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.

Other Events of 1873

• 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.

Births and Deaths

• Prince Shô Jun (d. 1945) is born.

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