1868-1912

Arrival of US Commodore Perry,

1853• To end Japan’s self-imposed isolation and

open it to trade• Soon, Britain, Russia, and Holland

negotiated similar treaties • Tokugawa shogunate was overthrown for

allowing western nations into Japan• In 1868, Emperor Mutsushito was restored to

throne– To withstand imperialistic might of West, Japan

needed to adopt western ways

Perry's American “Black Ships”

Japanese Ships

• Japanese ships not allowed to leave Japan

• In 1637 Shogun Tokugawa Iemitsu had fixed size and manpower of Japanese ships so that they could only travel on inland waterways

Reactions to Western Presence

• Some samurai wanted direct expulsion of foreigners

• Some wanted to learn from foreigners, then expel them– Their slogan was "Eastern Ethics,

Western Science"

Emperor Meijiat Age 27

Initial Problems

• From within: The Tokugawa feudal structure and its problems.– The growing gap between the rich and 

poor samurai  

• From without: Russia, Britain, and the U.S.– All three tried to expand into Japan 

Structure of Meiji Government

• According to Charter Oath and Seitaisho (provisional constitution) of 1868, establishment of the Dajokan (Grand Council of State)

• It allowed small group to make decisions and implement decisions through their own ministries

• Established centralized authority by abolishing the domains (1871)

The Charter Oath of 1868• 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.

Japanese Nationalism• Idea of the kokutai (national essence)• Idea of national essence (or national soul)

borrowed from Germany in its conservative reaction against the French Revolution and Napoleon

• In 1871 national government in Tokyo assumed:– Debts of domains which accepted its rule– Responsibility for stipends paid to samurai

• Samurai class lost its income in land reforms and creation of conscription army of commoners

Meiji Constitution (1889)

• Japanese emperor given great authority• Military answered directly to the

emperor• Much of the time, however, real

decision making was done by the Privy Council, which consisted of those who helped emperor in the Meiji Restoration

• Conservative document that gave the people a certain amount of rights, but gave the emperor predominant power over the two houses

Meiji Society

• Reclassified social hierarchy: – Nobles (kazoku) (including many newly

appointed industrialists and merchants and samurai who were on the emperor's side during the Meiji Restoration)

– Former samurai (shizoku and sotsu), farmers, merchants and artisans (heimin) as ordinary citizens

• Downfall of the samurai as a class 

Meiji Economics

Raw Silk Production and Export from Japan 1868 to 1913

PeriodProduction

annual average(tons)

Exportsannual average

(tons)

1868-1872 1026 646

1883 1687 1347

1889-1893 4098 2444

1899-1903 7103 4098

1909-1913 12460 9462

Coal Production in Japan1875 to 1913

YearCoal Production

(metric tons)

1875 600,000

1885 1,200,000

1895 5,000,000

1905 13,000,000

1913 21,300,000

Japanese Merchant Fleet Size 1873 to 1913

Year Number of Steamships

1873 26

1894 169

1904 797

1913 1514

Railroad Mileage in Japan1873 to 1913

YearTrack(miles)

1872 18

1883 240

1887 640

1894 2100

1904 4700

1914 7100

1907—Meiji Industrial Exposition, first Japanese swimming pool

1907—Meiji Industrial Exposition, the Tokyo Exposition Buildings

1907—Meiji Industrial Exposition, the Mitsubishi Museum

1907—Meiji Industrial Exposition, a Kairansha. Developed in U.S. only 10 years before

Further Impact of Meiji

• Meiji Era policy of using private businesses to promote government policy objectives

• South Korea– Park Chung Hee wanted to industrialize it– Created system of Chaebol

• Government-sponsored firms such as Hyundai, Samsung, Lucky Goldstar, Daewoo, etc.

• Park was an officer in Japanese Army (with Japanese name) while Korea under Japanese control during WWII

1868-1912

Bibliography

• www.indiana.edu/

• www.taisho.com/

• www.regentsprep.org

• ocw.mit.edu

• web.rollins.edu