226:, Japan embarked on a crash course program of modernization. As a prelude to the full abolition of the Tokugawa-era class and status system, outcast status was abolished by the 1871 Burakumin Emancipation Edict, mandatory public schooling for all children was implemented in 1872, and in January 1873, the new Meiji government enacted the Conscription Ordinance, which required all male citizens, including both samurai and non-samurai alike, to submit to mandatory military conscription at the age of 20, serving in the military for three years, and then serving in a national military reserve thereafter.
935:
301:
mercenaries to restore order. In total, more than 60,000 people were arrested, including more than 29,000 people in
Okayama prefecture alone. However, a mere 15 rioters identified as ringleaders were sentenced to death and executed, with thousands of other rioters receiving lesser sentences or being released without charge.
291:
In addition to overt violence, the rioters also presented petitions to local authorities stating their demands. Common demands included repealing the
Conscription Ordinance, abolishing public schools, rescinding the ban on traditional topknot hairstyles, and ditching the newly instated solar calendar
260:, literally meaning "blood tax." Seizing on the injudicious use of this phrase, wild rumors spread throughout the countryside that government agents were coming to literally extract blood from peasants and sell it to foreigners who would use it to make medicines, helping further fuel popular outrage.
287:
Similarly in Kagawa prefecture, an army of 20,000 angry peasants bearing bamboo sticks and beating drums went on a rampage, burning down 34 government offices, 5 Buddhist temples, and the homes of 300 local government officials. In addition, they destroyed 7 police stations and a total of 48 public
252:
An additional source of outrage was the fact that the
Conscription Ordinance contained a provision allowing wealthy citizens to buy themselves out of conscription, meaning that the burden of conscription would disproportionately fall upon the poorest of Japan's citizens, who could least afford to
229:
Conscription deprived impoverished farming villages of strong young men at the peak of their physical prowess whose strength was desperately needed to perform manual labor. Similarly, mandatory public schooling deprived peasant families of their children's labor, which was needed to help with the
275:
Uprisings began in March 1873, and rapidly spread to a total of at least 10 prefectures. Affected prefectures included Kyoto, Okayama, Fukui, Mie, Tottori, Hiroshima, Shimane, Kagawa, Ehime, and Kōchi. The rioters targeted the symbols and agents of the Meiji reforms that were disrupting their
205:
Extending across at least 10 prefectures and involving hundreds of thousands of peasant farmers and rural samurai, the blood tax riots destroyed government offices, police stations, newly established public schools, and the homes of government officials and newly emancipated
Burakumin (former
300:
The Meiji government brutally suppressed the Blood Tax Riots without yielding to any of the rioters' demands. Showing no mercy, the government took a "shoot-to-kill" approach to the rioters. When local police forces proved unable to contain the violence, the government hired bands of samurai
249:, the Conscription Ordinance's drafting of commoners into military service destroyed their cherished monopoly on military service and thus threatened their self-image and way of life, leading some rural samurai to make common cause with non-samurai in opposing the ordinance.
279:
For example in late May 1873, over 30,000 people rioted in
Okayama prefecture, destroying 46 public elementary schools. In addition, they destroyed 2 temples, the residences of 52 local government officials, and over 300 houses owned by newly emancipated
284:. Arming themselves with bamboo spears, guns, and swords, they attacked government officials and former outcasts, wounding dozens and killing 24. Of the 24 people murdered in the violence in Okayama, 18 were recently emancipated former outcasts.
193:
were a series of violent uprisings around Japan in the spring of 1873 in opposition to the institution of mandatory military conscription for all male citizens (described as a "blood tax") in the wake of the
276:
previous way of life: local government offices and officials, newly established public schools and police stations, Buddhist temples that were serving as government agents, and newly emancipated outcasts.
230:
planting and harvesting of crops. The emancipation of outcasts was objectionable because, after centuries of living under the rigidly enforced
Tokugawa status system, whereby outcasts were deemed "
267:
made all decisions without any consultation with the general public, enraged farmers and low-ranking rural samurai felt they had no outlet to air their grievances other than violent protest.
256:
The
Conscription Ordinance itself was inspired by western models, and the text of the ordinance directly translated a flowery French term for mandatory military service,
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outcasts). However, the riots were brutally suppressed by the Meiji government, which adopted a "shoot-to-kill" policy and brought in hired
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238:) and forcibly segregated, people of other classes found it intolerable that the former outcasts were now deemed "new citizens" (新平民,
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From
Subnational to Micronational: Buraku Communities and Transformations in Identity in Modern and Contemporary Japan
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1101:
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1029:
1053:
796:
Vlastos, Stephen (1995). "Opposition
Movements in Early Meiji, 1868-1885". In Jansen, Marius B. (ed.).
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Emancipation Edict of 1871 and the institution of mandatory public schooling for children in 1872.
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824:"Citizenship and National Identity in Early Meiji Japan, 1868-1889: A Comparative Assessment"
242:) and were free to mingle amongst those who had so recently been considered their superiors.
