गुरुवार, 18 अप्रैल 2024

Japan's internal policy under the Meiji period: Restoration

 


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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