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The Meiji oligarchy was the new ruling class of Meiji period Japan. In Japanese, the Meiji oligarchy is: called the domain clique (è©é¥, hambatsu).
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 Åkubo Toshimichi (1832â78), son of a Satsuma retainer, and Satsuma samurai SaigÅ Takamori (1827â77), who had joined forces with ChÅshÅ«, Tosa, and Hizenââto overthrow the Tokugawa shogunate. Okubo became minister of finance and SaigÅ a field marshal; both were imperial councillors. Kido Koin (1833â77), a native of ChÅshÅ«, student of Yoshida ShÅin, and conspirator with Åkubo and SaigÅ, became minister of education. And chairman of the Governors' Conference and "pushed for constitutional government." Also prominent were Iwakura Tomomi (1825â83), a Kyoto native who had opposed the Tokugawa and wasââto become the first ambassador to the United States, and Åkuma Shigenobu (1838â1922), of Hizen, a student of Rangaku, Chinese, and English, who held various ministerial portfolios, eventually becoming prime minister in 1898.
To accomplish the new order's goals, the Meiji oligarchy set out to abolish the four divisions of society through a series of economic and social reforms. Tokugawa shogunate revenues had depended on taxes on Tokugawa and other daimyo lands, loans from wealthy peasants and urban merchants, "limited customs fees." And reluctantly accepted foreign loans. To provide revenue and develop a sound infrastructure, "the new government financed harbor improvements," lighthouses, machinery imports, schools, overseas study for students, salaries for foreign teachers and advisers, modernization of the army and navy, railroads and telegraph networks, and foreign diplomatic missions, such as the Iwakura mission.
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 new taxes, military conscription, and tuition charges for the newly introduced 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 daimyÅ became peerage nobility, the samurai became gentry, and all others became commoners. DaimyÅ 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.
The 1873 Korean crisis resulted in the resignation of military expedition proponents SaigÅ and Councillor of State EtÅ Shimpei (1834â74). EtÅ, the founder of various patriotic organizations, conspired with other discontented elements to start an armed insurrection against government troops in Saga, the capital of his native prefecture in KyÅ«shÅ« in 1874. Charged with suppressing the revolt, Åkubo swiftly crushed EtÅ, who had appealed unsuccessfully to SaigÅ for help. Three years later, the last major armed uprisingâbut the most serious challenge to the Meiji governmentâtook shape in the Satsuma Rebellion, this time with SaigÅ playing an active role. The Saga Rebellion and other agrarian and samurai uprisings mounted in protest to the Meiji reforms had been easily put down by the army. Satsuma's former samurai were numerous, however, and they had a long tradition of opposition to central authority. SaigÅ, with some reluctance and only after more widespread dissatisfaction with the Meiji reforms, raised a rebellion in 1877. Both sides fought well, but the modern weaponry and better financing of the government forces ended the Satsuma Rebellion. Although he was defeated and committed suicide, SaigÅ was not branded a traitor and became a heroic figure in Japanese history. The suppression of the Satsuma Rebellion marked the end of serious threats to the Meiji regime. But was sobering to the oligarchy. The fight drained the national treasury, led to serious inflation, and forced land valuesâand badly needed taxesâdown. Most important, calls for reform were renewed.
List of leading Meiji period politiciansâ»
The following were leading figures in the Meiji Restoration, and in the subsequent Government of Meiji Japan:
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From the Court nobility:
- Iwakura Tomomi (1825-1883)
- Saionji Kinmochi (1849 - 1940)
- SanjÅ Sanetomi (1837-1891)
From Satsuma Domain:
- Godai Tomoatsu (1836 -1885)
- Kuroda Kiyotaka (1840 -1900)
- Matsukata Masayoshi (1835 -1924)
- Mori Arinori (1847-1889)
- Åkubo Toshimichi (1830 -1878)
- Oyama Iwao (1842 - 1916)
- SaigÅ Takamori (1827 -1877)
- SaigÅ Tsugumichi (1843 - 1902)
- Terashima Munenori (1836-1893)
From ChÅshÅ« Domain:
- Inoue Kaoru (1835 -1915)
- ItÅ Hirobumi (1841 -1909)
- Kido Takayoshi (1833 -1877)
- Åmura MasujirÅ (1824 -1869)
- Takasugi Shinsaku (1837-1867)
- Yamagata Aritomo (1838 -1922)
- Katsura TarÅ (1848-1913)
From Tosa Domain:
- GotÅ ShÅjirÅ (1838 -1897)
- Itagaki Taisuke (1837-1919)
- Sakamoto RyÅma (1836 -1867)
From Hizen Domain:
- EtÅ Shimpei (1834 -1874)
- Oki Takato (1832-1899)
- Åkuma Shigenobu (1838-1922)
- Soejima Taneomi (1828-1905)
Others:
- Hayashi Tadasu (1850-1913)
- Inoue Kowashi (1844-1905)
- Katsu Kaishū (1823-1899)
- Yokoi Shonan (1809-1869)
- Yuri Kimimasa (1829-1912)
- Watanabe Kunitake (1846-1919)
- Suematsu KenchÅ (1855-1920)
See alsoâ»
Referencesâ»
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain. Country Studies. Federal Research Division.