Meiji oligarchy: Difference between revisions

{{More|Government of Meiji Japan}}

 

The members of this class were adherents of ''[[kokugaku]]'' and believed they were the creators of a new order as grand as that established by Japan's original founders. Two of the major figures of this group were [[Ōkubo Toshimichi]] (1832–78), son of a [[Satsuma han|Satsuma]] retainer, and Satsuma ''[[samurai]]'' [[Saigō Takamori]] (1827–77), who had joined forces with [[Chōshū Han|Chōshū]], [[Tosa Province|Tosa]], and [[Hizen Province|Hizen]] to overthrow the [[Tokugawa shogunate]]. Okubo became [[Minister of Finance (Japan)|minister of finance]] and Saigō a field marshal; both were imperial councillors. [[Kido Koin]] (1833–77), a native of Chōshū, student of [[Yoshida Shōin]], and conspirator with Ōkubo and Saigō, became minister of education and chairman of the Governors' Conference and pushed for constitutional government. Also prominent were [[Iwakura Tomomi]] (1825–83), a Kyoto native who had opposed the Tokugawa and was to become the first ambassador to the [[United States]], and [[Ōkuma Shigenobu]] (1838–1922), of Hizen, a student of ''[[Rangaku]]'', [[Classical Chinese|Chinese]], and [[English language|English]], who held various ministerial portfolios, eventually becoming [[Prime Minister of Japan|prime minister]] in 1898.

 

 

Difficult economic times, manifested by increasing incidents of agrarian rioting, led to calls for social reforms. In addition to the old high rents, taxes, and interest rates, the average citizen was faced with cash payments for [[Land Tax Reform (Japan 1873)|new taxes]], military [[conscription]], and tuition charges for the newly introduced [[Education in the Empire of Japan|compulsory education]]. The people needed more time for productive pursuits while correcting social abuses of the past. To achieve these reforms, the old Tokugawa class system of ''samurai'', farmer, artisan, and merchant was abolished by 1871, and, even though old prejudices and status consciousness continued, all were theoretically equal before the law. Actually helping to perpetuate social distinctions, the government named new social divisions: the former [[daimyō]] became [[kazoku|peerage nobility]], the ''samurai'' became gentry, and all others became commoners. ''Daimyō'' and ''samurai'' pensions were paid off in lump sums, and the samurai later lost their exclusive claim to military positions. Former samurai found new pursuits as bureaucrats, teachers, army officers, police officials, journalists, scholars, colonists in the northern parts of Japan, bankers, and businessmen. These occupations helped stem some of the discontent this large group felt; some profited immensely, but many were not successful and provided significant opposition in the ensuing years.

==List of leading Meiji period politicians==

 

 

[[Image:IWAKURA_Tomomi.jpg|thumb|right|[[Iwakura Tomomi]]]]

*[[Takasugi Shinsaku]] (1837-1867)

*[[Yamagata Aritomo]] (1838 -1922)

 

From [[Tosa Domain]]:

Others:

*[[Hayashi Tadasu]] (1850-1913)

*[[Katsu Kaishū]] (1823-1899)

*[[Yokoi Shonan]] (1809-1869)

*[[Yuri Kimimasa]] (1829-1912)

 

==See also==

*[http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/jptoc.html Japan : Country Studies - Federal Research Division, Library of Congress]

 

[[Category:Japanese politicians]]

[[Category:Meiji Restoration]]