The were an array of new policies introduced in 1864 to 1867 by the

Tokugawa shogunate The Tokugawa shogunate (, Japanese 徳川幕府 ''Tokugawa bakufu''), also known as the , was the military government of Japan during the Edo period from 1603 to 1868. Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005)"''Tokugawa-jidai''"in ''Japan Encyclopedia ...

of Japan. The reforms were created in reaction to the rising violence on the part of

Satsuma Satsuma may refer to: * Satsuma (fruit), a citrus fruit * ''Satsuma'' (gastropod), a genus of land snails Places Japan * Satsuma, Kagoshima, a Japanese town * Satsuma District, Kagoshima, a district in Kagoshima Prefecture * Satsuma Domain, a sou ...

domain as well as other domains. The initial steps taken during this period became a key part of the reforms and changes made during the rule of

Emperor Meiji , also called or , was the 122nd emperor of Japan according to the traditional order of succession. Reigning from 13 February 1867 to his death, he was the first monarch of the Empire of Japan and presided over the Meiji era. He was the figur ...

. When the ''

shōgun , officially , was the title of the military dictators of Japan during most of the period spanning from 1185 to 1868. Nominally appointed by the Emperor, shoguns were usually the de facto rulers of the country, though during part of the Kamakur ...

'' and

Emperor An emperor (from la, imperator, via fro, empereor) is a monarch, and usually the sovereignty, sovereign ruler of an empire or another type of imperial realm. Empress, the female equivalent, may indicate an emperor's wife (empress consort), ...

happened to both die at the same time, the ''bakufu'' (shogunate government) created the Keiō Reform to keep Japan from falling into disunity or disarray. It Westernized many aspects of the system of bureaucracy, the military, and the economy, focusing on governmental promotions by merit (not by birth) and trade policies with other nations. The ''bakufu'' hoped that these Reforms would somehow end the Rebellions of

and Chōshū – which did not happen. The rebels did not wish to see the ''bakufu'' profit from these changes which were so close to the core of what the rebels had been fighting against all along. This reform period was preceded by three others during the Edo period: the

Kyōhō reforms The were an array of economic and cultural policies introduced by the Tokugawa shogunate between 1722–1730 during the Edo period to improve its political and social status. These reforms were instigated by the eighth Tokugawa ''shōgun'' of Ja ...

(1722–1730), the

Kansei reforms was a after ''Tenmei'' and before ''Kyōwa''. This period spanned the years from January 1789 through February 1801. The reigning emperor was . Change of era * 1789 : The new era name of '' Kansei'' (meaning "Tolerant Government" or "Broad-min ...

(1787–1793) and the

Tenpō reforms The were an array of economic policies introduced between 1841 and 1843 by the Tokugawa shogunate in Japan. These reforms were efforts to resolve perceived problems in military, economic, agricultural, financial and religious systems. The changes ...

(1841–1843).

Chronology

The shogunate's interventions had only limited success. In addition to the death of the ''shōgun'' Iemochi and the death of

Emperor Kōmei was the 121st Emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Imperial Household Agency (''Kunaichō'')孝明天皇 (121)/ref> Kōmei's reign spanned the years from 1846 through 1867, corresponding to the final years of the ...

, intervening factors exacerbated some of the conditions which the shogun intended to ameliorate. * September 28, 1866 (''Keiō 2, 20th day of the 8th month''): Shogun Iemochi died at Osaka; and the bakufu petitioned that Hitotsubashi Yoshinobu should be appointed as his successor.Ponsonby-Fane, Richard. (1956). ''Kyoto: The Old Capital of Japan, 794–1869'', p. 326. * January 10, 1867 (''Keiō 2, 5th day of the 12th month''): Yoshinobu was appointed shogun. * January 30, 1867 (''Keiō 2, 25th day of the 12th month''): Emperor Komei died.

Notes

References

* McDougall, Walter (1993). "Let the Sea Make a Noise: Four Hundred Years of Cataclysm, Conquest, War and Folly in the North Pacific". New York: Avon Books. * Ponsonby-Fane, Richard A. B. (1956). ''Kyoto: The Old Capital of Japan, 794–1869''. Kyoto: The Ponsonby Memorial Society. * Traugott, Mark. (1995). ''Repertoires and Cycles of Collective Action''. Durham, North Carolina:

Duke University Press Duke University Press is an academic publisher and university press affiliated with Duke University. It was founded in 1921 by William T. Laprade as The Trinity College Press. (Duke University was initially called Trinity College). In 1926 Du ...

. ;
OCLC 243809107
{{DEFAULTSORT:Keio Reform Meiji Restoration 1866 in Japan