Lecture Notes on Emperor Meiji and the Meiji Restoration

Introduction to Emperor Meiji

• Born on November 3, 1852, near the Imperial Palace in Kyoto, Japan.
• Given names: Prince Sachi or Sachi no Miya.
• Father: Emperor Komei, a traditionalist ruler during the Edo period.
• Mother: Nakayama Yoshiko, a concubine of Komei.
• Emperor Meiji rose to become the imperial heir.

Japan Before the Meiji Era

• Feudal society with emperors serving as ceremonial heads.
• Real power lay with the Tokugawa Shogunate, established in 1603.
• Japan divided into approximately 200 daimyos or lordships.
• Country maintained traditional Neo-Confucian social values.
• Isolated from Western influences by expelling European missionaries.

Western Influence and the Fall of Isolation

• By the 19th century, Western military technology and transportation threatened Japan's isolation.
• Commodore Matthew Perry's arrival in 1853 forced Japan to open trade.
• The Convention of Kanagawa marked the end of Japan’s policy of isolation.

The Meiji Restoration

• Mutsuhito became Emperor Meiji in 1867, succeeding his father at age 14.
• The Meiji Restoration began in 1868, led by lords Saigo Takamori, Okubo Toshimichi, and Kido Takeyoshi.
• Shifted power from the Shogunate to the Emperor, establishing a more centralized government.

Civil War and Political Reforms

• The Boshin War between pro- and anti-shogunate forces.
• Japanese political system reorganized with the Charter Oath in April 1868.
• Established deliberative assemblies and aimed for a democratic system.
• Abolished feudal hierarchies, introduced prefectures.

Economic and Military Transformations

• Industrialization through textile, coal, and railway industries.
• Creation of a national currency (yen) and the Bank of Japan.
• Conscription ordinance in 1873 led to a modernized national army.
• Japan's first ironclad warship bought in 1867, modern naval strategies formed.

Foreign Policy and Imperial Ambitions

• Efforts to open Korea culminated in the Japan-Korea Treaty of Amity (1876).
• Dissolution of the samurai class faced resistance, leading to the Satsuma Rebellion.
• Japan's victory in the First Sino-Japanese War and the Treaty of Shimonoseki expanded influence.
• Increasing involvement with Western powers, including the Anglo-Japanese Alliance (1902).

Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905)

• Surprise attack on Port Arthur led to Japanese victory.
• Treaty of Portsmouth: Japan recognized as a pre-eminent power in the Far East.

Internal Challenges and Social Issues

• The High Treason Incident of 1910, reflecting fears of socialism and anarchism.
• Emperor Meiji faced health issues leading to his death in July 1912.

Legacy of Emperor Meiji

• Meiji's reign marked Japan’s transition from isolation to modernization.
• Unclear personal influence on policies, with debates about his role.
• Set Japan on a path of rapid industrial and military expansion.
• Legacy as a modernizer versus criticisms for laying groundwork for later military aggression.

Conclusion

• Emperor Meiji's reign pivotal for modern Japan’s emergence.
• Debate over his role in Japan's later imperial aggression.

Discussion Prompt:

• Was Emperor Meiji a brilliant innovator or a power monger? Discuss.