Changes

==Image==

==Image==

In the first years of his reign, the Meiji Emperor [[Clothing|dressed]] as his predecessors did. A written description by [[Ernest Satow]] of a meeting with the emperor in 1868, as well as [[:File:Meiji-1872.jpg|the first]] of his two official photographs by [[Uchida Kuichi]], taken in [[1872]], reveal the emperor in long, flowing ''sokutai'' robes (classical court dress), with his long hair pinned up, and a tall court cap. His face was whitened, and eyebrows shaved off, then painted back in a few inches higher, as was the classical style.

In the first years of his reign, the Meiji Emperor [[Clothing|dressed]] as his predecessors did. A written description by [[Ernest Satow]] of a meeting with the emperor in 1868, as well as [[:File:Meiji-1872.jpg|the first]] of his two [[Imperial portraits|official photographs]] by [[Uchida Kuichi]], taken in [[1872]], reveal the emperor in long, flowing ''sokutai'' robes (classical court dress), with his long hair pinned up, and a tall court cap. His face was whitened, and eyebrows shaved off, then painted back in a few inches higher, as was the classical style.

By [[1871]], however, the emperor declared in an imperial rescript a reform of court dress, on the basis that the traditional modes "gave the impression of weakness." Indeed, Satow's account describes the emperor as "bashful or timid," and as needing "to be assisted."<ref name=fuji174>Fujitani, 174.</ref> [[:File:Meiji Emperor.jpg|The second]] of his official portrait photographs, taken by the same Uchida Kuichi in [[1873]], shows a dramatic transformation. In this, another of the most famous and most widely familiar images of the Meiji Emperor today, the emperor is seen in Western-style military dress uniform, complete with epaulets and numerous frills; a formal hat in the style most stereotypically associated with Napoleon sits on a table next to the emperor, who sits in a Western-style chair and holding a sheathed saber. His hair is cut short and parted, and bears a thin mustache and beard.

By [[1871]], however, the emperor declared in an imperial rescript a reform of court dress, on the basis that the traditional modes "gave the impression of weakness." Indeed, Satow's account describes the emperor as "bashful or timid," and as needing "to be assisted."<ref name=fuji174>Fujitani, 174.</ref> [[:File:Meiji Emperor.jpg|The second]] of his official portrait photographs, taken by the same Uchida Kuichi in [[1873]], shows a dramatic transformation. In this, another of the most famous and most widely familiar images of the Meiji Emperor today, the emperor is seen in Western-style military dress uniform, complete with epaulets and numerous frills; a formal hat in the style most stereotypically associated with Napoleon sits on a table next to the emperor, who sits in a Western-style chair and holding a sheathed saber. His hair is cut short and parted, and bears a thin mustache and beard.