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. Members of the ruling samurai class had become concerned about the shogunates ability to protect the country as more Western countries attempted to open Japan after more than two hundred years of virtual isolation. Being a very clever lot, they embraced the issue of trade with other countries hence, they greatly improved. The school attendance rate was 80% and the literacy rate was 90%, making Japan the most academically advanced country in the world. Education, social class, and women's roles changed drastically when Japan began. The arrival of American warships in 1853 destabilized Japan's political system and launched a transformation that made Japan into a major world power in less than 25 years. The Japanese emperors in that time knew well that for them to make it through the wars that were foreseen, they were to be well armed as the imperial superpowers. Around the same time, it was decided that formal wear for government officials must be western-style clothing. This therefore contributed greatly to Japans revolution which was a transition from the feudal government. The government played a huge role in social change by creating new laws and a constitution. The nation was closed off to foreigners. The Meiji Restoration was a coup d'tat that resulted in the dissolution of Japan's feudal system of government and the restoration of the imperial system. laws and a constitution. Its like a teacher waved a magic wand and did the work for me. This allowed Japan to maintain a connection to its past while aggressively looking toward the future. This focus led to Japan having one of the most highly educated populations in the world. It is at this time that Japan was controlled by the Samurai and daimyo who had received power transition from Tokugawa era. Great collaboration with the government and passion for development were the main contributors of the improved economy (Tipton 456). This change included major transition in the military, foreign relations, economy, social structure and internal politics. The cause for the first reinvention, also known as the Meiji restoration, was foreign influence let into the country by the shoguns. Education was a sure foundation for development as it had been changing from time to time. It was a representation of a first half of the Japanese government or empire that consisted of a complete transition from the so called feudalism which was more of an isolation form of government as compared to the current modern government. Due to the fact that Western nations were involved in Imperialism prior to and during the same time as the Meiji period, the wealth and power the European nations gained stood out to the Japanese. During this period, Japans first factory, the Tomioka Silk Mill, was built. The Meiji Restoration transformed Japan into something new: a modern nation-state. Japan was accepted by the Western powers as an equal. Omissions? "Social changes" during the Meiji Restoration are expressed through a special and generic term in Japan: "Bunmei Kaika." Its literal translation is "blooming of civilization" but it was actually coined by Fukuzawa Yukichi as the translation of the English word "civilization." Japan then expanded its operations into the First Sino-Japanese War, invading Korea and neighboring Chinese areas in the 1890s, which quickly developed into their invasion of Manchuria, where it would remain a Japanese possession for 50 years. Furthermore, their genuine interest in progress economically also boosted the country in terms of economic development. They employed a sense of honor in their duties hence accomplished their work with diligence. These beliefs catapulted the Meiji regime into a more organized and democratic governance. Horse-drawn carriage (street car) Railroad cars pulled by horses traveled over the railroad tracks. Draw students' attention to clothing, architecture, utilities, transportation, and other details. Therefore, it called for the former governor or leaders to step down and give way for the new leaders. This aspect was going to be very crucial but the leaders were dedicated to bring change in Japan. Allowing people to move between strict financial groups. Many companies known worldwide were founded during Meiji Era. As the Edo period continued and enter it's later years, the stability of the system was sha. In Japanese military history, the modernization of the Japanese army and navy during the Meiji period (1868-1912) and until the Mukden Incident (1931) was carried out by the newly founded national government, a military leadership that was only responsible to the Emperor, and with the help of France, Britain, and later Germany . Here you can choose which regional hub you wish to view, providing you with the most relevant information we have for your specific region. These effects were brought about by the appreciation of modern technology. Major contributors to economic development were road construction networks that led to developments of central business district. There were countries which were segregated and repelled to an extent that they could not form partnerships with Japan. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Dissolving of the Shogunate, creation of a constitution, creation of a democratic Diet. This led to the loss of many Buddhist artifacts of historical and cultural value. Towards the end of the 19th century, Japan was copying the imperialism that it saw in other Western countries. Others mistakenly thought they could deliver parcels to distant places by telegraph and therefore hung parcels on the tower. One more major purpose for the formation of new government was to search for international knowledge that would be helpful in strengthening the rule of imperialism. They thought that without modernizing Japan, the country would be colonized. confiscation. However, the Meiji government believed that having a strong military was essential to be a nation like the U.S. or European countries. The second major slogan was Fukoku Kohei, or enrich the country, strengthen the army. A privy council composed of the Meiji genro, created prior to the constitution, advised the emperor and wielded actual power. The daimyo rule was later abolished by 1871. Japan had a transition that was nicknamed the enlightened era hence it was very prudent that members of the state act in a more intelligent way to allow modernization. These were all possible thanks to the nation's modernized military and industrialization systems as Japan adapted from Western nations as it aimed to become a world power. Knowledge was to be sought in the West, the goodwill of which was essential for revising the unequal treaties that had been enacted and granted foreign countries judicial and economic privileges in Japan through extraterritoriality. Besides, these aims were greatly achieved by carrying out reforms. He demanded that Japan open itself up for international trade. Thus, the Meiji Restoration was a combination of Western ideals reconstituted with traditional Japanese mores. This biasness was cut off by the Meijis rule. It occurred during a three-year period from 1866 to 1869 that traversed the end of the Edo period (often called Late Tokugawa shogunate) and beginning of the Meiji Era. This sounds like an urban legend, but these stories were