OCR Specification focus:
‘the 1889 Constitution; educational change educational change’
The 1889 Constitution and educational reforms in Meiji Japan marked decisive steps in modernisation, consolidating imperial power, restructuring governance, and shaping national identity.
The 1889 Constitution
Background to Constitutional Change
The Meiji leaders sought to strengthen Japan against foreign dominance by modernising institutions and presenting the country as a civilised nation. A constitution was seen as essential for international recognition and for domestic legitimacy. By studying European models, particularly the Prussian Constitution, Japanese reformers designed a system that emphasised strong central authority under the Emperor.
Key Features of the 1889 Constitution
The Meiji Constitution of 1889 formally established the Empire of Japan as a modern state, embedding the Emperor as the supreme source of sovereignty.
Organisation of the Japanese government under the Meiji Constitution (1889). The diagram highlights imperial sovereignty, cabinet responsibility to the Emperor, and the bicameral Imperial Diet. It also shows the judiciary and the Emperor’s command authority over the army and navy. Source
Emperor’s Power: The Emperor was presented as sacred and inviolable, holding sovereignty over the state. He commanded the army and navy, appointed ministers, and dissolved parliament at will.
Legislative Structure: A bicameral Imperial Diet was established:
House of Peers: hereditary nobles, senior officials, and imperial appointees.
House of Representatives: elected by a limited electorate based on property qualifications.
Rights and Duties: Citizens were granted rights such as freedom of speech, assembly, and religion, but these were subject to restrictions defined by law.
Cabinet Government: Ministers of state were responsible only to the Emperor, not to parliament.
Judiciary: Independent courts were established, but the Emperor retained significant influence through appointment powers.
Sovereignty: Supreme authority over a state. In the Meiji Constitution, sovereignty rested with the Emperor, not the people.
This framework created the impression of modern governance while ensuring ultimate control remained centralised under the Emperor and his advisers.
Significance of the Constitution
The Constitution balanced modern institutions with traditional authority. By adopting aspects of Prussian authoritarianism rather than liberal models like Britain’s, Japan ensured stability, hierarchy, and control. It enabled Japan to renegotiate unequal treaties with Western powers, since constitutional governance demonstrated political maturity. Domestically, it reinforced loyalty to the Emperor, unifying the population under national identity.
Educational Change
Centralisation of Education
Education reform was a crucial tool for shaping loyal, productive citizens in the new state. The Ministry of Education, established in 1871, controlled curricula, teacher training, and the spread of schools. By the 1880s, education had become compulsory and highly centralised, linking directly to national goals.
Elementary Schools: Provided basic literacy, numeracy, and moral instruction.
Secondary Schools: Prepared elite students for higher education and government service.
Imperial Universities: Advanced scientific, legal, and administrative training, vital for Japan’s modernisation.
Compulsory Education: A system in which children are legally required to attend school for a set number of years, ensuring a minimum level of literacy and skills.
The Imperial Rescript on Education (1890)
The Imperial Rescript on Education was issued shortly after the Constitution to promote moral and ideological cohesion.
A printed copy of the Imperial Rescript on Education (1890) circulated to schools by the Ministry of Education. The text underpinned moral teaching—loyalty to the Emperor, filial piety, and public virtue—within a modern, centralised school system. Source
It stressed Confucian values, loyalty, and filial piety, while integrating these into modern schooling. Pupils were taught devotion to the Emperor and service to the state as paramount duties.
Key emphases included:
Loyalty and Obedience: Duty to the Emperor as the foundation of society.
Filial Piety: Respect for parents and ancestors, rooted in Confucian tradition.
Moral Virtue: Cultivating discipline and integrity alongside academic learning.
This fusion of modern education with traditional values helped maintain social order during rapid modernisation.
Link Between Education and Nationalism
Education reforms ensured that all citizens were instilled with national identity and a sense of duty. Textbooks and moral instruction reinforced the Emperor’s divine status. Military training was also integrated, fostering discipline and readiness for service.
Social Cohesion: Shared values and symbols unified a diverse population.
Military Preparedness: Literacy and indoctrination supported modern conscription.
Economic Growth: A literate, trained workforce supported industrialisation.
Outcomes of Educational Change
By the early 20th century, Japan had one of the highest literacy rates in Asia, underpinning its industrial success. Education created a generation of citizens loyal to the Emperor and prepared for both economic productivity and military service. It also reflected a deliberate balance between Western-style learning and traditional Japanese values.
Combined Impact of Constitution and Education
The 1889 Constitution and educational reforms were not isolated changes but mutually reinforcing. Both emphasised imperial authority while adopting modern frameworks:
The Constitution presented Japan as a modern state while safeguarding the Emperor’s dominance.
Education produced loyal subjects who accepted this political order as natural and moral.
Together, they shaped Meiji Japan into a disciplined, centralised, and modernising nation, capable of asserting itself as an emerging world power.
FAQ
The Prussian model emphasised strong monarchical authority while incorporating modern constitutional forms.
Meiji leaders admired Britain’s parliamentary traditions but feared it gave too much power to elected representatives. Japan needed stability during rapid modernisation, and Prussia’s system of centralised sovereignty under the Kaiser provided a closer fit. This allowed Japan to appear modern abroad while maintaining strict domestic control.
Voting rights were highly restricted.
Only men over 25 who paid at least 15 yen in national taxes could vote.
In 1890, this meant less than 2% of the population had the franchise.
Over time, some reforms slightly widened participation, but the Constitution deliberately kept electoral politics limited to prevent challenges to imperial sovereignty.
The Privy Council was a powerful advisory body directly responsible to the Emperor.
It advised on constitutional issues, foreign treaties, and legislation. Unlike the Imperial Diet, it was unelected and composed of elder statesmen and senior officials. Its presence reinforced the Emperor’s dominance, since decisions could bypass parliamentary debate.
The Rescript influenced teaching content beyond moral lessons.
Ethics courses explicitly included loyalty and obedience to the Emperor.
Ceremonial readings of the Rescript took place at schools on important national days.
History textbooks were revised to stress imperial continuity and Japan’s uniqueness.
This ensured that daily learning reinforced the political framework of the 1889 Constitution.
Education was closely tied to preparing citizens for national defence.
Literacy allowed conscripts to read military manuals, while classroom discipline mirrored military organisation. Moral training emphasised sacrifice and duty, which aligned with conscription laws introduced in the 1870s. By the 1890s, schools served as a pipeline for producing disciplined soldiers as well as loyal subjects.
Practice Questions
Question 1 (2 marks):
In which year was the Meiji Constitution promulgated, and what type of legislature did it establish?
Mark Scheme:
1 mark for stating the correct year: 1889.
1 mark for identifying the legislature as a bicameral Imperial Diet (accept “two-house parliament” or “upper and lower house”).
Question 2 (6 marks):
Explain two ways in which educational reforms in the Meiji period helped to strengthen loyalty to the Emperor.
Mark Scheme:
Up to 3 marks per way explained.
1 mark for identifying a relevant feature, 1 mark for description, 1 mark for clear explanation of how it fostered loyalty.
Examples:
Imperial Rescript on Education (1890): stressed Confucian values, loyalty, and filial piety; pupils were taught devotion to the Emperor as a moral duty. (3 marks)
Centralised education system: textbooks standardised under the Ministry of Education; moral and civic lessons reinforced the Emperor’s divine authority, ensuring a shared national identity. (3 marks)
Maximum of 6 marks for two well-developed points. Partial answers (identification without explanation) can earn 1–2 marks per point.
