The Meiji Era (Illuminated Regime or Government) meant the first era of the Empire in Japan and which remained between the years 1868-1912. It was extremely important for Japan's development process, as it made it one of the great capitalist world powers. It represented a period of political, economic and social transformations.
The Meiji Era lasted about 45 years and ended the feudal period in Japan, called the Edo Era (1603-1868), which was based on the Shogunate.
Empire of Japan
It is worth remembering that the Empire of Japan began in 1868 and ended in 1989. It is divided into three periods, namely:
- Meiji Era (1868-1912)
- Taishō Era (1912 - 1926)
- Showa Era (1926 - 1989)
The Shogunate and the Samurai
The Shogunate lasted about 700 years in Japan and is divided into three periods:Kamakura Shogunate, Ashikaga Shogunate and Tokugawa Shogunate.
The term Shogun (Bakufu in Japanese) refers to the feudal regime and also to the title granted by the emperor which meant “commander of the army”.
Later, the term acquires the meaning of "Leader of the Samurai". The Shoguns, therefore, were military chiefs and also landowners (feudal lords).
During this period, the country was immersed in a military regime, where the Samurai were considered the great warriors who were part of the military elite. With the end of that Era, the Samurai, who represented about 6% of the Japanese population, were excluded.
The feature film “The Last Samurai ” (2003) was inspired by the life of Japanese warrior and politician Saigo Takamori. Considered the last Samurai, he led the Satsuma Rebellion, between the Samurai and the new government regime. Note that there were numerous clashes between the samurai class and the government, however, they were defeated and decimated by the Japanese army.
Meiji Revolution
The Meiji Revolution was marked by several events and, initially, it was driven by the United States, in the figure of Admiral Matthew Calbraith Perry who arrived in Japan in the city of Edo (now Tokyo), pressuring the country to participate in international relations.
He carried a letter from the American president, Millard Fillmore, to the Tokugawa Shogunate, which resulted in the resignation of the last shogun Tokugawa Yoshinobu, in 1867. Entering power, Emperor Meiji Mutsuhito (1852-1912) who reigned from February 3, 1867 until his death on July 30, 1912.
Thus, the country's ports (Shimoda and Hakodate) were opened, which resulted in a great advance in terms of modernization and trade relations. The Meiji Revolution was the name given to the various economic and political changes that Japan went through, resulting in a great and accelerated development, industrialization and modernization of the country. In other words, the Meiji Revolution represents the industrial revolution that took place in Japan.
Features of the Meiji Era
The main features of the Meiji Era were:
- End of the feudal system, the Shogunate and the Samurai
- Extinction of manors and land reform
- Opening of ports and intensification of international relations
- Development of urbanization and advance of modernization of the country
- Cultural Exchange with the West
- Democratic Government and unification of the country
- Promulgation of the First Constitution (1889)
- Installation of the Constitutional Monarchy
- Army creation and organization
- Economic and legislative reforms
- State intervention in the economy
- Political centralization and strengthening of the state
- Creation of the Japanese currency:the yen
- Creation of the Bank of Japan
- Compulsory primary education and creation of Universities
- Expansion of transport:creation of railways
Japanese Miracle
The Japanese Economic Miracle (1945-1991) is closely related to the Meiji Revolution as it represented a time of significant change in Japan after World War II (1939-1945) and which ended in 1991. The main feature of the Japanese Miracle was the enormous and accelerated economic growth of the country.
Learn more about Japan in the Japan and Economy of Japan articles.