A Discussion of the Balance of Continuity and Change in the Social Order of Meiji Japan.
It is a commonplace of history to observe that all ages are periods of transition, for history is characterized by continual change in human affairs. The Meiji Restoration of late 19th century Japan was such a transitional moment, for in a brief span of time the society, culture, economic and political order of Japan experienced a fundamental restructuring from a pre-Restoration society that was akin to the feudalism of medieval Europe, into a modern industrial nation state. A superficial reading of the history of this era would emphasize the extensive, and pervasive, changes Japan underwent in its social order during the late 19th century, and give little attention to the elements of continuity which carried over from the pre-Restoration era. This paper will argue that, while it is impossible to characterize the elements of discontinuity and continuity in the society of Meiji Japan as being in "balance", given the rapid and radical nature of change in the country at this time, nonetheless an understanding of the history of Meiji Japan requires an appreciation of the elements of continuity in Japanese culture. 5 pgs. 9 f/c. 1b.
