Everything You Need to Know About the Meiji Period in Japan

 

From 1868 to 1912 a 44-year period of Japan's history in which the country was under the rule of the great Emperor Mutsuhito it was called the Meiji Era, he was the first ruler of Meiji Emperor who wield actual political power in centuries for the first time in Japan.

An Era of Change:

Japanese society saw an incredible transformation during the time of the Meiji Era or Meiji Period. The social, economic, and military reality of life in Japan completely restructured during this period as it also marked the end of the Japanese system of feudalism.

The Tokugawa shogun was overthrown by a faction of daimyo lords from Satsuma and Choshu in the far south of Japan who got united and return political power to the Emperor. It marked the start of Meiji Era, this revolution in Japan is called the Meiji Restoration.

The Meiji Emperor was brought out from "behind the jeweled curtain" and into the political limelight by the daimyo who probably did not anticipate all of the repercussions of their actions.

For example, the end of the samurai and their daimyo lords was seen during the Meiji Period as it also helped establish a modern conscript army. A period of rapid industrialization and modernization in Japan started with the beginning of this era.

The "Last Samurai," Saigo Takamori who was once the supporter of the restoration like many others later rose up in the unsuccessful Satsuma Rebellion in protest of these radical changes.

Social:

Japan had a feudal social structure with samurai warriors on top, followed by farmers, craftsmen, and finally merchants or traders at the bottom prior to the Meiji Era.

The status of the samurai was abolished during the Meiji Emperor's reign as all Japanese were considered commoners, except for the imperial family. In theory, practice discrimination was still rampant and even the burakumin or "untouchables" were now equal to all other Japanese people.

Japan also adopted many western customs during this time in addition to this leveling of society. Men and women began to wear Western-style suits and dresses abandoning silk kimono.

Economic:

Japan industrialized with incredible speed during the Meiji Era. 

Merchants and manufacturers were considered the lowest class of society just a few decades earlier, suddenly became the titans of industry forming huge corporations that produced iron, steel, ships, railroads, and other heavy industrial goods.

Japan went from a sleepy, agrarian country to an up-and-coming industrial giant within the reign of the Meiji Emperor. 

Policy-makers and ordinary Japanese people alike felt that this was absolutely essential for Japan's survival, as the western imperial powers of the time were bullying and annexing formerly strong kingdoms and empires all over Asia. 

Japan would become a major imperial power itself in the decades following the Meiji Emperor's death.

Military:

Japan's military capabilities saw a rapid and massive reorganization during the Meiji Era. Japanese warriors had been using firearms to great effect on the battlefield since the time of Oda Nobunaga. However, Japanese warfare was still denoted the samurai sword until the Meiji Restoration.

Japan established western-style military academies to train a whole new type of soldier under the Meiji Emperor. Japan had a conscript army now, in which the sons of former samurai might have a farmer's son as a commanding officer as no longer would birth into a samurai family be the qualifier for military training.

The conscripts about modern tactics and weaponry was taught to the Japanese by the triggers brought in from France, Prussia and other western countries.Japan became major world power in the Meiji Period with the recognition of its military.

Japan would defeat the Chinese in the First Sino-Japanese War of 1894-95 with battleships, mortars, and machine guns and latter then stun Europe by beating the Russians in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-05.

For the next forty years Japan would continue headlong down an increasingly militaristic path.

Birth of Modern Japan:

The rapid modernization of the country was developed by the new means of transport. The railway and horse-drawn tram lines was given way by the palanquins. In 1872, from Shimbashi to Yokohama, the first railway line was inaugurated.

A new West inspired urban model was brought in the Meiji Era which consisted paved roads, brick buildings and gas street lights. Ginza and Marunouchi districts emerged with a Western-inspired architecture with the rise of this new model. 

The Tokyo station is also of European inspiration, with its red brick facade, although it was completed in 1914. The yofuku "western clothes" made the kimono and traditional clothes to fall into disuse. 

Western-style dresses and hairstyles were adopted by the Japanese women. The fashion of the mustache and the beard attracted the male population of the country. Ukiyo-e prints fell out of favor during this time as photography and lithography were greeted with enthusiasm. 

Felice Beato who was the first European photographer installed in Yokohama very quickly found many Japanese disciples. The Yokohama Mainichi Shimbun was the first daily newspaper which was allowed to publish in 1871 as the regulations of the written press way decreed by the emperor.

Japan achieved the feat of moving from a feudal state to one of the world's greatest powers, in fifty years. As in 1912 the death of Emperor Mutsuhito marked the end of this Era.

Written by: Gourav Chowdhury