Meiji Restoration•Factors leading to the Restoration•Changes during the Restoration •Achievements of the Restoration

Problems of the Bakufu prior to 1853

• Financial distress– Agriculture– Taxation by the Shogun– Drought and epidemics– Natural disasters..Tenpo famine

• Discontentment of the Samurai class who resented the growing power of the merchants

• Call for reforms in taxes, social positions• Emerging power of the Choshu, Tosa Hizen and Satsuma the

traditionally rebel domains• Attempts by the West: British and Russians to open up Japan to trade

Choshu and Satsuma

• Both were rebel domains but were fortunate to have fewer fiscal problems

• Development of a class of samurais ( Goshi) who farmed the land and so there were fewer peasant uprisings

• Both these domains had a budget surplus, flourishing economy and trade

• In both the domains there were reform minded daimyo rulers

Intellectual ferment• Despite the closing off of Japan, the Dutch Learning ( Rangaku)

continued• The Bakufu, while it followed a closed door policy to trade, set up a

bureau to translate Dutch texts.• Dutch texts were translated and ideas were used • The knowledge in sciences astronomy maths and medicine continued

to grow in Japan even though it was closed off.• At the same time in response to the growing tensions the school of

Kokugaku ( national revival) emerged• Kokugaku emphasized nationalism, a return to the rule of the Emperor

which posed a direct threat to the rule of the Shogun

Intellectuals

• Japanese scholars like Sakuma Shozan of Choshu conducted experiments in Chemistry and glass making

• He believed in Eastern Ethics and Western Science

• His ideas became a slogan for the Meiji Restoration though he was murdered in 1864

Opening of Japan: the cause or the catalyst?

• Result of an armed mission by Commodore Perry of the USA in 1853

• Treaty with Perry signed in 1854• The treaties that resulted undermined the Bakufu but

paved the way for the Meiji Restoration• The Bakufu sought the help of the Daimyo but instead of

supporting or rallying around the Bakufu it led to calls for its end.

• Sonno Joi = revere the Emperor and expel the barbarian

Commodore Perry’s mission

• It was designed to intimidate. • To show off to Japan that America could and would use its

military capability to force trade with Japan• This caused a huge rift among the daimyos

– Shogun aware that he couldn’t win in a fight – Lord Mito wanted to fight– Yoshida Shoin an inellectual, wanted to use this event to dismantle

Bakufu and revive monarchy

Thus Perry’s actions became the catalyst for change

Shogun’s response to Perry• Commodore Perry’s demands created a crisis

/revolution in Japan• Shogun wanted mediation• Elder Daimyo wanted to stall for time and strengthen

Japan and then fight to get rid of the Samurai• Younger samurai mostly of the rebel domains called

for expulsion of ‘barbarians’ ( Sonno joi= expel the barbarian,revere the Emperor)

Treaty of Kanagawa signed in 1854

Terms• Shimoda and Hakodate two minor ports opened to US ships. This was

followed by the opening of other ports• US Consul sent to Japan: Townsend Harris more aggressive terms were

demanded• These demands were in the Treaty of Edo 1858• Similar agreements followed with the Dutch and Russians, and then

the British and the French followed• Japan’s situation identical to that of China under the unequal treaty

system• The treaties gave the foreigners the right to extra territoriality and also

the MFN status

Domestic Politics• Troubled times for the Bakufu• In 1858 a succession dispute broke out• The underage heir had the support of the Daimyo and the rival

Tokugawa candidate was the son of the powerful daimyo of Mito• A regency was formed under the leadership of Ii Naosuke the Shogun’s

advisor who tried to strengthen the now discredited bakufu and Ii Naosuke was forced to agree to Harris’ terms

• To quell opposition to the treaty of Edo, he took action against opposition which made Li Naosuke more unpopular.

• In 1860 Ii Naosuke assassinated by the Sonno Joi faction who hated the fact that Ii Naosuke signed the treaty of 1858 which opened up more ports in Japan

The impact in Japan of China’s defeat in the 2nd Opium War

• While the debate raged in Japan, the Shogun and the daimyo very aware of the events in China.

• Ii Naosuke, the Shogun’s regent wanted to prevent the forced intervention• So in 1858 he chose to accept Townshend Harris’ proposal even though it was turned

down by the Emperor• He imprisoned Daimyo who opposed his policy. This added to the unpopularity• The Shogun’s advisors tried to follow a more conciliatory policy by marrying the young

Shogun to the Emperor’s sister.• Ii also released the imprisoned daimyo and offer them key positions in his household.

