The civil dissensions, however, continued; the great clan of Chōshiu became engaged in actual warfare against the Shōgun's troops in Kyoto and were proclaimed “rebels," against whom an Imperial army was despatched; the young Shōgun, Iyemochi, died and was succeeded by Keiki; and the Emperor Kōmei also died and was succeeded by his young son, Mutsuhito, the present Emperor. Finally, the new Shōgun, observing the drift of political affairs and the need of the times for a more centralized and unified administration, resigned his position; and the system of government was re-formed with the Emperor in direct control. The new Emperor declared in a manifesto: "Henceforward we shall exercise supreme authority, both in the internal and [the] external affairs of the country. Consequently the title of Emperor should be substituted for that of Tycoon [Shōgun], which has hitherto been employed in the treaties." Of this manifesto, one writer says: "Appended were the seal of Dai Nippon, and the signature, Mutsuhito, this being the first occasion in Japanese history on which the name of an Emperor had appeared during his lifetime."1 But the effect of the reorganization of the government seemed to the adherents of the former Shōgun to work so much injustice to them that they rose in arms against the Sat-Chō [Satsuma-Chōshiu] combination which was then influential at court. This led, in 1867, to a civil war, which, after a severe 1 Dixon's "Land of the Morning," p. 97. struggle, culminated in 1868 in the complete triumph of the Imperialists. This event is what is called by some "the Restoration," and by others "the Revolution." This was, in fact, the climax of all the civil commotions of the period; the anti-foreign spirit and policy were only secondary to the prime purpose of overthrowing the usurpation of the Tokugawa Shōgunate and restoring the one legal Emperor to his lawful authority. And thus fell, not only the Tokugawa Dynasty, as had fallen other dynasties, of Shōguns, but also the whole system of a Shogunate; and thus the Emperor of Japan became, not ruler in name and fame only, but sovereign in act and fact. Since 1868 Mutsuhito has been Emperor both de jure and de facto. IV. Period of Reconstruction (1868-1878). CHRONOLOGY. 1868. Opening of Hyōgo (Kōbe) and Ōsaka. Emperor's audience of foreign ministers. 1870. Light-houses, telegraphs. 1871. Postal system, mint, and dock. Feudalism abolished. Eta and hinin (outcasts) admitted to citizenship. 1872. First railway, newspaper, church, and Missionary Conference. Imperial University in Tōkyō. Iwakura Embassy to America and Europe. 1873. Adoption of Gregorian calendar. Removal of anti-Christian edicts. Empress gave audience to foreign ladies. 1874. Saga Rebellion. Formosan Expedition. 1875. Assembly of Governors. Senate. Saghalien traded off for Kurile Islands 1876. Treaty with Korea. 1877. Satsuma Rebellion. First National Exhibition in Tōkyō. 1878. Bimetallism. Promise to establish Prefectural Assemblies. This period was one of laying the foundations of a New Japan, to be constructed out of the old, and was one of such kaleidoscopic changes and marvellous transformations in society, business, and administration that it is almost blinding to the eye to attempt to watch the work of reconstruction. There were abortive but costly attempts, like the Saga and the Satsuma rebellions, to check the progressive policy. It was the great period of "firsts," of beginnings : the first audiences of foreign ministers by the Emperor and of foreign ladies by the Empress; the first telegraph, mint, dock, railroad, postal system, newspaper, exhibition, church, etc.; an assembly of provincial governors to confer together upon general policy, and a Senate. The "Charter Oath" of Japan was not obtained by coercion, but voluntarily taken: it is such an important document that at least a summary may be given:1 1 Iyenaga's "Constitutional Development of Japan," p. 33. "1. A deliberative assembly should be formed, and all measures be decided by public opinion. "2. The principles of social and political economics should be diligently studied by both the superior and [the] inferior classes of our people. "3. Every one in the community shall be assisted to persevere in carrying out his will for all good purposes. "4. All the old absurd usages of former times should be disregarded, and the impartiality and justice displayed in the workings of nature be adopted as a basis of action. "5. Wisdom and ability should be sought after in all quarters of the world for the purpose of firmly establishing the foundations of the empire." Two years later feudalism was abolished by the following laconic decree: "The clans are abolished, and prefectures are established in their places." In the same year the outcast eta and hi-nin (nothuman) were recognized as common people. Then followed the despatch of the Iwakura Embassy to America and Europe, where, although they failed in their prime purpose of securing a revision of the treaties on more nearly equal terms, they learned most valuable lessons. Two immediate results thereof were seen in the removal of the anti-Christian edicts and the adoption of the Gregorian, or Christian, calendar. And finally came the promise to establish prefectural assemblies as training schools in local selfgovernment. |