The Meiji Restoration: Revolution From Below

I. Elite Reformers: "Civilization and Enlightenment" [bunmei kaika]

A. Traditional views of public and private

samurai and public office

education and public affairs

writing for popular consumption

the Western Press

B. Mr. Civilization and Enlightenment: Fukuzawa Yukichi, 1835-1901

the rangaku scholar

Nagasaki, 1854

Osaka, 1855

Edo, 1858

the "Kanrin-maru," 1860

the European embassy, 1862

Seiyo Jijo [Western Things], 1866

the Meiji Restoration and rangaku scholars

"Civilization and Enlightenment"

The Pursuit of Learning, 1872-1876

Meirokusha, 1872

Popular Rights Movement, 1870s

Jiji Shimpo, 1882

Keio University

Ideals

rationalism v. superstition

education

women and the new family

international relations and imperialism

II. Staffing the revolution

A. workers for the new economy

wage labor in the Edo period

day laborers

peasants and tertiary labor

the chonin work ethic

B. citizens for the new nation

village government in the Edo period

the 5 family system and neighborhood governance

the terakoya [temple schools] and the educated peasant

C. soldiers for the new army

the "blood tax" riots

the samurai and the status of the warrior

the Japanese military and bushido

D. the Popular Rights Movement, 1870s

yonaoshi and liberalism

theater and propaganda

intellectuals and peasants

universal male suffrage

women's suffrage and property

how strong was it?

the Genro and historical inevitability

genuine admiration for Western ideas

III. Meiji society: the view from below

A. Women's writing

Hayashi Fumiko: "Wandering Days"

Higuchi Ichiyo: "Growing Up"

nostalgia, then and now

B. A few small problems

laws and implementation

caste to class and the gap between rich and poor

the myth of the level playing field

education and success

education for girls?

capitalism and crime in the Meiji era

industrialization and the family

anti-prostitution legislation: from courtesans to fallen women