Meiji Ishin Essay

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Discussion Question: Was the Meiji Ishin a restoration or a revolution? In 1868, an event called the Meiji Ishin took place, in which imperial rule was restored and the shogun and daimyo were no longer in power. Though the Meiji Ishin is often debated as to whether it was a restoration or a revolution, I believe that it was, most definitely, a revolution. According to Jeff Goodwin, a revolution means “not only mass mobilization and regime change, but also more or less rapid and fundamental social, economic and/or cultural change”, which is similar to what took place during the Meiji Ishin. Though the Meiji Ishin was, for the most part, peaceful and it was an emperor being restored to power, it should not be considered a restoration. If one were to call the Meiji Ishin a restoration, it would imply only that an emperor was restored to power and would not encompass the cultural and societal changes that took place after the emperor was reinstated. Many people were very unhappy with the current state and were united in their desire for a social and cultural change. Different groups were doing their part to undermine the Tokugawa regime, such as the townspeople, the Dutch Studies, Nativists and New Religions. Furthermore, people such as Oshio Heihachiro, Watanabe Kazan and Sakuma Shozan believed in changing Japan so that it can become a stronger nation. Oshio Heihachiro was strongly opposed to the Tokugawa shogunate and led a rebellion with an army of peasants. Both Kazan and Shozan strongly supported the notion that Japan should open to the rest of the world. In doing so, Japan would be able to strengthen itself as a nation and improve its military and technology, since “the realm’s fortification system and current military skills to not measure up to expectations” (Shozan, 275). The Meiji Ishin helped to change all this and restore social order. When the
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