Brief Background to the Meiji Restoration

Background to the Meiji Restoration

The transformation from a feudal state to a modern one began in 1867 when a faction of the upper class led a rebellion against the Tokugawa shogunate, which was essentially a military dictatorship which had ruled from 1600-1868.

The results of this uprising led to Japan becoming a modern industrial nation in an extremely short amount of time.

For generations, Japan had maintained a policy of isolation against foreigners, in a world that was becoming increasingly interconnected. In 1844 King William II of Holland warned Japan that they could not remain isolated forever and this came true sooner than later. In 1853 when the American naval officer Commodore Matthew Perry sailed to Japan to inquire about diplomatic and commercial relations between the United States and Japan, and was successful. This led the way to European nations gaining a trading foothold in Japan, which was quite a shock in comparison to the two hundred years of isolation Japan had experienced, however these were initially limited to a few ports only.

The opening of Japan did not stick well with many who felt the Shogunate was corrupt and anachronistic. Moreover, others were opposed to the Shogunate as they felt that it had usurped the powers of the emperors, and failed militarily against the Western barbarian powers. The gathering storm eventually led to the fall of the Shogunate which realized the futility of fighting against the gathered resistance, and ruling power was restored to the Meiji emperor.

Although much of the storm was gathered on the basis of “expelling the barbarians”, many within the government realized that a change was needed, and began to embrace Western ideas and moved towards industrializing the nation.

Among the most significant of these changes can be noted in two articles of this five-article Charter oath.

Article 4. Evil customs of the past shall be broken off and everything based upon the just laws of Nature.

Article 5. Knowledge shall be sought throughout the world so as to strengthen the foundations of imperial rule.

Works Cited

Andrea, Alfred J and Overfield, James H. The Human Record: Sources of Global History Fifth Edition. Volume II: Since 1500. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2005.

Varley, H. Paul. Japanese Culture Third Edition. Honolulu, University of Hawaii Press, 1984.