Page 37 - All About History - Issue 18-14

Heroes & Villains

EMPEROR MEIJI

Heroes & Villains

Emperor

Meiji Life in the time
Before the restoration, crown princes
received only classical education and were
not trained in political matters

of Emperor Meiji

Bornintoacountryravagedbypoliticalturmoil, Religious turmoil
As the emperor was restored to power, there
MeijiledJapanfromfeudalstatetooneofthe was also a shift to return to a Shinto-orientated
state. Buddhism had been connected with
the shogun, so there was mass destruction
foremost powers of the modern world of Buddhist images and text and priests were
forced to become Shinto priests. Anti-Buddhist
Written by Frances White riots swept the country and from 1872 to 1874
around 18,000 temples were destroyed.
Spontaneous parties
A movement known as eejanaika spread
across Japan from 1867 to 1868 at the height
of the country’s political unrest. It involved
heyearwas1852andtheonce-grand tothethrone,unrestwasbrewing.Opposedto carnivalesque celebrations and dancing
emperors of Japan had become mere the inclusion of foreigners and their dangerous festivals, which descended into mass riots and
figureheads.Theyhadnorealpower,forthe influence into a land ruled by tradition, large political protest. Amulets were said to have
fallen from heaven, prompting thanksgiving
truereignoftheemperorsendedinthe9th numbers of samurai gathered and made a decision festivals that involved cross-dressing, gift
Tcentury when the shoguns, mighty military – these ancient warriors who were ruled by honour exchanges and even naked dancing.
men with a lust for power, had seized control for decided the shoguns had proved ineffective in
themselves.Theemperorsremainedasasymbolic protecting Japanese interests. Only one person Industrial Revolution
reminderofwhatoncewas,buttheshogunheld could put everything right: their emperor. Japan’s landscape dramatically changed as the
the power and they used it to mould Japan into a As a severe economic depression and devastating Industrial Revolution took full effect in 1870.
land ruledbyastricthierarchy.Theycreateda famine ravaged the land, the popularity of Railroads and improved roads stretched across
the country as steel and textile factories
country separated from what lay across theshogunwaned.Seeinghischance, were erected in rural areas. For the first time,
its shores, with few residents ever Meiji’sfather,EmperorKōmei Japanese students travelled abroad to Europe
glimpsingtheworldbeyondJapan; complied with the samurai and and America to study modern mathematics,
the doorstothekingdomwere issued the order to “revere the technology and foreign languages.
locked tight. This was all about Meiji was an avid emperor and expel barbarians.” Military advances
to change, though, and the poet and wrote more Although this would be The military underwent dramatic
arrival of an American ship of than 100,000 poems in impossibletocarryout,itsent a modernisation in an effort to catch up with
war would forever alter Japan. clear message that Japan didn’t Western powers. As well as mass telegraph
The youngMeiji,thenknown his lifetime want anything to do with the lines, there was construction of shipyards,
as Sachinomiya, or Prince Sachi, outside world and foreigners mines and munitions factories. The military
wasn’t evenayearoldwhenthe werenotwelcome.Justwhenit structure was completely shaken up and took
American commodore Matthew seemed that the Japanese emperor on the French rank structure, while cadets
Perry and his fleet dropped anchor at would once again, after many centuries, were sent abroad to foreign schools to learn
modern naval and military techniques.
Edo Harbour in 1853. The iron ships stood wield real and tangible power, the 36-year
stark and powerful against the traditional Japanese old Emperor Kōmei suddenly dropped dead. The new vs the old
fleet and the commodore demanded Japan opened Allegations of his poisoning quickly flew across The conflict between old and young found
its shores to trade else face the might of the US the country, as did speculation about what his itself manifesting in a traditional Japanese
military. Faced with an infinitely superior opponent death meant for the future of the country and what haircut known as the chonmage. Many young
with advanced weaponry from what seemed role his 14-year-old son would play. Completely Japanese men were quick to ditch the old
hairstyle in favour of more casual Western
an alien world, the shogun complied with the uneducated on matters of politics, the young Meiji styles, but groups of people defended the
Americans and opened Japan’s seas to trade. ascended the throne February of 1867 in the height style, and even resulted in weddings being
While the child emperor struggled to apply of political turmoil that was threatening to snap cancelled and mothers abandoning sons who
himself to the classic education expected of heirs Japan in two. got rid of it.

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