【Exploration of Japanese History】Modern Japan: The Beginning of a New Nation
Hello! Thank you for your hard work studying Japanese history. The "Modern" section starting here might look overwhelming because of all the information to memorize. But, if you think of it as "the story of updating Japan to the latest operating system," it actually becomes much easier to understand. It might feel difficult at first, but don't worry. Let's break it down carefully, one step at a time!
1. Opening the Country and the Turbulence of the Bakumatsu Period: The Day the Isolation Ended
The policy of "national isolation" (sakoku), which had lasted for over 200 years, came to an end with the arrival of the "Black Ships" (Commodore Perry).
● Perry's Arrival and the Conclusion of Treaties
In 1853, Perry arrived in Uraga. The following year, Japan signed the Convention of Kanagawa (Japan-US Treaty of Peace and Amity), opening two ports: Shimoda and Hakodate.
Furthermore, in 1858, the Chief Minister (Tairo) Ii Naosuke signed the Treaty of Amity and Commerce without obtaining permission from the Emperor.
【Key Point】The Contents of the Unequal Treaties
This is a high-priority topic often featured on the Common Test. These treaties were "unequal" to Japan: 1. Extraterritoriality (Consular Jurisdiction): If a foreigner committed a crime in Japan, Japan had no legal authority to put them on trial. 2. Lack of Tariff Autonomy: Japan could not freely determine the taxes placed on imports.
An analogy: It’s like a friend coming over to your house, ignoring your house rules (like taking off their shoes), and then deciding the prices of the food in your fridge without asking.
2. Meiji Restoration: Updating to a Centralized State
The Edo Shogunate fell, and the Meiji government was born. The government's goal was "Fukoku Kyohei" (Enrich the Country, Strengthen the Armed Forces).
● Political Reforms (Bringing land and people under government control)
1. Return of the Domains to the Emperor (Hanseki Hokan): The domains (han) and the people (seki) were returned to the Emperor.
2. Abolition of the Han System and Establishment of Prefectures (1871) (Haihan-chiken): The domains were abolished and replaced with prefectures, with governors appointed by the central government. This allowed the government's authority to reach the entire country.
● Social Reforms (Equality for all)
The "Equality of the Four Classes" (Shimin Byodo) was declared, stripping the samurai of their special privileges. However, for the samurai, this was a difficult change, as it meant they would lose their stipends.
3. The Three Great Reforms: The Pillars of Modernization
The government carried out major reforms to establish the basics: money, military, and education.
① The School System (Gakusei) (1872)
A system encouraging "everyone go to school!" Modern nations needed citizens who could read and write.
② Conscription Ordinance (1873)
A system saying "everyone should be a soldier!" It mandated military service for males aged 20 and over. Until then, fighting was the job of the samurai, so this came as a huge shock to the general public.
③ Land Tax Reform (1873)
A tax reform to stabilize the nation's revenue.
【Calculation】How the Land Tax was Determined
\( \text{Land Value} \times 3\% = \text{Land Tax (paid in cash)} \)
*Due to farmers' uprisings, this was later lowered to \( 2.5\% \).
● Common Mistake:
Unlike the Edo period, where taxes were based on "harvest yield," the big change was that it was now based on "land value" and paid in "cash."
4. Civilization and Enlightenment and New Ideas
Western culture flooded into Japan.
● Civilization and Enlightenment (Bunmei Kaika)
There was a famous saying: "If you tap a short-cropped hairstyle, you can hear the sound of civilization and enlightenment." People started eating gyunabe (a precursor to sukiyaki) and constructing brick buildings.
● Fukuzawa Yukichi
He wrote "An Encouragement of Learning," which begins with "Heaven does not create one man above or below another..." He believed that the independence of the individual led to the independence of the nation.
5. Diplomacy and Defining National Borders
This was the period when Japan clearly defined its territory.
1. Hokkaido: Established the Hokkaido Development Commission (Kaitakushi) and advanced development while restricting the lives of the Ainu people.
2. Ryukyu Disposition: Abolished the Ryukyu Kingdom and established Okinawa Prefecture.
3. Treaty of Saint Petersburg (Sakhalin-Kuril Exchange Treaty): Settled with Russia that Sakhalin would be Russian territory and the Kuril Islands would be Japanese territory.
【Trivia】The Failure and Success of the Iwakura Mission
Iwakura Tomomi and Okubo Toshimichi traveled to the US and Europe to try to revise the unequal treaties, but they were turned away. They were told, "Japan's modernization isn't far enough along yet." However, they brought back the knowledge of Western progress they witnessed, which accelerated reforms back home.
★ Summary of this section (Takeaway)
・The Bakumatsu period began out of frustration over being forced into unequal treaties.
・The Meiji government unified the country through the Abolition of the Han System and laid the foundation through the School System, Conscription Ordinance, and Land Tax Reform.
・They aimed for Westernization in both appearance and substance through Civilization and Enlightenment.
・They officially defined Okinawa and Hokkaido as part of Japanese territory.
You might feel overwhelmed at first by all the katakana terms and difficult kanji, but if you read while feeling the "energy of trying to remake Japan into a strong, new country," history will start to look like a story. Next, we'll look at the "Freedom and People's Rights Movement." Keep it up!