Meiji Era
Meaning
Primary
Meiji Era
Secondary
Meiji Emperor, Meiji
Word Type
noun
Reading
めいじ
Notes
Groups
Remarks
The Meiji Era transitioned from being an isolated feudal society at risk of colonisation by European powers to the new paradigm of a modern, industrialised nation state and emergent great power, influenced by Western scientific, technological, philosophical, political, legal, and aesthetic ideas. As a result of such wholesale adoption of radically-different ideas, the changes to Japan were profound, and affected its social structure, internal politics, economy, military, and foreign relations.