RESTORATION AND CONSTITUTIONAL IMPRRIAL ADMINISTRATION.
Subsequent to the restoration of the admin istrative authority and the overthrow of the Tokugawa Shogunate, the Shogun's household troops and some of the territorial nobles, owing to their dissatisfaction with the attitude of the Choshu and Satsuma clans, attempted revolts, all of which, however, were defeated.
In the first year of the Meiji era, that is the year next to the Restoration, the Em peror Mutsuhito (q.v.) issued a declaration de fining the basal essentials of his administration, as for instance, that the management of the state should conform to thepublic opinion; that rulers and subjects should be united for the development of the nation; that the knowl edge of the world should be sought in order to make firmer the empire's foundation. In the 2d of the Meiji, the capital was transferred from Kioto to Tokio. • Even after the Restoration, the unification of the national administration was found im possible, for the land and the people were still m the possession of feudal lords. The four powerful clans of Satsuma, Hizen, Tosa and Choshu, therefore, addressed to the sovereign a letter declaring their desire to restore their land and retainers to the emperor, and all other nobles followed the same course. Then the •Han') (fiefs) numbering above 300, were re placed by ((Fe and (prefectures), and governors to administrate them were appointed. Thus the emperor came into full control of The land and people which had long been under the sway of territorial nobles.
Among various minor reforms, the distinc tions of Kuge (court nobles), Daimyo (feudal nobles), Shi-No-Ko-Sho (samurai, peasant, artisan and merchant) were abolished, and the people were divided into the three ranks of Kwa-zoku, Shi-zoku and Heimin. The cue and swords of men were discarded, and the lunar calendar was replaced by the solar. A new law of conscription was issued declaring every man to be a soldier, and many codes of laws were enacted.
The emperor also encouraged education by giving special attention to it, and the Imperial Rescript was announced to settle the funda mental basis of education. At present, there are numerous educational establishments, includ ing universities, colleges, middle and common schools, etc. Railways, post, telegraph and mail steamers were provided for facilitating com munication. Though some conservatives were opposed to the introduction of Occidentalism, foreign civilization advanced with irresistible speed and enerawhich advance, however, was happily modified by a strong national sentiment.
In 1875 a senate was organized for legisla tive purposes, and the assembling of local governors prepared the way for representative , government. In 1889 the Constitution was pro mulgated amidst universal congratulation, and in the following year the first session of the Imperial •Diet took place. Thus the eonstitur tumid imperial government of the nation was firmly established.