalistic
1868: what did it stand for?
 Carried out by men who represented the
Samurai but not necessarily solely for
the benefit of the class. Many of the
decisions actually eroded the privileges
of the Samurai
 AT the same time it was not a revolution
of the masses or for the masses
Evaluation of the changes
 Unlike in Europe where the change was
brought about the newly powerful classes
the bourgeoisie and overturned the
privileges of the aristocrats, here it was the
elite of the old regime who spearheaded
the attack
 “ “ a revolution from above” or an
aristocratic revolution”
 Samurai able to lead it because they were
a salaried class. Therefore they were not
as entrenched as their counterparts in
China and Korea.
Coup d’etat
 Prof Andrew Gordon is of the opinion
“ The Restoration of the young Emperor
Meiji in 1867-68 was a little more than a
coup d’etat. A relatively small band of
insurgents had toppled the Bakufu.
Yet when compare the changes that take
place a decade later the changes are
breath taking and merit the term
revolution
Read Basil Chamberlain’s views ( reading
2A, Chapter 5 page 61)
Opinion of Marius B Jansen
 It was little more than a coup that shifted
rule from one sector of the ruling class to
another…..yet when it is considered as
a part of a larger process, that in 50
years it brought revolutionary changes to
Japanese society
Charter Oath
 One of the first tasks of the Meiji Emperor was to issue a
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Charter Oath
Its aim to give the new regime a purpose, provide goals
and a blueprint for moving forward.
At the time it was more a hope than a reality
The Shishi did not yet control the Edo
They were battling rebellious elements
The new regime had no treasury
The expenses outstripped the earnings
Pushed by Western powers that they expected the new
leaders to end the anti foreign sentiment ASAP
Clauses of the Charter Oath
 The first two clauses appealed to national
unity by suggesting that there would be a
broad base for decision making
 The second clause also fulfilled the promise
of equality of classes
 Freedom for all persons to pursue their
chosen occupations
 The fourth and fifth sent a strong message to
foreign observers that Japan would become
a strong and stable member of the
international community
The leaders
Yamagata Aritomo Saigo Takamori Ito Hirobumi, Okubo Toshimichi, Kido Koin Matsukata
Masayoshi
What did these men hope to achieve?
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January 1868 the Shogun was effectively displaced in a palace coup
The men mostly low ranking samurai of the Choshu Hizen and Tosa
who displaced the Shogun did not have any well formulated plan
Only thing in common was a desire to replace the moribund Shogunate
with the Emperor’s rule which was once more to be the centre of the
political system.
In no way did it mean a transfer of power to the 16 year old emperor
Other than this one common aim there were as many disagreements as
there were leaders
One thing they had in common was that they were all of similar age and
rank and they came from the court aristocracy ( Schirokauer and Clark ,
and Elise Tipton )
In the early years the decisions were dominated by Saigo Takamori,
Okubo and Kido ( effectively the Choshu and Satsuma clans, joined by
the Tosa and Hizen)
Iwakura Tonomi
 A member of the Imperial Kuge ( household officials)
 Played a key role in supporting the Sonno adherents in
displacing the Shogunate
 Led a mission with Okubo and others to the West
between 1871-1873 to understand how to deal with the
West, secure a revision of the treaties, how best to draft
a constitution.
 Returned after two years with a sense of mission and an
urgency to make the required changes.
Saigo Takamori
 Military leader of the Satsuma forces
 Co-operated with the other leaders until 1873
 More conservative than the other leaders worked hard to
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preserve Japan and prepare it to resist the West
As a protest to the sweeping changes among the
Samurai, he wanted to divert the attention to an invasion
of Korea. Opposed by Kido and Okubo.
Resigned from the Council in 1873 and returned to
Kagoshima ( Satsuma)
Led a revolt of the Satsuma Clan against the others in
1877
Seriously wounded and committed Seppuku
Okubo Toshimichi
 Disciplined and formal
 Completely dedicated to the best interests of
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the nation
Yet cautious and practical
Wanted to use the momentum for change to
create a secure state
Played a key role in setting up the constitution
His was the guiding voice between 1873-1878
Assassinated by Saigo Takamori’s followers
Kido Koin
 From the Choshu clan
 Concerned about building consensus
and a popular base for his government
 Devoted to the idea of a strong stable
state
 This led to a confrontation with Saigo
Takamori in 1873
 Co-drafted the Charter Oath along with
Okubo
Achievements of the
Restoration
Land Ownership
Education
Economic and Fiscal Policy
Changes
Government and Constitution
Armed forces
Transport and Communications
Industrialization
Korea Crisis
 Role of Itagaki Taisuke and Saigo
 An attempt to deal with the frustrations and
fears of the Samurai
 The plans abandoned by the others as Japan
was as yet unprepared for a war
 Led to the resignation by Saigo
 This signalled the departure of the traditionalists
and the victory of the modernizers such as
Okubo, Iwakura, Ito and Kido
Overall assessment of the
Restoration
 Led to openness and the desire for change
 Adaptation and adoption of western ideas knowledge,
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western dress and culture
Ideologically the main thrust was to use the old to justify
the new
The leaders used the Emperor to invoke continuity while
at the same time introduce new ideas
Their greatest success lay in the fact that they able to
ensure the survival in new forms many old values and
ideas
The Restoration was revolutionary as it destroyed the old
system and created a new state
Thomas.C.Smith
 Though popular unrest helped to undermine the
Tokugawa regime, the Restoration was not the
product of a mass movement nor of a radical
social ideology. It did not radically change the
structure of village life or the mode of
agricultural production. It eliminated the
Samurai elite as legally defined privileged class
but led by men who were themselves Samurai,
did so in terms that the Samurai could
understand.
The Meiji Restoration
( student version)
Its implications
Its achievements
What did the Restoration
imply?


