It only took more than ten years for Japan to become a world power during the Meiji Restoration. How did they do it?

The Meiji Restoration was a successful change in the history of world reform. It made Japan leap from a backward feudal country to a powerful capitalist country. It not only got rid of the crisis of becoming a semi-colonial and semi-feudal society, but also made a leap Enter the ranks of the great powers. The role of the Meiji Restoration in this process is self-evident, so what role did the Meiji Restoration play in Japan?

The trigger - the Black Ship Incident

Before the Meiji Restoration, Japan was still a feudal autocratic monarchy and implemented a policy of isolation.

In 1853, U.S. Commodore Matthew Perry led a fleet into Edo, Japan, which is today Tokyo, and delivered the letter written by U.S. President Millard Fillmore to the Emperor of Japan. It was handed over to the Tokugawa Shogunate, requesting the establishment of diplomatic relations and trade with Japan. Because the hulls of the U.S. fleet ships were painted black at the time, this incident was also called the "Black Ship Incident" in Japan.

In 1854, the United States and Japan signed the "U.S.-Japan Friendship Treaty", which stipulated the opening of ports and granted the United States most-favored-nation status. As a result, the United States gained special privileges in Japan, and Japan's borders were opened. .

The reformists stepped onto the stage of history

Japan’s door was opened, and many unequal treaties were signed between Japan and the United States, which aroused strong dissatisfaction among the middle and lower-level samurai. Under the banner of respecting the king and repelling the barbarians, they launched the movement of respecting the king and repelling the barbarians, with the slogan "respect the king and repelling the barbarians", that is: respect the emperor and drive away foreign invaders. Assassinate the shogunate officials who collude with Western forces; attack Western businessmen and diplomats in Japan; attack the ships of Western powers, etc. During this period, the Zunbo Party still had illusions about the shogunate, and did not clearly propose the overthrow of the shogunate's rule. They were severely suppressed by the shogunate's army and Western powers, and ultimately failed.

After the failure of the movement to honor the king and repel the barbarians, many people of insight realized that in order to change Japan's current situation and achieve a rich country and a strong army, the rule of the shogunate must be overthrown. As a result, the movement to respect the king and repel the barbarians evolved into a movement to overturn the curtain.

After a series of efforts, the emperor's faction gradually took control of the country in 1877, and militaristic Japan was established. This also marked Japan's gradual transition from a feudal country to capitalism. camp.

The history of the reform, specific details

In 1871, the Meiji government was deeply aware that social change had become a general trend, and immediately sent missions to Western countries to inspect the capitalist system. Under the slogan of enriching the country, strengthening the military, and becoming civilized, Japan gradually began to learn from the West and took steps towards reform.

Introduce technology and learn from the West

Introduce modern equipment such as silk reeling and textiles, establish demonstration factories, and promote advanced technologies; recruit foreign experts, send overseas students abroad, and cultivate high-level scientific and technological talents.

Reforming the social system

The new government headed by the emperor issued the "Five-Article Oath" with a political program on April 6, 1868, and published the "Government Book" on June 11 》. On September 3, the Emperor issued an edict to rename Edo to Tokyo. In June 1869, the Meiji government forcibly implemented the policy of "returning the official title" and "abolition of feudal lords and establishment of prefectures", dividing Japan into 3 prefectures and 72 prefectures.

The original four classes of "gentlemen, farmers, industry and merchants" were abolished. In order to reduce the financial burden associated with the "return of copyrights", the government gradually recovered the feudal salaries of the Chinese and gentry through public debt compensation; in addition, it also The samurai "Abandoned Sword Order" was promulgated, as well as the "Household Registration Law" that established the basis of the household registration system.

Civilization and development of education

Promote learning of Western social culture and habits, and translate Western works. In terms of calendar system, the lunar calendar was discontinued and the solar calendar was used instead.

In terms of education, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology was established, the Education Reform Law was promulgated, and modern bourgeois education was developed. In addition, international students were selected to study in advanced countries such as Britain, the United States, France, and Germany. Japan eventually established nine imperial universities in various central cities across the country. As the country’s highest scientific research and academic institution.

Military reform

In terms of military affairs, the army was based on the establishment of the armies of Western capitalist countries. The army was based on the French navy and the British. In 1872, a modern military service system was promulgated. In addition, it also vigorously developed The military industry, and the defense budget continued to increase. In the middle and late Meiji era, the military budget increased sharply, accounting for about 30 to 45% of the government funds, and the spirit of militarism and bushido was implemented.

Influence

There is no doubt that the Meiji Restoration was successful. It took Japan more than 20 years to gradually get rid of its backwardness and become a capitalist power from a feudal country, and gradually became a capitalist power. It abolished the unequal treaties with the Western powers and made itself a great power, avoiding the situation of becoming a semi-colonial and semi-feudal society. This change also allowed Japan to get a ticket on the modern social stage.

However, it was precisely because the ideas of Meiji Restoration militarism were injected into the hearts of the Japanese people that foreign expansion and aggression became Japan’s national policy, causing great harm to people in Asia and even the world. Japan I also learned a serious lesson myself.