Meiji Japan in "Civilization 7" is a relatively special choice of forces in the modern era, while Meiji Japan has a relatively unique background. In 1800, Japanese society was under strict control. Although the emperor of Kyoto was nominally the supreme ruler of the country, the actual political power was tightly held in the hands of the shogunate in Edo (now Tokyo).
Civilization 7 What is the background of Meiji Japan
Japanese society in 1800 was under strict control. Although the emperor of Kyoto was nominally the supreme ruler of the country, the actual political power was tightly held in the hands of the shogunate in Edo (now Tokyo). Except for a few designated trading ports, Japan is basically closed to foreigners. In order to strengthen control over Daming (the fieflord), the noble family was required to live in Tokyo and was closely monitored by the shogunate in order to prevent Daming from being hostage when his family rebelled. Despite this, the Japanese economy gradually flourished and the business class began to accumulate political influence. At the same time, foreign forces, especially the United States, are increasingly eager to open the door to Japan in order to obtain its rich silver ore and industrial products. Driven by this multiple factors, the continuous changes in the earth's plate also symbolize the changes of the times, and Japan gradually rose to become an international force that could rival the colonial power at that time.
In 1853, Brigadier General Perry led his troops to cross the Japanese defense line on four warships and sailed directly into the Port of Edo. Faced with the negotiating delegation sent by Japan, Perry refused to meet, but insisted on meeting with senior officials and threatened to break into the shogunate by force. The United States' military power shocked Japan. With Perry returning the following year, the closed-door country opened its doors to trade under the forced U.S.
However, this is just the prelude. In 1855, a strong earthquake struck Edo, causing large-scale fires and destruction. But the disaster was only the beginning of several earthquakes that followed, and the accumulated scourge had a severe impact on the authority of the shogunate. The earthquake triggered turmoil in Japan's social structure - the business class began to seek to play a more important new role in political society. A new era is coming.
The Japanese ruling class is tired of coping with these changes. By 1868, the Emperor announced that he would become a supreme source of power again, and would abolish the shogunate, implement new policies, and open up the acceptance of foreign technology and participate in global trade. This change naturally triggered the resistance of the old nobles, and the end of the Wuchen War marked the complete collapse of the shogunate system and the Emperor directly controlled these lands. Change unfolded at an astonishing pace: in the following forty years, Japan's silk exports soared to 300 times the initial output. The boom was accompanied by huge investments in steam power and railway systems. The middle class has freed itself from the shackles of feudal shackles, and the wave of industrialism is spread all over Japan. This marked the beginning of the Meiji era, meaning "the enlightened era".
At the political level, Japan has carefully explored its own options. Many voices have called for democratic institutions, but the aristocratic class has reserved their minds about the risks and instability that such attempts may pose. Although the Meiji system established political parties, in fact, power was concentrated, and this model originated from reference to Western systems. Many people regard the West at the end of the nineteenth century as a symbol of democracy, but this is not the case. Countries such as the German Empire still maintain a strong authoritarian color, adopting a modern, bureaucratic, and absolute monarchy model, and preferring to emphasize industrial development and social stability rather than public participation in politics. Meiji Japan chose this path. At the same time, Japan also adopted a set of colonial superior arguments that reflected the normal European state at that time, and regarded itself as the pioneer of Asian civilization. This position eventually led to the invasion of the Korean Peninsula in 1910. in the country, the emerging middle class has created large enterprise groups such as Mitsui and Mitsubishi (i.e., chaebols).
This period marked the emergence and thriving of new ideas such as nationalism, industrialization, and colonialism in the political field of Japan. These ideas laid the foundation for the future fascist movement. The militarization process of Japanese society has achieved remarkable achievements. The victory of defeating the Russian army in 1905 not only won it great international reputation, but also opened a new era of Asian expansionism.
