Difference between revisions of "Charter Oath"
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*''Date: [[1868]]/3/14'' | *''Date: [[1868]]/3/14'' | ||
| − | The Charter Oath was an early predecessor to a [[Meiji Constitution]], and constituted the basic policies of the new [[Meiji government]], announced on [[1868]]/3/14. | + | The Charter Oath was an early predecessor to a [[Meiji Constitution]], and constituted the basic policies of the new [[Meiji government]] in five points, announced on [[1868]]/3/14. |
| − | The document was based on a draft by [[Kido Koin|Kido Kôin]], who based | + | The document was based on a draft by [[Kido Koin|Kido Kôin]], who composed it based on drafts by [[Yuri Kimimasa]] ([[1829]]-[[1909]]) of [[Echizen province|Echizen]] and [[Fukuoka Takachika]] ([[1835]]-1919) of [[Tosa province|Tosa]]. |
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| + | In all three versions, governance was to be done by a committee of ''daimyô'' from a number of (or all) [[han|domains]], and not solely or chiefly by leaders from [[Satsuma han|Satsuma]] and [[Choshu han|Chôshû]]. All three also emphasized the importance of free and open discussion (''kôron'') over closed-door private decisions, and that officials should hold their posts only for limited terms, such that talented men could be regularly brought anew into the positions. All three also featured the idea that "high and low" (samurai and common people) work together on economic and financial matters, and that "knowledge shall be sought throughout the world so as to broaden and strengthen the foundation of imperial rule."<ref>Lu, 307-308.</ref> | ||
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| + | Kido Kôin's final version includes among its five points that "evil practices of the past shall be discarded and [all our actions] shall follow the accepted practices of the world."<ref>Lu, 308.</ref> Historian David Lu suggests that this refers specifically to abandoning ideas of ''[[joi|jôi]]'' ("expelling the barbarians"), but other scholars have interpreted this to refer far more broadly to a rejection of myriad facets of Japanese tradition as "backwards," in favor of a thorough Westernization of society and culture. | ||
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| + | While the Charter Oath provided the core principles of the new government, the ''[[Seitaisho]]'' (Document on the Form of Government), pronounced two months later, provided the practical framework for implementing these ideals. | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
| − | *David Lu, ''Japan: A Documentary History'', 306. | + | *David Lu, ''Japan: A Documentary History'', 306-308. |
| + | <references/> | ||
[[Category:Historical Documents]] | [[Category:Historical Documents]] | ||
[[Category:Meiji Period]] | [[Category:Meiji Period]] | ||
Latest revision as of 15:16, 22 February 2015
- Date: 1868/3/14
The Charter Oath was an early predecessor to a Meiji Constitution, and constituted the basic policies of the new Meiji government in five points, announced on 1868/3/14.
The document was based on a draft by Kido Kôin, who composed it based on drafts by Yuri Kimimasa (1829-1909) of Echizen and Fukuoka Takachika (1835-1919) of Tosa.
In all three versions, governance was to be done by a committee of daimyô from a number of (or all) domains, and not solely or chiefly by leaders from Satsuma and Chôshû. All three also emphasized the importance of free and open discussion (kôron) over closed-door private decisions, and that officials should hold their posts only for limited terms, such that talented men could be regularly brought anew into the positions. All three also featured the idea that "high and low" (samurai and common people) work together on economic and financial matters, and that "knowledge shall be sought throughout the world so as to broaden and strengthen the foundation of imperial rule."[1]
Kido Kôin's final version includes among its five points that "evil practices of the past shall be discarded and [all our actions] shall follow the accepted practices of the world."[2] Historian David Lu suggests that this refers specifically to abandoning ideas of jôi ("expelling the barbarians"), but other scholars have interpreted this to refer far more broadly to a rejection of myriad facets of Japanese tradition as "backwards," in favor of a thorough Westernization of society and culture.
While the Charter Oath provided the core principles of the new government, the Seitaisho (Document on the Form of Government), pronounced two months later, provided the practical framework for implementing these ideals.
References
- David Lu, Japan: A Documentary History, 306-308.
