Page 39 - All About History - Issue 18-14

Heroes & Villains

EMPEROR MEIJI

“ The Japanese

had achieved
in less than 40

years what took
the British and

the Industrial
Revolution 150”

achievements of any nation in world history.
Silk farms that had been tended by the
same families for hundreds of years
All of the emperor’s children were transformed into textile factories, and
born to official ladies-in-waiting rather Although
than his wife, Empress Shōken then just years later became steel mills,
Meiji had 15 helping to equip the new efficient
Withthealmightysamuraiclassabolishedanew Just 15 years after Perry had children, only five and powerful Japanese army. The
consciousness awoke across Japan and for the first bestowed a gift of a toy train to of them survived world’s focus turned to Japan as the
time in thousands of years genuine social mobility the shogun, a real one carried into adulthood nation decimated their Chinese rivals
seemed possible. A sense of opportunity swept passengers from Tokyo or in the Sino-Japanese War, and even
over thelandassuddenlyeveryonehadtheability Yokohama. The emperor, ever a toppled the mighty Russian army in the
to improvetheirownlives,tomaketheirfortune symbol for his country to follow, led Russo-Japanese War. At an unprecedented
and to have a hand in shaping Japan. In rural the way in western fashion, dressing in pace, Japan had transformed from a backward
regions, youngmenandwomenfromgenerations smart Victorian-style suits, while citizens all over feudal land to a major world power. The Japanese
of families who had tirelessly worked the fields Japan added western umbrellas, hats, watches and had achieved in less than 40 years what took the
joined together in ramshackle huts and wrote their shoes to their wardrobes. Although the emperor British and the Industrial Revolution 150.
own constitutions of what they thought Japan remained as a mostly silent figurehead for the Meiji’s modernisation came at a cost, though,
should be.Afterlivinginastrictclasssystemruled nation, there was one cause he championed as children as young as 11 were put to work in
by the shoguns, suddenly everyone had a chance above all – education. As compulsory education textile mills, while coal mines were filled with
to have theirvoicesheard. was introduced for all children, education came prisoners, outcasts and poor farmers. Work in the
The changes sweeping through Japan under to represent the path to a better life, transforming scorching-hot shafts was essential for the country’s
Meiji weren’t gradual, but descended in an the once divided country into a land of equal modernisation, but in the 130-degree heat naked,
avalanche. The abolition of the ban on wheeled opportunity for anyone willing to work for it. starving men and women crawled, worked and
vehiclescausedtheriseinpopularityofthe The change of Japan from an obscure island died in the darkness. This was how Japan paid for
rickshaw, horse-drawn trolleys and finally the state, rooted in the past, to a major world power its modernisation and place in the world.
symbol of Japan’s modernisation itself, the train. was one of the most impressive and dramatic For away from these horrors the emperor sat
at his royal court. An intensely private man, little
Defining moment is known about Meiji, even to this day. His steely
expression and imperial hosting gave away little
Satsuma Rebellion 1877
Afterworkingwiththegovernmentfornineyears,the of his personality, even to those he was closest
samuraiofSatsuma,whohelpedendtheshogunrule,dislike too. The only window into his soul are the poems
Emperor Meiji’s actions. The abolition of the samurai class he left behind, which tell the tale of a thoughtful
hasleftmanyofthemhomelessandtherapidmodernisation and sensitive man who valued peace and unity
isseenasabetrayaloftheancientways.SaigoTakamori, above all. It then seems fitting that to this day he
aseniorSatsumaleader,resignsfromhisgovernment
position and leads a samurai army. The rebellion is spirited is revered not for the man himself, but instead as a
andbloody,buttheimperialforcesenditswiftlywiththeir symbol of the transformation of feudal Japan and
superior weapons. Saigo commits ritual suicide in traditional for the enterprising, forward-thinking spirit that
samurai fashion, seppuku – suicide by disembowelment. runs through Japanese society to this day.

Defining moment 1912
O Sino-Japanese War O Russo-Japanese War O Annexation of Korea An era ends O
Meiji Constitution 1890 TheEmpireofJapan Known as the first Korea becomes a colony Aged 59 Emperor Meiji
defeats the Qing Dynasty great war of the 20th of Japan after a treaty dies from uraemia after
After having no written constitution in its history, the Meiji
of China for control of century, Japan shocks annexing Korea to Japan suffering from multiple
Constitution is set up. Based on the Prusso-German model, it
Korea after six months the world by defeating is signed. Within the diseases.Heisgiven
places the emperor as head of state, active in government with
of military successes, Tsar Nicholas II’s treaty the Korean emperor the reign name Meiji
great political power. This power is shared with an elected largely attributed to Russian forces, firmly agrees to hand sovereign and his single surviving
diet consisting of a House of Peers, inspired by the Prussian the greatly advanced cementing its position power of Korea to sonTaishobecomes
Herrenhaus, and a House of Representatives, resembling weapons and military of as a major world power Emperor Meiji. Japan will Emperorwithnohint
the British House of Lords. Its second chapter deals with the the Japanese forces. of the modern age. rule Korea for 35 years. ofarevolution.
rights of citizens, similar to the US Constitution. 1894-1895 1904-05 1910 1912
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