Timeline Description: Emperor Meiji presided over a time of great change for Japan. The feudal state moved to capitalism and imperial world power during the revolution. Emperor Meiji consolidated power and led Japan through reconstruction.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| November 3, 1852 | Emperor Meiji was born. Meiji was born as Sachinomiya in a small home on his mother’s parent’s property in Gosho. The Japanese, at the time, believed that births were polluting and imperial princes were not allowed to be born in the Palace, but in a temporary structure. His mother was a concubine. |
| August 16, 1860 | Sachinomiya was given an adult name. At the age of seven, the young prince was given his adult name. He was proclaimed as the crown prince of blood and heir to the throne. He was given the name Mutsuhito. The prince began his education at this time. |
| 1866 | Mutsuhito continued his education. Mutsuhito admitted that he was an indifferent student. He did, however, enjoy studying waka poetry with the court poets. During this time, Japan was in a state of turmoil. |
| January 30, 1867 | Emperor Komei died. Emperor Komei died at an early age. This left fourteen year old Meiji in a position of power. |
| February 3, 1867 | The crown prince took the throne. A short ceremony was held in Kyoto for Emperor Meiji. He continued his education which, however, did not include politics. There is no evidence that Yoshinobu was actually involved in the decisions made until he became older. |
| January 4, 1868 | The 265 years of rule by Tokugawa Shogunate ended. The imperial rule was formally restored. |
| September 19, 1868 | The city’s name was changed. The emperor announced that the city of Edo was changed to Tokyo, to mean eastern capital. This announced the new era in his reign. |
| January 11, 1869 | Emperor Meiji was married. After being presented with IchijoHaruko, the daughter of an Imperial official three years older, Meiji was married. He had to wait until after his gembuku, or manhood ceremony. The couple had no children, but Meiji had five children with concubines. |
| April 7, 1869 | The Charter Oath. The emperor was presented with a government statement to abolish feudalism. He traveled from Kyoto to Osaka to take command of the forces. |
| November 5, 1872 | The Grand Duke. The Meiji emperor received the Grand Duke Alexei Alexandrovich of Russia for a visit. |
| 1873 | Edo Castle was destroyed. Meiji moved to the Akasaka palace were his first children died at birth. |
| 1900 | The emperor became sick. Meiji was diagnosed with diabetes. This disease led to gastroenteritis and nephritis. |
| 1904 | The Russo-Japanese War.(1904-1905) A victory by Japan helped it establish itself as a world power. |
| July 30, 1912 | Emperor Meiji passed away. He died from complications of his diabetes. The actual cause of death was uremia. After his death, the Japanese Diet passed a resolution commemorating his role in the Meiji Restoration.The Meiji era brought with it many far-reaching changes to the feudal society of Japan. Meiji was only a boy when he took the throne, but he was a great asset to Japan. |