What was the Meiji Period?
The Meiji Period is a term used to refer to the 45-year reign of Emperor Meiji in Japan, from 1868 to 1912. The Meiji Period marked the end of the Tokugawa Shogunate and was a major shift in Japanese culture. The Meiji Period is sometimes called the “Period of Enlightened Rule” because of the major reforms in Japanese law, society, government, and economics that occurred during Meiji’s reign.
The Meiji Period is a term used to refer to the 45-year reign of Emperor Meiji in Japan, from 1868 to 1912. The Meiji Period marked the end of the Tokugawa Shogunate and was a major shift in Japanese culture. The Meiji Period is sometimes called the “Period of Enlightened Rule” because of the major reforms in Japanese law, society, government, and economics that occurred during Meiji’s reign. The first reform of the Meiji Period was the Five Charter Oath, set out in 1868. The Five Charter Oath was designed to state the aims of the Meiji government clearly in order to boost public opinion and support for the government. The Five Charter Oath included clauses dictating the establishment of a representative assembly, the inclusion of all classes in governmental decisions, freedom of social and occupational mobility, reforms of the legal system to replace antiquated customs with more fair representation, and a greater commitment to education and knowledge. The Five Charter Oath paved the w
