1873

Meiji 6 (明治六年)

Timeline of 1873

1873/2/7 An edict is issued explaining that killing in the name of revenge is illegal and that only the government reserves the right to punish murderers (i.e. to exact justice).
1873/10/8 A particularly famous and well-known set of photo portraits of Emperor Meiji, the last official photos of the emperor, is taken by photographer Uchida Kuichi.

Gregorian calendar replaces the lunar calendar.
Akô castle is demolished.
Amagasaki castle is torn down.
The ban on Christianity is formally lifted.
Durham Stevens is appointed secretary of the United States Legation in Tokyo.
Imabari castle is demolished.
The system of having three licensed kabuki theatres in Edo (now Tokyo), an arrangement in place since 1714, is abolished.
Kameyama castle is demolished.
Kaminoyama castle is demolished.
Kanazawa castle is demolished.
Kôfu castle is demolished.
Second Kyoto Exposition of art is held.
A Land Tax Ordinance provides de jure property rights to farmers along with tax obligations.
Okazaki castle is demolished.
Seikanron: the leaders of the Imperial government are divided over the issue of invading Korea. Saigô Takamori, along with a number of others opposed to the final decision to not invade, resign from their positions in the government.
Shibata castle is demolished.
Soma Kazue moves to Tokyo with his wife.
Takasaki castle is torn down.
Takatori castle is torn down.
Four Japanese seafarers from Oda Prefecture (modern-day Okayama Prefecture) are robbed and nearly killed by Taiwanese aborigines. They are rescued by an aborigine chief and return to Japan via Shanghai; official thanks are sent by the Meiji government for their safe return.
Usuki castle is torn down.
Japan exhibits at the 1873 Vienna Exposition.
- The term bijutsu (fine arts) is first adopted and used.
Yokosuka castle is torn down.

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