Emperor Meiji

3 November 1852 – 30 July 1912

Emperor Meiji (Mutsuhito, 1852-1912) was the 122nd Emperor of Japan, whose reign from 1867 to 1912 spanned Japan's transformation from a feudal shogunate into a modern industrial and military power. The Meiji Restoration restored imperial rule in his name, and his era saw the Charter Oath, the Meiji Constitution, and victories over China and Russia. He remains the symbol of Japan's modernization.

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Lived at the same time

Well-documented people whose lives overlapped with Emperor Meiji.

Life events

Born in Kyoto as Prince Mutsuhito
3 November 1852

Mutsuhito was born on 3 November 1852, the son of Emperor Komei and the lady-in-waiting Nakayama Yoshiko.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Birth ✓
Ascended the Chrysanthemum Throne
3 February 1867

Following the death of his father Emperor Komei, the fourteen-year-old Mutsuhito became emperor on 3 February 1867.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Imperial rule restored in the Meiji Restoration
3 January 1868

On 3 January 1868 the restoration of imperial rule was formally proclaimed, ending the Tokugawa shogunate and beginning the Meiji era of modernization.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Promulgated the Charter Oath
6 April 1868

On 6 April 1868 the emperor proclaimed the five-article Charter Oath, setting out the new government's commitment to deliberative assemblies and the pursuit of knowledge worldwide.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Moved the imperial court from Kyoto to Tokyo
1869

The emperor relocated his residence to Edo, renamed Tokyo, which became the seat of the imperial court and government.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Relocation ✓
Married Ichijo Haruko, Empress Shoken
11 January 1869

On 11 January 1869 the emperor married Ichijo Haruko, who became Empress Shoken.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Promulgated the Meiji Constitution
11 February 1889

On 11 February 1889 the emperor granted the Constitution of the Empire of Japan, establishing a constitutional monarchy with an elected Diet.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Reigned during Japan's victory in the First Sino-Japanese War
July 1894 – 17 April 1895

Japan's defeat of Qing China in 1894-1895 marked its emergence as the dominant power in East Asia during the Meiji reign.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Reigned during Japan's victory in the Russo-Japanese War
February 1904 – 5 September 1905

Japan's 1904-1905 victory over Russia, the first modern defeat of a European great power by an Asian nation, capped the international rise of Meiji Japan.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Died in Tokyo
30 July 1912

Emperor Meiji died of complications from diabetes and uremia on 30 July 1912 and was succeeded by his son, the Taisho Emperor.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Death ✓