Loyal Daimyo were recognized and honoured• However it was perhaps too little too late. In the years just before and after the treaty

the Satsuma, Choshu, Tosa and Hizen clans adopted to western technology• The demand was for reform, the Shogun tried to accommodate the ideas but the calls

for reform were growing ever louder• Choshu began to attack British vessels and there were calls for the Shogun to stop this

outrage

Sonno Joi

• Lord Mito one of the most influential daimyo was strongly anti western

• Advocated a military policy to expel the barbarians• One of the strongest spokesman was a young Choshu Samurai,

Yoshida Shoin• He attracted a number of young men of the Choshu Tosa and

Satsuma domains who would later become the leaders of the Meiji Restoration– Kido Koin, Ito Hirobumi, Saigo Takamori and Yamagata Aritomo

• Yoshida blamed the Bakufu for its inability to reject the unequal treaties– He was convinced that the Bakufu must be overthrown– Plotted against the Bakufu, was arrested and beheaded in 1859.– Despite his death the idea he suggested was acted upon by his

proteges

Domestic tensions grow……………..

• The Shishi was class of young discontented Samurai. Served under the Tozama daimyo and therefore were unable to secure high offices

• Shishi were men of talent but failed to secure high offices because of hereditary privileges of the Fudai Daimyo. Shinpan daimyo were not allowed to hold office either.

• This was the young idealistic reform minded group• They saw the signing of the treaties as a betrayal and gravitated

towards Kyoto and Edo seeking reform• The Shishi were brave to the point of being reckless, yet their

intentions were honourable• They were determined to save Japan’s cultural integrity• They were supported by the court faction in Kyoto. The shishi were

seen as an alternative to the Shogun

Shishi actions from 1860 onwards• In order to bring about change they embarked on a series of

assassinations ……about 70• Became a threat to the Shogun as it predicated a crisis between the

Shogun and the British and Americans• Attacks by Satsuma and Choshu samurai on foreign warships• Attacked Sakuma Shozan• Attacked Ashikaga statues and decapitated them• Their intention was to make it clear to the Shogun that he had failed to

rule and so had to go• In 1863 this group plotted a palace coup. They were discovered and

fled to Choshu• Choshu was asked to hand them over and Choshu refused• This precipitated an attack on Choshu which went in favour of the

Choshu.• This was the first time a domain had successfully resisted the Shogun

Kaikoku Joi• While there was one group that objected to western ideas or anything

western there was another group that was determined to learn from the west and then use that knowledge to defeat the foreigner.

• Their slogan was kaikoku joi= open the country to drive out the barbarians

• Even in the Bakufu there was a willingness to learn western ideas• Daimyo had sent their men abroad ( often illegally) to study • The intention was to hold on to the Bakufu and support it to create a

more modern state but this failed.• Largely led by the senior reform minded daimyo but clashed with the

Shishi who favoured Sonno Joi• In the meantime the western ultimatum was to take action against the

Choshu. The Shogun agrees• Fear of attack makes them support Shogun and Choshu backs down

Last years of the Shogunate• 1863 coup to oust the Shogun failed and the Choshu refusal to hand over

the culprits led to bombardment of Choshu and Satsuma domains. Kagoshima bombed

• In 1865 British warships bombed Choshu. Choshu on the brink of invasion, chose to capitulate and accept humiliating terms

• 1866 the Shishi disbanded and scattered but the ideas remained dormant.• The Shishi widened and politicised the growing rift between the Shogun

and Emperor• 1866 Shogun tries to attack Choshu a second time. Satsuma support

Choshu• Satsuma which had so far supported the Shogun now chose to switch

sides.• Many daimyo were also unwilling to see civil war break out in JapanThis largely conributed to the end of the Shogunate

The end game• Shogun once again tried to make more concession with the intention of

consolidating his position and control over Kyoto• Shogun took the help of the French to train his troops and provide guns• The intention was to eliminate Choshu rebels who were now in positions of

importance: Yamagata Aritomo and Ito Hirobumi• Secretly joined by Satsuma who followed advice of former Shishi Saigo

Takamori and Okubo Toshimichi.• Secretly both groups armed themselves, the confrontation with the Choshu a

second time• Simultaneously economic hardships led to riots in many of the cities• Shogun found his plans to attack Choshu not supported by other daimyo.

Satsuma in keeping with its alliance failed to support the Shogun• Similar actions by other daimyo and more riots followed• Death of the young Shogun in 1867. • New Shogun Keiki was very unpopular for he planned to raise more taxes

Role of the Kyoto faction?• Meantime in Kyoto the anti shogun faction managed a

palace coup• Emperor Komei had died( poisoned?) and he was

succeeded by 15 year old.• 1868 The anti shogun faction were led by Iwakura Tomomi

entered the palace and vested him with the powers to rule• An imperial rescript demanded the dissolution of the

Shogunate and the resignation of the Shogun• In this venture the four rebel clans ( Choshu Satsuma Hizen

and Tosa) joined forces• Brief fighting but the Shogun’s navy surrendered in 1869• The Revolution was complete

Meiji restoration in 1868

• Office of Shogun discontinued• Shogun resigned rather than cause bloodshed

and accepted a pension• Some elements who supported the Shogun

fought on but surrendered by 1869.• The Shogunate ended after after being in

existence for almost 800 years