Social Changes during the Meiji Period
How did the social systems of Japan change during the Meiji Period? During the
Iwakura mission, Japan brought back many ideas on how to modernize their
country. Education, social class, and women’s roles changed drastically when Japan began
to modernize. The government played a huge role in social change by creating new
laws and a constitution. Most of the change occurred during the Meiji period
which began in 1868 and lasted until 1912. Lots of things were modified in during
this time. Here are some examples.
Education was a main social system that changed during modernization. In the Edo period, school was only for children of people in higher classes. Now it was mandatory for all children to take. In 1871, the Japanese government established a Ministry of Education. It was designed to break down class identities which helped raise the standard of living in Japan. In 1884 an important man named Mori Arinori became the Minister of Education for Japan. He restructured the school system which stayed in place for sixty years. As well, he established the Imperial University which was later renamed the Tokyo University. These changes that were made influenced people all over Japan. The government believed that Japan would become a more powerful country if their citizens were educated. The government taught values such as national identityand loyalty to the Emperor. This helped unite Japan and make them a stronger nation.
The social hierarchy changed as well during the Meiji period. Previously, Japan had followed the feudal system with strict class rules. Japanese citizens now had the freedom to change their social class, where they lived, and their occupations. This changed the lives of people in all of the different social classes. Daimyo no longer received money from the domains that they owned, but the
government helped them out by investing in their businesses and providing them with pensions. It also affected the lives of the samurai. Western style military was taking over, so they were eventually eliminated from the social hierarchy. Because of this, the government allowed them to become farmers, business owners, and trades people. Commoners now had the freedom to move to another social class. The people of lower social classes were lifted to the status of commoners. Farmers had complete ownership of their land, so they had to pay a 3% land tax. Most peasant farmers were not able to pay this tax, so they sold their land to wealthier farmers and then became tenant farmers. There were lots of results of changing the laws for the social hierarchy. Discrimination against social classes ended, and the people had the freedom to practise any religion. It was because of some of these new laws that helped Japan become the country that it is today.
Another change in Meiji Japan was for womens roles. Women of Japan were given the same rights as men, but were not treated as equals. It was not until 1946 that they were given the right to vote. It was the job of the woman of the hosehold to stay at home and look after children, cook, and clean. Some women worked at factories as a result of industrialisation. They had the right to be given the same amount of pay as men. As well, they were allowed to choose their occupation, spouse, and they could inherit and own property using their own names. This shows that the government was not very biased towards men. Females were even encouraged to go to school, which gave them the same opportunities as educated men of the time. These changes affected Japanese worldview towards women.
In conclusion, there were many changes that occured during the Meiji period. Education, social hierarchy, and women's roles were just a few of the social systems that affected Japanese worldview. The Meiji period ended in 1912, but that doesn't mean that the changes were over. There were still lots of things that would change in the future
Iwakura mission, Japan brought back many ideas on how to modernize their
country. Education, social class, and women’s roles changed drastically when Japan began
to modernize. The government played a huge role in social change by creating new
laws and a constitution. Most of the change occurred during the Meiji period
which began in 1868 and lasted until 1912. Lots of things were modified in during
this time. Here are some examples.
Education was a main social system that changed during modernization. In the Edo period, school was only for children of people in higher classes. Now it was mandatory for all children to take. In 1871, the Japanese government established a Ministry of Education. It was designed to break down class identities which helped raise the standard of living in Japan. In 1884 an important man named Mori Arinori became the Minister of Education for Japan. He restructured the school system which stayed in place for sixty years. As well, he established the Imperial University which was later renamed the Tokyo University. These changes that were made influenced people all over Japan. The government believed that Japan would become a more powerful country if their citizens were educated. The government taught values such as national identityand loyalty to the Emperor. This helped unite Japan and make them a stronger nation.
The social hierarchy changed as well during the Meiji period. Previously, Japan had followed the feudal system with strict class rules. Japanese citizens now had the freedom to change their social class, where they lived, and their occupations. This changed the lives of people in all of the different social classes. Daimyo no longer received money from the domains that they owned, but the
government helped them out by investing in their businesses and providing them with pensions. It also affected the lives of the samurai. Western style military was taking over, so they were eventually eliminated from the social hierarchy. Because of this, the government allowed them to become farmers, business owners, and trades people. Commoners now had the freedom to move to another social class. The people of lower social classes were lifted to the status of commoners. Farmers had complete ownership of their land, so they had to pay a 3% land tax. Most peasant farmers were not able to pay this tax, so they sold their land to wealthier farmers and then became tenant farmers. There were lots of results of changing the laws for the social hierarchy. Discrimination against social classes ended, and the people had the freedom to practise any religion. It was because of some of these new laws that helped Japan become the country that it is today.
Another change in Meiji Japan was for womens roles. Women of Japan were given the same rights as men, but were not treated as equals. It was not until 1946 that they were given the right to vote. It was the job of the woman of the hosehold to stay at home and look after children, cook, and clean. Some women worked at factories as a result of industrialisation. They had the right to be given the same amount of pay as men. As well, they were allowed to choose their occupation, spouse, and they could inherit and own property using their own names. This shows that the government was not very biased towards men. Females were even encouraged to go to school, which gave them the same opportunities as educated men of the time. These changes affected Japanese worldview towards women.
In conclusion, there were many changes that occured during the Meiji period. Education, social hierarchy, and women's roles were just a few of the social systems that affected Japanese worldview. The Meiji period ended in 1912, but that doesn't mean that the changes were over. There were still lots of things that would change in the future