VII THE REVOLUTION I. What It Was.-The year 1868 in Japan was the year of one of the most astonishing revolutions in the history of the world. What was this Revolution? It was (1) the abolition of the Shogunate after it had lasted, with slight interruptions, for seven hundred years; (2) the resumption by the Emperor of the reins of government; (3) the voluntary surrender by the daimyos of their feudal powers and privileges into the hands of the central government; (4) the adoption of the European system of departments of state with a responsible minister at the head of each. It was a radical and thorough change from feudalism to imperialism, and the first step toward constitutional government. II. Its Progress.-1. Preparatory Agitation.-This Revolution, though to outsiders it appeared sudden and seemed to be an immediate consequence of the opening of Japan to foreign nations, was in reality the crisis and consummation of a long period of silent preparation for change. For a century and more the jealousy of the daimyos at the exclusive power wielded by the Shogun, who was properly only one of themselves, had been growing more and more restive, and at the same time an important intellectual movement was fashioning the political views of the educated classes. A revival of Chinese learning, which sprang up at the end of the seventeenth century, imbued the Japanese mind with the ethics of Confucius, from which they derived lofty ideas of the reverence due to the sovereign. The publication, in 1715, of the Dai Nihon Shi, the great history already mentioned, whose central purpose was to exalt the sole authority of the Mikado, powerfully stimulated the development of these ideas. A revival of Shintoism helped the movement. The study of the old Shinto books showed that the Mikado had anciently been revered as the representative of the gods; and when the Revolution came a cry arose for the abolition of Buddhism, which was identified with the Shogunate. 2. Effect of the Foreign Treaties.-The detailed history of the Revolution cannot be given here. The foreign treaties were undoubtedly the immediate occasion of it. The Shogun who signed them died shortly after, under suspicious circumstances. His successor being a minor, there was appointed as regent an energetic and progressive man, who strongly favored foreign intercourse. He was soon assassinated, and his head was exhibited, with a placard inscribed, "This is the head of a traitor who has violated the most sacred law of Japan." Then ensued a state of confusion, the Shogun's Council continuing to conduct foreign affairs, but defied at home by the daimyos. The young Shogun died in 1866, but not before he had at last obtained the Mikado's acceptance of the treaties. The daimyos, as intimated in the preceding chapter, were beginning to see that Japan would gain and not lose by foreign intercourse; and the Regent of Satsuma had already, despite the law that then prohibited Japanese from going abroad, sent young men to visit Europe and America. The new Shogun, Keiki, entered into intrigues with the envoys of Napoleon III., hoping to make France his ally in the impending struggle. Thus both parties were now seeking foreign intercourse, and the Revolution, which began with the cry, "Expel the foreigners," ended by admitting them more freely. The Satsuma men who had visited Europe returned with open eyes and high hopes, just in time to guide the empire at the crisis of its change, which was now imminent. 3. Resignation of the Shogun. The new Shogun had scarcely assumed power when the Emperor died, February 3, 1867. His successor, Mutsuhito, being a young man, the party of progress seized the opportunity to push their designs. They persuaded Keiki, a timid and vacillating man, to resign the Shogunate; and then, to insure complete success, on January 3, 1868, they seized the palace at Kyoto and proceeded to administer the government in the name of the Emperor. Civil war ensued; but, in a desperate battle fought at Fushimi, near Kyoto, which lasted three days, the Shogun's army was totally defeated; and, although the northern clans continued the contest on their own ground, the Imperial forces were everywhere victorious. Within a few months the young Emperor was the undisputed ruler of all Japan. Keiki himself submitted at once and was allowed to live in retirement. Equal clemency was shown even to the leaders who held out longer, and the very last to lay down his arms, a noble named Enomoto, soon afterward became Japanese envoy at the court of St. Petersburg, and since then has held other high offices. 4. The Emperor's Oath.