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1315:
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1041:
1011:
993:
870:
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The
History of Modern Japanese Education: Constructing the National School System, 1872-1890
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1143:
1023:
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115:
1047:
739:
Japan's Emergence as a Modern State: Political and Economic Problems of the Meiji Period
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1221:
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823:
1414:
1332:
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199:
63:
711:
Samurai to Soldier: Remaking Military Service in Nineteenth-Century Japan
882:
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Burning and Building: Schooling and State Formation in Japan, 1750–1890
246:
207:
104:
874:
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858:
231:
40:
59:
Rumors that the government would forcibly extract people's blood
904:
650:
Civilization and Monsters: Spirits of Modernity in Meiji Japan
567:
565:
150:
alone, hundreds of rioters killed by police and mercenaries
56:
The institution of mandatory public schooling for children
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456:
686:
Haag, Andre (2011). "Maruyama Masao and Katō Shūichi on
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Geographies of Identity in Nineteenth-Century Japan
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87:
72:
47:
34:
26:
21:
16:Riots against military conscription in Japan, 1873
760:. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Asia Center.
198:. Secondary causes included popular anger at the
53:The institution of military conscription in Japan
184:
178:
916:
78:Assaults on government property and personnel
8:
671:. Berkeley: University of California Press.
292:in favor of the traditional lunar calendar.
263:As Meiji Japan was not a democracy, and the
210:mercenaries when police proved ineffective.
633:. New Brunswick: Rutgers University Press.
399:
1303:
951:
923:
909:
901:
18:
839:
800:. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
583:
571:
474:
81:Extrajudicial killings of former outcasts
931:Coups, rebellions, and revolts in Japan
859:"The "Modern" Army of Early Meiji Japan"
781:. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
732:(Ph.D. dissertation). McGill University.
532:
462:
363:
315:
828:International Review of Social History
775:Storm, Jason Ananda Josephson (2012).
607:
556:
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387:
375:
344:
595:
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486:
447:
435:
329:
7:
713:. Ithaca: Cornell University Press.
503:
423:
778:The Invention of Religion in Japan
688:Translation and Japanese Modernity
14:
1456:Riots and civil disorder in Japan
652:. Durham: Duke University Press.
933:
1000:Fujiwara no Hirotsugu Rebellion
857:Kublin, Hyman (November 1949).
1006:Fujiwara no Nakamaro Rebellion
1:
728:Mutafchieva, Rositsa (2009).
222:of 1868, which overthrew the
1114:Ōshio Heihachirō's Rebellion
798:The Emergence of Meiji Japan
709:Jaundrill, D. Colin (2016).
737:Norman, E. Herbert (2000).
692:Translation in Modern Japan
185:
146:24 non-rioters murdered in
1487:
1353:Hibiya incendiary incident
1108:Menashi–Kunashir rebellion
970:Prince Hoshikawa Rebellion
120:Local government officials
39:Numerous uprisings across
1254:Military Academy incident
863:The Far Eastern Quarterly
841:10.1017/S0020859000113641
690:". In Levy, Indra (ed.).
667:Howell, David L. (2005).
179:
92:
1242:League of Blood Incident
741:. Vancouver: UBC Press.
1471:Discrimination in Japan
629:Duke, Benjamin (2009).
822:Ikegami, Eiko (1995).
648:Figal, Gerald (1999).
1030:Shishigatani incident
756:Platt, Brian (2004).
694:. London: Routledge.
1260:February 26 incident
1126:Shimonoseki Campaign
1451:Rebellions in Japan
1175:Shinpūren Rebellion
1132:Tenchūgumi incident
1102:Shakushain's revolt
1090:Shimabara Rebellion
1066:Yamashiro Rebellion
1036:Siege of Hōjūjidono
964:Kibi Clan Rebellion
598:, pp. 188–189.
477:, pp. 128–129.
253:lose family labor.
126:Samurai mercenaries
30:March to June, 1873
1205:Fukushima incident
1199:Takebashi incident
1163:Two Lords Incident
224:Tokugawa Shogunate
1428:
1427:
1424:
1423:
1347:Nagasaki incident
1293:
1292:
1211:Chichibu incident
1193:Satsuma Rebellion
1181:Akizuki Rebellion
1128: (1863–1864)
1120:Teradaya incident
1104: (1669–1672)
1092: (1637–1638)
988:Jinshin Rebellion
586:, p. 206n87.
414:, pp. 73–74.
220:Meiji Restoration
196:Meiji Restoration
170:
169:
133:
132:
62:Popular anger at
1478:
1397:Shibuya incident
1316:Kakitsu uprising
1304:
1284:Mishima incident
1236:October incident
1084:Rokugō Rebellion
1078:Kunohe Rebellion
1060:Kakitsu uprising
1042:Kennin Rebellion
994:Hayato Rebellion
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1341:Blood tax riots
1327:
1308:
1299:
1289:
1272:Matsue incident
1248:May 15 incident
1216:
1149:
1144:Kinmon incident
1054:Shōchō uprising
1048:Jōkyū Rebellion
1024:Heiji Rebellion
1018:Hōgen Rebellion
1014: (939–940)
996: (720–721)
956:
947:
945:
939:
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875:10.2307/2049123
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834:(S3): 185–221.
