The Meiji Restoration

1
The Meiji Restoration

• Its implications
• Its achievements

2
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 of the Shogunate
• It followed protest by the Shishi against
  Japans 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

3
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

4
A typical revolution

• Drama and bloodshed
• Large scale emigration
• Irrevocable change
• Universal revolutionary ideology e.g. liberte,
  fraternite, egalite
• Class struggle
• nationalism

5
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

6
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

7
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.

8
Coup detat

• Prof Andrew Gordon is of the opinion
• The Restoration of the young Emperor Meiji in
  1867-68 was a little more than a coup detat. 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 Chamberlains views ( reading 2A,
  Chapter 5 page 61)

9
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

10
Charter Oath

• One of the first tasks of the Meiji Emperor was
  to issue a 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

11
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

12
The leadersYamagata Aritomo Saigo Takamori Ito
Hirobumi, Okubo Toshimichi, Kido Koin Matsukata
Masayoshi
13
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 Emperors 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)

14
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.

15
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 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

16
Okubo Toshimichi

• Disciplined and formal
• Completely dedicated to the best interests of 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 Takamoris followers

17
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

18
Achievements of the Restoration
19
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

20
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
• 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

21
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.

22
The Meiji Restoration( student version)

• Its implications
• Its achievements

23
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

24
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

25
Charter Oath Clauses

• The first two clauses
• The second clause also fulfilled the
• The fourth and fifth sent a strong message to
  foreign observers

26
The leadersYamagata Aritomo Saigo Takamori Ito
Hirobumi, Okubo Toshimichi, Kido Koin Matsukata
Masayoshi
27
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 Emperors 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)

28
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.

29

• 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.

30
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 Takamoris followers

31
Kido Koin

• From the Choshu clan
• Concerned about building consensus and a popular
  base for his government

32
Achievements of the Restoration
33
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

34
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

35
Thomas.C.Smith