recorded. Omissions? Since the opening of Japan to the outside world, Japanese customs and practices have been reported from a curious perspective by foreigners who visited Japan. Japan's Meiji Restoration of 1868 had many effects on Japan and the world from 1840 to 1920. Worried by internal problems and outside pressures and inspired by the rise of nation-states, Japan became modernized and Westernized through its slogans of Fukoku Kyohei and Bunmei Kaika. https://www.britannica.com/question/What-caused-the-Meiji-Restoration. Evidence that shows that Japans military team was strengthened was the victory which was seen in two wars. This focus encouraged Japan to build a modern nation-state that could stand toe-to-toe with the Western powers. The Gregorian calendar (solar calendar) was adopted and implemented from January 1, 1873. Also, Japan sent ad hoc ambassadors to the West, like Yukichi Fukuzawa, to analyze, write about, and ultimately mimic the Industrial Revolution powering the West. Economic Effects of Meiji Restoration. Finally, industrialization became a major focus after seeing Commodore Perry's powerful ships and weapons. What were three effects of the Meiji Restoration? Communism in China Factors & Rise | How Did China Become Communist? They were collectively known as Tsusho-no-kuni. So all of a sudden, Japan had a highly educated population with more social mobility. To promote the adoption of Western culture, Bunmei Kaika became a slogan during this period. Moreover, new government did not allow the Samurai males to carry along with them weapons that would act as a form of identification for them. It was not going to be pushed around. A picture of Ginza, now part of Tokyo, in the 1880s. The overall effect of the Meiji Restoration on Japan was that it brought Japan from isolation to a more modernized power. They were subordinate to the shogun and nominally to the emperor and the kuge.In the term, dai () means 'large', and my stands for myden ( . The Meiji Restoration (1868-1890) was named after the emperor, who took the name Meiji, which means 'enlightened rule.' The emperor and a new ruling class decided it was time to remodel Japan on a . Try refreshing the page, or contact customer support. The result of these changes was a drafted constitution in 1989 that transformed Japan to be turned into a constitutional monarchy. Tokugawa Shogunate History & Significance | What was the Tokugawa Shogunate? No plagiarism, guaranteed! Most scholars, however, insisted that it was left to Japan to decide at the time of . Most of the change occurred during the Meiji period. This therefore meant that the Japanese had the most powerful transformation which occurred within a single generation. This made the Japanese government look a little bit like a Western-style government. It explained for the success of the Meiji Modernization. The West was then forced to acknowledge the former little island of Asia as a comparative power. Western-style architecture Brick architecture. In today's world, social mobility is largely. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. This was in terms of business knowledge advancements. It was led by young samurai who saw the need for change. The new change of democracy and governance resulted to the signing of a charter oath by Emperor Hironto which was done with the Humanity Declaration Committee. The Meijis restoration brought about a fundamental aspect of the society which was industrial growth. succeed. Big family enterprises did develop during Togukawa era. Some critics argue that the strict binary gender differences, which are characteristics of modern society, were not present before the Meiji period in Japan (Sogojyoseishi Kenkyukai, 1993: 118-21; Yokota, 1995: 364). The Essay Writing ExpertsUK Essay Experts. Zangiri-atama is a hairstyle in which the chonmage (topknot) is cut off and kept short. Another major contribution to modernization was the agrarian revolution. Japan created an efficient rail system, improved communications technology, and started mechanizing industry. Age of Marriage in Japan -Legal and average ages. The Meiji Reforms led to an educated and industrial Japan, which expanded into several imperialistic wars in which several foreign countries were defeated. . 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. They comprised part of the military, teaching staff, makers of guns and government officials. Answer (1 of 2): 1. There were many causes for the Meiji Restoration, including rice inflation (samurai paid in rice), a decaying bureaucracy, increasing interactions with foreign technology. They added coffee to milk as if it were a spice. Because Japan had been a closed country since the 1600s, excluding one island in Nagasaki exclusively used by the Dutch, the shogunate reacted by declaring death to anyone who aided foreigners. In 1868 the political uprising that ended the military government of the Tokugawa shogunate is known as Meiji Restoration. Japan before the Meiji restoration In 1839 and 1856 Asian nations were shocked by Britain's crushing victories over China in the two Opium Wars. Largely the handiwork of thegenro(elder statesman)It Hirobumi, the constitution established a bicameral parliament, called the Dietin full Imperial Diet (Teikoku Gikai)that was to be elected through a limited voting franchise. These were the Russo-Japanese war and Sino-Japanese war. This effort alternatively was reflected in the economy of the country. But rather, they were the victims of a violent outburst of a feeling of imperialist entitlement by a country that had created a narrative about its own role in Asia, which its Chinese neighbors resolutely did not share. From then on Shinto faiths and traditions took on Buddhist elements, and later, Confucian ones . While teaching materials in the early Meiji years were overwhelmingly translated from western sources, room was nonetheless made for the largely samurai staff to instruct their pupils in the traditional values they themselves had been brought up with. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). This reign opened a new era for Japan as a country in its social, political and economic aspects. Schooling combined Western ideas with Japanese culture. View history. Plus, get practice tests, quizzes, and personalized coaching to help you Although Japan also had an emperor hanging around, the emperor had little to no power. From simple essay plans, through to full dissertations, you can guarantee we have a service perfectly matched to your needs. The idea of nationalism and the nation-state was growing. Lastly, there were those countries that acted in partnership with Japan in terms of trade. Meiji is the name of a period in time in the Japanese history that started in 1868 with the Meiji Restoration and lasted until 1912. In some ways, the worship of Western civilization created a sense that Japanese traditional culture was inferior, consisting of old habits. An error occurred trying to load this video. She has a bachelor's degree in History, and a master's degree in International Relations. Under the emperor as a symbol of ancient Japanese authority, the people came together, and they began to think of Japan as a great and powerful nation that would be the most powerful country in Asia. It was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.