What was politics like when Emperor Meiji ruled?

Question

Was the system fair? Did they do it for the people or themselves(the government)?

Answer 1

The role of the emperor of Japan has historically alternated between that of a supreme-rank cleric with largely symbolic powers and that of an actual imperial ruler. An underlying imperial cult (the idea of Arahitogami) regards the emperor as being descended from gods. Until 1945, the Japanese monarchs had always been, officially, military commanders. However, contrary to the usual role of a Western monarch, they did not practically function as such. Japanese emperors have nearly always been controlled by other political forces, to varying degrees.

Since the mid-nineteenth century, the Imperial Palace has been called "Kyūjō" (宮城）, then Kōkyo (皇居), and located on the former site of Edo Castle （江戸城）in the heart of Tokyo. Earlier emperors resided in Kyoto for nearly eleven centuries.


The earliest emperors recorded in Kojiki and Nihonshoki, such as Emperor Jimmu, are considered today to have no historical credibility. The earliest monarch now listed as an emperor who is generally acknowledged by historians to have existed historically was Emperor Ojin. These two books state that the imperial house maintained a continuous lineage, though today some historians believe that many ancient emperors who were claimed to be descendants of Emperor Ōjin had no actual genealogical tie to their predecessor.[citation needed]However, the genealogy beginning from Emperor Keitai can be regarded as reliable, thus meaning that the dynasty has continued at least some 1500 years.[citation needed]