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265:Meiji oligarchs
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174:Blood Tax Riots
129:
123:Police officers
116:Meiji oligarchs
109:
100:Peasant farmers
43:
22:Blood tax riots
17:
12:
11:
5:
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1461:Arson in Japan
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1403:Bloody May Day
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1300:civil disorder
1295:
1294:
1291:
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1278:Sanmu incident
1275:
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1266:Kyūjō incident
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1230:March incident
1226:
1224:
1218:
1217:
1215:
1214:
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1187:Hagi Rebellion
1184:
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1169:Saga Rebellion
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1159:
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1138:Mito Rebellion
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1096:Keian Uprising
1093:
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1072:Kaga Rebellion
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982:Isshi incident
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976:Iwai Rebellion
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807:978-0415573917
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767:978-0674013964
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584:Jaundrill 2016
576:
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572:Jaundrill 2016
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535:, p. 207.
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489:, p. 188.
479:
475:Jaundrill 2016
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258:impôt du sang
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186:Ketsuzei ikki
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52:
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50:
46:
42:
37:
33:
29:
25:
20:
1417: (1970)
1411: (1968)
1405: (1952)
1399: (1946)
1380: (1923)
1374: (1918)
1355: (1905)
1349: (1886)
1343: (1873)
1340:
1324: (1686)
1318: (1441)
1286: (1970)
1280: (1961)
1274: (1945)
1268: (1945)
1262: (1936)
1256: (1934)
1250: (1932)
1244: (1932)
1238: (1931)
1232: (1931)
1213: (1884)
1207: (1882)
1201: (1878)
1195: (1877)
1189: (1876)
1183: (1876)
1177: (1876)
1171: (1874)
1165: (1868)
1146: (1864)
1140: (1864)
1134: (1863)
1122:(1862, 1866)
1116: (1837)
1110: (1789)
1098: (1651)
1086: (1603)
1062: (1441)
1056: (1428)
1050: (1221)
1044: (1201)
1038: (1184)
1032: (1177)
1026: (1160)
1020: (1156)
897:
869:(1): 20–41.
866:
862:
831:
827:
815:
814:
797:
777:
757:
738:
729:
710:
691:
687:
668:
649:
630:
622:
621:
618:Bibliography
603:
591:
579:
552:
540:
533:Vlastos 1995
528:
482:
470:
463:Ikegami 1995
443:
431:
419:
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395:
383:
371:
364:Vlastos 1995
299:
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286:
278:
274:
262:
257:
255:
251:
244:
239:
235:
228:
217:
204:
173:
171:
66:emancipation
1074:(1487–1488)
1068:(1485–1493)
1008: (764)
1002: (740)
990: (672)
984: (645)
978: (527)
972: (479)
966: (463)
608:Howell 2005
557:Howell 2005
545:Howell 2005
412:Norman 2000
388:Howell 2005
376:Howell 2005
345:Kublin 1949
296:Suppression
240:shin heimin
1446:1873 riots
1435:Categories
1372:Rice riots
1364:Taishō era
1307:Pre-Modern
955:Pre-Modern
948:rebellions
596:Platt 2004
521:Platt 2004
487:Platt 2004
448:Figal 1999
436:Platt 2004
330:Storm 2012
305:References
214:Background
163:Executions
158:>60,000
138:Casualties
1466:Burakumin
1415:Koza riot
1389:Shōwa era
1333:Meiji era
1298:Riots and
1222:Shōwa era
1155:Meiji era
946:coups and
944:Attempted
891:162485953
850:146423428
504:Duke 2009
424:Haag 2011
310:Citations
288:schools.
282:Burakumin
232:non-human
200:Burakumin
64:Burakumin
48:Caused by
155:Arrested
143:Death(s)
35:Location
883:2049123
247:samurai
245:As for
234:" (非人,
208:samurai
148:Okayama
105:samurai
88:Parties
73:Methods
1080:(1591)
889:
881:
848:
804:
785:
764:
745:
717:
698:
675:
656:
637:
103:Rural
1309:Japan
957:Japan
887:S2CID
879:JSTOR
846:S2CID
623:Books
271:Riots
236:hinin
41:Japan
802:ISBN
783:ISBN
762:ISBN
743:ISBN
715:ISBN
696:ISBN
673:ISBN
654:ISBN
635:ISBN
180:血税一揆
172:The
27:Date
871:doi
836:doi
1437::
885:.
877:.
865:.
861:.
844:.
832:40
830:.
826:.
564:^
511:^
494:^
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352:^
337:^
318:^
183:,
166:15
924:e
917:t
910:v
893:.
873::
867:9
852:.
838::
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190:)
177:(
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