 The leaders of the Restoration were sympathetic to the
problems confronting their countrymen but wanted to solve it on
their own terms
 Felt that the time had come to create more flexible institutions
and attract men of talent and work together to harness the
energies of all sections of society
 In a sense they were continuing a process begun by other
daimyo, that the development of industry and trade could
enhance national strength and increase domestic prosperity
Charter Oath
 One
 Its aim to give the ___________________, provide goals






and a blueprint for moving forward.
At the time it was more a hope than a reality
The Shishi _________________________
They were battling rebellious elements
The new ______________________
A financial crisi. The expenses outstripped the earnings
Pushed by Western powers that they expected the new
leaders to end the anti foreign sentiment ASAP
Charter Oath Clauses
 The first two clauses
 The second clause also fulfilled the
 The fourth and fifth sent a strong
message to foreign observers
The leaders
Yamagata Aritomo Saigo Takamori Ito Hirobumi, Okubo Toshimichi, Kido Koin Matsukata
Masayoshi
What did these men hope to achieve?







January 1868 the Shogun was effectively displaced in a palace coup
The men mostly low ranking samurai of the Choshu Hizen and Tosa
who displaced the Shogun did not have any well formulated plan
Only thing in common was a desire to replace the moribund Shogunate
with the Emperor’s rule which was once more to be the centre of the
political system.
In no way did it mean a transfer of power to the 16 year old emperor
Other than this one common aim there were as many disagreements as
there were leaders
One thing they had in common was that they were all of similar age and
rank and they came from the court aristocracy ( Schirokauer and Clark ,
and Elise Tipton )
In the early years the decisions were dominated by Saigo Takamori,
Okubo and Kido ( effectively the Choshu and Satsuma clans, joined by
the Tosa and Hizen)
Iwakura Tonomi
 A member of the Imperial Kuge ( household officials)
 Played a key role in supporting the Sonno adherents in
displacing the Shogunate
 Led a mission with Okubo and others to the West
between 1871-1873 to understand how to deal with the
West, secure a revision of the treaties, how best to draft
a constitution.
 Returned after two years with a sense of mission and an
urgency to make the required changes.
 Military leader of the Satsuma forces
 Co-operated with the other leaders until 1873
 More conservative than the other leaders worked hard to
preserve Japan and prepare it to resist the West
 As a protest to the sweeping changes among the
Samurai, he wanted to divert the attention to an invasion
of Korea. Opposed by Kido and Okubo.
Okubo Toshimichi
 Disciplined and formal
 Played a key role in setting up the constitution
 His was the guiding voice between 1873-1878
 Assassinated by Saigo Takamori’s followers
Kido Koin
 From the Choshu clan
 Concerned about building consensus
and a popular base for his government
Achievements of the
Restoration
Changes
Korea Crisis
 Role of Itagaki Taisuke and Saigo
 An attempt to deal with the frustrations and
fears of the Samurai
 The plans abandoned by the others as Japan
was as yet unprepared for a war
 Led to the resignation by Saigo
 This signalled the departure of the traditionalists
and the victory of the modernizers such as
Okubo, Iwakura, Ito and Kido
Overall assessment of the
Restoration
 Led to openness and the desire for change
 Adaptation and adoption of western ideas knowledge,
western dress and culture
 Ideologically the main thrust was to use the old to justify
the new
Thomas.C.Smith