Lecture reading 3 - The Development of an Orthodox Attitude Toward the Imperial Institution in the Nineteenth Century

Question 1

Describe the ‘imperial restoration’ in one sentence.

Answer 1

A use of traditionalist means to radical ends.

Question 2

What was the reality of the imperial restoration?

Answer 2

Administration by relatively lowly placed men making it look like it came from a legitimate source.

Question 3

Who formulated the orthodox theory of the Meiji state?

Answer 3

The restorationists.

Question 4

Which group did the restorationists emerge from?

Answer 4

Dissident samurai, goushi and rounin.

Question 5

What meaning did the group the restorationists emerged from impart to the catchword ‘sonnou’?

Answer 5

Anti-shogunal.

Question 6

Name six points about the sengoku emperors

Answer 6

1. treatment accorded was wretched - palace and capital in ruins after Onin War
2. ritual activity of emperors hampered by poverty
3. personal freedom
4. qualified opportunity to participate in politics
5. office had power of ancient magical or ritual associations, symbolising legitimate authority even when none existed.
6. freedom of ethical choice.

Question 7

What did the Tokugawa shogunate have the power to veto?

Answer 7

All appointments and resignations of most important officials in court.

Question 8

What changed regarding titles of nobility?

Answer 8

Shogunate allowed to bestow titles of nobility, previously prerogative solely of emperor

Question 9

What did the Tokugawa shogunate govern?

Answer 9

Buddhist monasteries that were previously under the control of the imperial family or Kyoto court

Question 10

What was the emperor forbidden to do?

Answer 10

Travel.

Question 11

What improvements did the Tokugawa throne have over that of the Sengoku period?

Answer 11

1. military aristocracy showed ceremonial respect for the throne
2. material circumstances of the court improved
3. members of court no longer ill-housed or shabbily dressed
4. plenty of money to maintain dignity in rituals and ceremonies

Question 12

Why is the contrast of the throne between the Sengoku and Tokgawa periods important?

Answer 12

Played a part in shaping attitude towards institution that prevailed until well into the nineteenth century. Loyalists stated that the first Tokugawa shogun exemplified proper attitude of a subject towards the throne.

Question 13

What was an essential element of the loyalist ideal and why?

Answer 13

Consideration for the material well-being of the emperor and court, with the aim that the purely ritual functions of the imperial office could be carried out in proper style.

Question 14

Describe the relationship between the throne and the government in loyalist thought.

Answer 14

• clear relationship
• throne’s position was passive
• government had to assume duties of protecting emperor, respect emperor, give heed to ethical values emperor symbolised in policies
• emperor simply had to continue to be there

Question 15

What two changes occurred in the Bakumatsu period?

Answer 15

re-emergence of throne into field of national politics, but loss of some of the referential awe from subjects.

Question 16

Which two events happened to illustrate the changing position of the throne in the Bakumatsu period?

Answer 16

1846 - dispatch to Edo of a gently critical letter requesting that coastal defences be strengthened to ‘put the Imperial mind at ease’, sent in the name of emperor Komei.
Marked appearance of imperial will, actively expressed by the court itself.

1858 - emperor refuses to ratify 1858 treaty with US after submitted to him by shogunal government for approval.
Meant that imperial will might extend to matters of specific state policy and that it might be contrary to the wishes of the shogunate.

Question 17

What was most of Japan conservative on?

Answer 17

The issue of national seclusion.

Question 18

What principle did loyalists abandon during Bakumatsu?

Answer 18

‘Passive-emperor-principle’

Question 19

What did all loyalists believe?

Answer 19

That the situation which necessitated the direct expression of imperial will was deplorable. Occasion for emperor’s re-emergence associated with national disunity and governmental weakness, lack of harmony between throne and government.

Question 20

What was notable about the political programme of the loyalists?

Answer 20

The portions concerning administration were explicit, but references to the emperor remain vague. Therefore the exercise of power was entrusted to other agencies despite loyalists’ political manifestos demanding that power be restored to the emperor.

Question 21

What were the similarities in the treatment of the throne between the Restoration and the Tokugawa period?

Answer 21

1. state improved material condition of the court
2. criticism of the throne was silenced
3. emperor ensconced in the innermost councils of state making it difficult for there to be open disagreements between the imperial court and the government
4. emperor’s personal freedom restricted

Question 22

What gave the emperor great personal authority?

Answer 22

Spirit of loyalty to the throne that Meiji governors and governed spoke of as chief integrating force in the state.

Question 23

What did the isolation of the throne do?

Answer 23

Prevented dissidents from influencing the emperor and restricted his freedom to speak to them.

Question 24

What, really, was the Restoration?

Answer 24

A neutralisation of imperial power - new harmony between the throne and the government entailed loss of emperor’s freedom to influence historical change by choosing his own faction.

Question 25

How did post-restoration loyalist sentiment change?

Answer 25

1. stressed a happy contrast between the shabby Tokugawa stage and the exalted Restoration state, emphasising the passive character of the throne.
2. restorationists began describing government policies as representing the imperial will.

Question 26

How was this tradition of thought regarding the emperor positive to modernisation?

Answer 26

1. passive nature of the throne hid imperial discontent and made it difficult for dissidents to add the imperial voice to their complaints.
2. emperor symbolised national unity, a precondition for successful policies of modernisation.
3. emperor symbolised national continuity, and his presence helped make the transition from shogunal rule relatively orderly and bloodless
4. emperor symbolised national independence, therefore freedom from foreign restraints and national strength necessary to maintain that freedom.

Question 27

What did the emperor come to stand for?

Answer 27

The power of the state.

Question 28

What meaning did the imperial will take on?

Answer 28

The expressed desires of the emperor’s government.

Question 29

What was new about this way of thinking about the throne?

Answer 29

The identification of the throne with state power.