Жапонның Мэйдзи кезеңіндегі Батысқа бет бұруы

Bunmei kaika (文明開化) refers to the phenomenon of Westernization in Japan during the Meiji era (1868–1912), which led to major changes in institutions and customs. The term is generally used for the period in the early Meiji era when customs and manners changed drastically from the feudal society of the past. Under the influence of scholars such as Fukuzawa Yukichi, it was thought that adopting Western culture would allow Japan to overcome the perceived weaknesses of its traditional culture.

The term bunmei kaika was used as a translation of "civilization" in Fukuzawa Yukichi's book An Outline of a Theory of Civilization (文明論之概略). Originally, only (文明) was translated as "civilization" in Japan. However, the word (開化) is now also widely used to mean "civilization". Kaika originally meant "the action of making someone understand reason or principle and guiding them to good direction" in Buddhism. In the Edo period though, the Tokugawa family used the verb (開ける) to refer to the development of a nation, so kaika, which shares the kanji 開, gained a meaning like "development". Both bunmei and kaika are [[Sino Japanese vocabulary.

The main impetus for the bunmei kaika was the Meiji Restoration, a series of huge changes that occurred in Japan in the latter half of the 19 century. From 1639 to 1854, Japan was closed to other countries under a policy called sakoku. The Tokugawa shogunate implemented foreign policies such as banning the voyage to Christian countries, banning the arrival of Spanish and Portuguese into Japan, and cutting relations with Southeast Asia. Japan was effectively isolated from other countries. In 1854, Commodore Perry visited Uraga to ask for the opening of the country to the world, which resulted in the Treaty of Peace and Amity between the United States and Japan. This ended the policy of sakoku. As a result, people in Japan became more aware of the need to protect their country, and the idea of sonnō jōi was born. At the same time, the idea of overthrowing the Shogunate spread. Many people demanded Tokugawa Yoshinobu, the Shogun at the time, to return all powers to the Emperor. In an event called the Taisei Hōkan (大政奉還), the Tokugawa Shogunate agreed to give up its powers. After this, a new government was officially established. In 1868, Tokugawa forces and the new Meiji government's forces, composed of the Satsuma and Chōshū clans, fought in the Boshin War. The Meiji forces defeated the Tokugawa forces, and the new government took power in Japan. The government moved the capital from Kyoto to Tokyo and began to build a centralized state around the Emperor. The Meiji government abolished the han system. Emperor Meiji also announced the Charter Oath. In this way, the Meiji government steadily came to hold greater political power. The feudal system in Japan collapsed at this time. The new government introduced new systems following the example of foreign countries, especially Germany, and established a new governance system.

A famous saying that symbolizes this era is: "If you tap a head with hair cropped short (散切り, zangiri), you will hear the sound of civilization." This saying shows that Western hairstyles were a symbol of civilization. Westernization changed the way people thought. In Japan, where society was strongly divided, bunmei kaika led to the abolition of the class system and the spread of the idea that all people were equal. People called 'abundance of defilement' or 'abundance of filth'; 穢多; [[Burakumin and (非人), who were not treated as human beings, came to be recognized as citizens. Although this did not makes the citizens perfectly equal, the idea that people should have democratic government was born.

Many things from the West came into Japan. Imported items included Western umbrellas, shampoo, Western clothing, Western style buildings, gas lamps, and even schools, newspapers, magazines, and semi Western style buildings. These were called (開化物).

Conscription — There was a conscription system in Japan. However, the conscription system changed from the French type to the German type. Due to a misunderstanding of this system, the blood tax riots occurred. The uneducated former peasants thought that they had to pay blood as tax. Personal names — In 1875, a decree was promulgated requiring commoners to obtain surnames. Later, in 1898 (Meiji 31), the Civil Code required the same surname for married couples, which led to today's marital surname issue.

Buildings were built in a semi Western style, using bricks for walls. A lot of buildings were designed by foreign architects. The British architect Josiah Conder designed the Rokumeikan, which became a key diplomatic building. Gradually, the number of Japanese architects increased, and an architect named Tatsuno Kingo designed a number of Western style buildings. Tokyo Station is one such example. Other examples of Western style architecture are the Tsukiji Hotel Building (築地ホテル館) and Ginza Bricktown.

Tomioka Silk Mill — started operation in 1872.

There were major changes in Japanese food culture, such as eating sukiyaki as described in Kanagaki Robun's The Beef eater (安愚楽鍋). Before, there was no culture of eating non seafood meat in Japan because of a Buddhist belief that the meat of animals was impure. However, in order to promote eating meat, meat was actively used in the Emperor's meals from 1871. When this was reported in newspapers or magazines, meat eating was encouraged throughout the country. Imports of coffee and butter also started around this time, but these foods did not become very popular in Japan. In 1872, Japanese started brewing and selling beer in Osaka for the first time. In 1877, it was shipped to Tokyo, and at one time nearly 100 beer companies were established. Other changes included drinking milk and the invention of anpan.

The government tried to solve a currency shortage by using coins and bills of the former period. Later, the gold standard system was introduced, and the (新貨条例) was enacted in 1871 so that gold could be used as an international currency. In addition, the government, which wanted to unify the monetary system following the example of the United States, enacted the (国立銀行条例). In 1879, as many as 153 national banks were established across the country and were granted the right to issue paper money under certain conditions.

Gregorian calendar — The Tenpō calendar was used until December 2, 1872, and the following day was changed to January 1, 1873, of the Gregorian calendar. Critics such as Miyake Setsurei and his circle derided the movement's negative effects on Japanese culture, namely decadence, materialism, radicalism, the commercialization of values and the decline of cooperation. The introduction of German economic thought in the 1890s influenced the way some Japanese perceived industrialization and its problems, including class conflict, labor strife, and the destruction of the peasant village.