-The young Emperor was now brought forth from behind the screen of ages, and took his place as head of the State. In the presence of feudal lords and court nobles he took an oath by which he promised that "a deliberative assembly should be formed; all measures should be decided by public opinion; the uncivilized customs of former years should be broken through; the impartiality and justice displayed in the workings of nature should be adopted as a basis of action; while intellect and learning should be sought throughout the world in order to establish the foundations of the empire.” 5. Transfer of the Capital.-In the eyes of the people, the outward and visible sign of the change was the transfer of the capital from Kyoto to Yedo. For nearly three centuries Yedo had been the seat of the executive government, but Kyoto was the sacred imperial city. During the progress of the revolution, Yedo, being identified with the falling cause, became much discredited, and the population was rapidly diminishing. For the Emperor, after centuries of seclusion at Kyoto, to come forth and set up his throne at Yedo before the world, was a token that a new era had indeed begun. To emphasize the change, the name of the city was changed to Tokyo (meaning Eastern Capital). The Emperor entered it in state on November 26, 1868. 6. The End of Feudalism. Then followed a still more remarkable phase of the Revolution. It was made clear to the victorious daimyos, under the influence of the men who had seen Western civilization. that the weak point in the Japanese polity was their own feudal power; that semi-independent principalities were an anachronism; and that, if the Mikado was to reign over a mighty and united empire, a centralized government was essential In the enthusiastic tide of patriotism personal interests were swept aside, and the leading daimyos, to enable their country-so said their public manifesto-" to take its place side by side with the other countries of the world," voluntarily surrendered the whole of their feudal rights, lands, and revenues into the hands of the Imperial Government, and took the position of private gentlemen. Their retainers were exhorted to give their entire allegiance directly to the Emperor, and the clans became absorbed in the nation. In the very same year that the petty kings and princes of Germany crowned King William of Prussia Emperor at Versailles, the princes and nobles of Japan assembled in solemn council at Tokyo, and bowed their heads in submission to the Mikado as his Prime Minister read out the Imperial decree abolishing feudalism. Truly, it was a wonderful spectacle. Some writers, however, have rather overdrawn the picture. In many of the clans the power of the daimyos had passed into the hands of their leading retainers. The change tended to increase the importance of these retainers, and in many cases it was they who had most influence in bringing about the resignation of their masters. Το the latter the change did not at first mean so much as might be supposed. In public estimation they were still looked upon as chiefs to be honored by their old retainers and reverenced by the peasantry. The most efficient became governors, under the Imperial Government, of the provinces formerly their feudal domains. Life pensions, afterward redeemed by government bonds, were granted to them and their retainers, a heavy burden being thus imposed upon the finances of the country. VIII NEW JAPAN 1. Changed Attitude toward Western Civilization.-1. Employment of Foreign Instructors.-The restoration of power to the Emperor was accompanied by a great change in the attitude of the nation toward Western ideas. The country realized that during its long isolation it had fallen behind the nations of the West. For a time, at least, it was necessary to become the pupil of those who had been called barbarians. Some thought that this tutelage need last only until they had sufficiently learned the military arts of Europe to drive the foreigners from the sacred soil of Japan. Others were more far-sighted and desired. their country to receive all that the West could teach. The new government invited foreigners to come and give the needed instruction. Europeans and Americans were employed to drill the army, open mines, and establish new industries. Others became teachers of language and science. 2. Changes Introduced.-After the abolition of feudalism the changes proceeded at a greatly accelerated rate. The year 1872 is memorable in the annals of Japan as a year of extraordinary progress. The Army, Navy, and Civil Service were entirely reconstructed; the Imperial Mint at Osaka was opened and a new coinage introduced; the Educational Department, established in 1871, largely extended its operations under an enlightened minister, and a University was established at Tokyo; the Post Office was organized, runners being employed who, by connections, could cover 125 miles a day; an Industrial Exhibition was held in the sacred city of Kyoto; and, on June 12th, the first railway in Japan was opened, from Tokyo to Yokohama, a distance of eighteen miles. Nor were the changes all material in character. Many |