Military reform Meiji Restoration

a teenage emperor meiji foreign representatives @ end of boshin war, 1868-1870.

the meiji emperor announced in 1868 charter oath knowledge shall sought on world, , thereby foundations of imperial rule shall strengthened.

under leadership of mori arinori, group of prominent japanese intellectuals went on form meiji 6 society in 1873 continue promote civilization , enlightenment through modern ethics , ideas. however, during restoration, political power moved tokugawa shogunate oligarchy consisting of these leaders, satsuma province (Ōkubo toshimichi , saigō takamori), , chōshū province (itō hirobumi, yamagata aritomo, , kido takayoshi). reflected belief in more traditional practice of imperial rule, whereby emperor of japan serves solely spiritual authority of nation , ministers govern nation in name.

allegory of new fighting old in meiji japan, circa 1870.

the meiji oligarchy formed government under rule of emperor first introduced measures consolidate power against remnants of edo period government, shogunate, daimyo, , samurai class. oligarchs endeavored abolish 4 divisions of society.

the tokyo koishikawa arsenal established in 1871.

throughout japan @ time, samurai numbered 1.9 million. (for comparison, more 10 times size of french privileged class before 1789 french revolution. moreover, samurai in japan not merely lords, higher retainers—people worked.) each samurai being paid fixed stipends, upkeep presented tremendous financial burden, may have prompted oligarchs action.

whatever true intentions, oligarchs embarked on slow , deliberate process abolish samurai class. first, in 1873, announced samurai stipends taxed on rolling basis. later, in 1874, samurai given option convert stipends government bonds. finally, in 1876, commutation made compulsory.

to reform military, government instituted nationwide conscription in 1873, mandating every male serve 4 years in armed forces upon turning 21, followed 3 more years in reserves. 1 of primary differences between samurai , peasant classes right bear arms; ancient privilege extended every male in nation. furthermore, samurai no longer allowed walk town bearing sword or weapon show status.

this led series of riots disgruntled samurai. 1 of major riots 1 led saigō takamori, satsuma rebellion, turned civil war. rebellion was, however, put down swiftly newly formed imperial japanese army, trained in western tactics , weapons, though core of new army tokyo police force, largely composed of former samurai. sent strong message dissenting samurai time indeed over. there fewer subsequent samurai uprisings , distinction became name samurai joined new society. ideal of samurai military spirit lived on in romanticized form , used propaganda during 20th century wars of empire of japan.

however, equally true majority of samurai content despite having status abolished. many found employment in government bureaucracy, resembled elite class in own right. samurai, being better educated of population, became teachers, gun makers, government officials, or military officers. while formal title of samurai abolished, elitist spirit characterized samurai class lived on.

the oligarchs embarked on series of land reforms. in particular, legitimized tenancy system had been going on during tokugawa period. despite bakufu s best efforts freeze 4 classes of society in place, during rule villagers had begun lease land out other farmers, becoming rich in process. disrupted defined class system bakufu had envisaged, partly leading eventual downfall.

the military of japan, being strengthened nationwide conscription , infusion of samurai military spirit, became emboldened see growing world power after winning both sino-japanese war , russo-japanese war.