The
Meiji Restoration gave a new life to Japan, making it a first-class power and a
modern state within a few years. A strong movement started in Japan for the
modernization of the country, which brought about radical changes in every
sphere of the country's life and rejuvenated Japan.
1.
End of feudal system
On
March 5,
1869,
the daimyo of Satsuma, Choshu, Tosa and Hizen applied to the emperor and
accepted the subordination of their principalities to the central government,
and all their feudal privileges were abolished. Other daimyo did the same. The
emperor ordered those who were left to do so on 25 July. All the
princely states became subordinate to the emperor. But, the rule of the feudal
lords over the jagirs did not end. The princely states were given the form of
districts and their daimyos were appointed administrators and at the same time
the control of the central government over them was made very tight.
2.
Military Reforms
The
Japanese army was created by samurai people. Samurai people used to provide
military service while serving feudal lords. Entry into the army was limited to
this class and the common people were not given the opportunity for military
service, but when the feudal system ended, this monopoly of the Samurai people
also ended and all classes of Japan had the opportunity to join the army. The
door was opened. In other words, the nature of the Japanese army now became
national. In 1872,
military service was declared mandatory in Japan by publishing a royal decree.
3.
Establishment of legal equality
In
1869,
class-related restrictions on government and professional jobs were removed. In
1880
AD, the general public got the right to bear the family name, which was limited
to the feudal lords only. In 1871 AD, the lowest class of the society – the
untouchables – was given complete equality. The feudal class could keep two
swords as a special symbol. A normal person could not keep these. But, in 1871 AD, the government
allowed that the feudal lords or samurai who wanted to give up these swords
could do so. In 1876,
keeping swords was banned by law. With this, feudal prestige and the visible
signs of separation ended.
4.
Industrial development
New
factories were soon established in Japan and machines were imported from Europe
and America. Cloth, silk, iron goods etc. started being produced in abundance
in the huge factories there. It was also a policy of the Japanese government to
pay special attention to the development of such professions which were
important from the military point of view. Therefore, mines were dug in Japan,
the iron and steel industry were advanced and factories were opened to produce
war materials. Special emphasis was given to the development of steam power. By
1890,
most of the factories in Japan started working with steam power only. The
construction of railway lines first started in Japan in 1872 AD and by 1894 AD, railway lines
were spread all over the country. Telegraph first entered Japan in 1868. Within a few days,
post offices were established in Japan. By 1883, ten
steam-powered ships were produced in the Nagasaki factory and twenty-three
steam-powered ships were produced in the Hyogi factory. It became a major
maritime power in the world.
5. Improvement in agriculture
In 1872 AD, farmers established ownership of their fields and
got relief from feudal inconveniences. Earlier, the feudal people used to take
a certain part of the produce as rent from the farmers who ploughed the land of
their jagirs. But now, instead of taking a share of the produce, the government
started taking land revenue in the form of sik. This benefited the farmers a
lot. Special efforts were made to increase the production by making progress in
the field of agriculture. Farmers were given all kinds of government assistance
so that they could increase their production. He was told the method of farming
using new scientific methods. But even this did not satisfy the farmers,
because very heavy taxes were collected from them. From 1883
to
1890, severe atrocities were committed on farmers to
collect taxes.
6.
Improvement
in education
According to the
instructions of the royal oath of 1868
AD, 'Knowledge should be obtained from every place', the Education Department
was established in 1871 AD. For this, a
law was made and a provision was made that "Every person, high and low,
man and woman, should get education so that no family or member of the family
remains uneducated and ignorant in the entire society." Japan modified
America's primary and secondary education and made it the basis of its own
system. The entire country was divided into eight university regions.
Thirty-two secondary school were created in these areas. Every state was
divided into two hundred and ten primary school circles. In this way, one
primary school became available for every six hundred people. It was made
mandatory for boys and girls of six years to complete four years and later six
years of education. Apart from the general essential subjects, they were also
given moral education related to respect and loyalty towards the emperor.
7.
Development of new lifestyle
In 1872, it was made mandatory for all
government officials to wear western dress. The popularity of wearing suits
grew so much that in Japan also the tailors' street Seibiro was established in imitation of London's fine
tailors' street 'Sabilro'. The custom of greeting by shaking hands also came
into vogue. Women started wearing Victorian style clothes. In 1873, the Empress stopped blackening her
teeth and plucking her eyebrows. This was a custom of married women in Japan.
Since then, it has stopped completely. The custom of brushing teeth increased
so much that toothpastes became the largest consumption in Japan.
8.
Changes in religious and political life
Instead of
Buddhism, Shanto religion started becoming popular. It became the state
religion of Japan. This religion helped in the development of nationalism.
People started showing more loyalty and respect towards the emperor than
before. Religion was used to bring a sense of patriotism to the nation. As a
result, a sense of national consciousness and unity emerged among the Japanese
people. Japan was influenced by the political philosophy of the West,
especially the broad liberalism of the nineteenth century. At the same time,
some progressive thinkers were born in Japan, who launched a movement to reform
governance. One leader of this movement was Itagaki Taisuke. In 1874, he requested the emperor that
according to the declaration of 1868,
a parliament should be established in Japan which would truly represent the
public opinion of Japan. To give a national form to this demand, an
organization named 'Ikokusha' (Society of Patriots) was formed in 1875. Local self-government was initiated in
Japan in 1878. The new
constitution was promulgated on February 11,
1889. It is called 'Meiji
Constitution'.
9.
Justice and legal system
In 1873, the creation of a penal code and
criminal law was started. This work was completed in 1880 AD and was accepted in 1882 AD. These laws were deeply influenced
by French laws. The work of drafting a civil code began in 1870 and was accepted upon completion in 1890. In the same year, extra-territorial
rights were also abolished. The basis of the Civil Code was also French law,
although some elements of the laws of Germany and some other countries were
also taken from it. The law for civil cases was in force since 1891 AD. The commercial code, derived from
German origin, was also implemented in the same manner as the civil code.
Japan's Justice Department was also reorganized. The judicial system of France
was considered ideal by creating small and big courts. By 1889 AD, the outline of the new system
related to the court was ready and in 1894
AD, the administration of justice started running according to this system in
the entire country.
It is clear from
the above description that after the Restoration there was a transformation in
every aspect of Japanese life. Eating, drinking, living, wearing, thinking and
all activities of political, economic, social, and cultural life changed with
surprising speed. Japan came onto the world stage as an advanced, modern
country.
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