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How did the slogan “Revere the emperor, expel the barbarians” challenge Tokugawa rule?
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Meiji Restoration
After the overthrow of the Tokugawa shogunate, the Meiji emperor became the formal head of a new imperial government under whose reign Japan was transformed from an isolated feudal society into a modern, industrialized global power.
The slogan Sonnō jōi (“Revere the emperor! Expel the barbarians!”) challenged the Tokugawa shogunate by undermining its fundamental claims to authority and legitimacy.12
Historically, the shogun’s power was rooted in his role as the “barbarian-subduing generalissimo,” responsible for protecting Japan and maintaining loyalty to the imperial throne. When the bakufu (shogunate) was forced to sign treaties with Western powers in the 1850s, it appeared unable to defend the country, causing its claim to protect the throne to crumble.12
Activists, including samurai from domains like Mito, Chōshū, and Satsuma, used the slogan to:
- Embarrass the Shogunate: By demanding the expulsion of foreigners, they highlighted the government's perceived weakness and failure to uphold national sovereignty.12
- Elevate the Emperor: The movement shifted the focus of political authority toward the imperial court in Kyoto, creating a rival center of power that eventually sought to overthrow the shogunate entirely.12
- Justify Resistance: The ideology, supported by Kokugaku (“national learning”) and Confucian-inspired loyalism, provided a moral framework for samurai to challenge their feudal superiors and advocate for a new regime headed by the emperor.23