Notes on Japanese Political and Social Changes in the Meiji Era

Context: Political activism in Japan, published in 1879.
Key Ideas:
- Universal Rights: Asserts that freedom is an inherent right of everyone; a divine gift.
- Challenges: Despite calls for an extension of rights, current laws restrict freedom.
- Critique of Evil Governance: Stresses that oppressive governments undermine their legitimacy.
- Need for Change: Emphasizes the urgency for a constitutional political system that embraces liberty.

Context: Commentary published in 1886, reflecting on societal changes in Japan.
Key Themes:
- Shift in Direction: Observes a rapid transformation in Japan’s pursuit of Western civilization.
- End of Traditional Society: Notes the significant societal changes that occurred within a decade.
- Social Stratification Changes: Former commoners gain status while samurai lose theirs; a shift towards equality.
- Regeneration of Japan: Emphasizes that the old Japan has died, leading to the emergence of a 'new Japan'.

Context: Woodblock print from 1887 depicting elite Meiji-era women's fashion.
Significance: Highlights the lifestyle and cultural changes among Japanese women during the Meiji era.

Overview: A foundational legal document outlining government structure and citizens' rights.
Key Articles:
- Article 3: Establishes the Emperor’s inviolability.
- Article 5: Mentions the role of the Emperor in legislative power with parliamentary consent.
- Article 29: Guarantees Japanese citizens the freedom of speech, press, assembly, and association.
- Article 34: Specifies the composition of the House of Peers.
- Article 35: Details the election of the House of Representatives by the people.

Context: Editorial written in 1891 reflecting on personal experiences and societal expectations of women.
Key Insights:
- Personal Journey: Discusses the transition from acceptance of traditional marriage norms to seeking personal freedom.
- Awakening of Consciousness: Describes the sense of indignation for women's rights and societal norms.
- Role of Education: Highlights how education contributed to her understanding of women's rights.
- Challenges in Advocacy: Describes struggles to bring about change in her marriage and society, ultimately deciding to focus on writing as a means of societal improvement.

Source: Editorial from Yorozu Choho, the popular Japanese newspaper, published in 1898.
Focus: Content not provided in the transcript; further context required for specific insights and themes.

“On the Spirit of Chivalry,” Editorial in Yorozu Choho, the most widely circulated newspaper in Japan, 1898.

In the feudal times of yore, our people cherished justice, helped the weak and held the strong to account. If they saw

someone else in distress or danger, they shied away neither from fire nor from water to help them but sacrificed their lives

without regret.

But our own age could not be more different. It is marked by blind egotism, as expressed in phrases such as “the strong

win, the weak lose” that show a mean, merchant-like spirit, only calculating on investment and return. How far we have

come from the days of chivalry, which used to be the natural expression of the warrior spirit of the Japanese people!

Document 7

Source: Kakuzo Okakura, Japanese artist and art critic, The Book of Tea, written in English and published while the author

was head of the Asian Art collections of the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, 1906.

The Japanese tea ceremony is an adoration of the beautiful among the sordid reality of everyday existence.

The average Westerner will see in the tea ceremony but another example of the thousand and one oddities which, to him,

mark the quaintness and childishness of the East. When will you Westerners understand, or try to understand, the East?

We too used to have our own misconceptions about you, but they are vanishing fast. Commerce has forced European

languages on our societies. Asian youth are flocking to Western colleges to be equipped with a modern education. Some

of my compatriots have adopted too much of your customs and etiquette, in the delusion that wearing starched collars and

tall hats equals civilization. Pathetic and deplorable as such actions are, at least they show our willingness to seek to

understand Western culture. Unfortunately, your attitude remains unfavorable to understanding the East

21. This question is based on the accompanying documents. The documents have been edited for the purpose of

this exercise.

In your response, you will be assessed on the following.

• Respond to the prompt with a historically defensible thesis or claim that establishes a line of reasoning.

• Describe a broader historical context relevant to the prompt.

• Support an argument in response to the prompt using at least four documents.

• Use at least one additional piece of specific historical evidence (beyond that found in the documents)

relevant to an argument about the prompt.

• For at least two documents, explain how or why the document’s point of view, purpose, historical

situation, and/or audience is relevant to an argument.

• Demonstrate a complex understanding of a historical development related to the prompt through

sophisticated argumentation and/or effective use of evidence.

Evaluate the extent to which the Meiji Restoration (1868) affected Japanese society.