Unresolved Issues 1868
Three Streams
• Provincial Autonomy
• Sonno-joi
• Learn from the West
Shishi activism
• Mito(gaku)
• Choshu
• Satsuma
• Tosa
• Kyoto (Court)
The Charter Oath 1868
•
Deliberative assemblies shall be widely established and all matters
decided by public discussion.
•
All classes, high and low, shall unite in vigorously carrying out the
administration of affairs of state.
•
The common people, no less than the civil and military officials,
shall each be allowed to pursue his own calling so that there may
be no discontent.
•
Evil customs of the past shall be broken off and everything based
upon the just laws of Nature.
•
Knowledge shall be sought throughout the world so as to
strengthen the foundations of imperial rule.
Political Unification
•
•
•
•
•
•
1869 Daimyo surrender their lands to the emperor
Dajokan (Council of State)
1871 Abolition of the domains
From 280 private domains to 72 public prefectures
Elimination of the status system
Samurai abolished fully in 1876
•
Satsuma Rebellion 1877
Imperial Subjects
Imagined Communities
Who imagines what? when?
• Elimination of status system
• eta & hinin now within “heimin” grouping
• but eta & hinin on first Meiji rolls as “new
subjects”
The Emperor
• Moved from Kyoto to Edo taking shogun’s
castle
• Edo renamed Tokyo (“Eastern Capital”)
• Constructed as a modern monarch
Meiji Emperor 1873
Meiji Emperor 1873
Meiji Emperor 1873
Who or what is sovereign?
Imperial Progresses
• External
• Internal
• A nation-state within a global system of
nation-states (and non nation-states)
•
Fujitani p. 47
Matsumae-Ainu/Ezo
So (Tsushima)-Korea
Shimazu (Satsuma)-Ryukyu
Shinkiron (1838)
“... by acquiring knowledge of the entire world the cunning
Westerners have dominated the world. They are arrogant
fellows who have been disturbing the peace of the world. As
their strength resides in the arts of navigation and gunnery,
they will come to know our weaknesses and take advantage of
them by obstructing our management of the seas. By so doing,
they will be able to exhaust our nation. Everything will then be
uncontrollable for us.”
Shinkiron (1838)
“... by acquiring knowledge of the entire world the cunning
Westerners have dominated the world. They are arrogant
fellows who have been disturbing the peace of the world. As
their strength resides in the arts of navigation and gunnery,
they will come to know our weaknesses and take advantage of
them by obstructing our management of the seas. By so doing,
they will be able to exhaust our nation. Everything will then be
uncontrollable for us.”
1858 Unequal Treaties
• Extraterritoriality
• Loss of tariff autonomy
• Most-Favored-Nation clause
Bunmei-kaika
Fukoku-kyohei
「文明開化」
「富国強兵」
“Civilization & Enlightenment”
Rich Nation, Strong Army
Risshin-shusse
「立身出世」
“Make Something of Yourself”