JAPANESE CIVIL CODE 369 



(2) That all classes, high and low, should unite in vigorously carry- 

 ing out the plan of the government. 



(3) Officials, civil and military, and all common people should, 

 as far as possible, be allowed to fulfill their just desires, so that 

 there might not be any discontent among them. 



(4) Uncivilized customs of former times should be broken through, 

 and everything should be based upon the just and equitable 

 principle of nature. 



(5) That knowledge should be sought for throughout the world, so that 

 the welfare of the Empire might be promoted. 



This oath has been made the basis of our national policy. How 

 well the Emperor kept his oath, and how unswervingly his govern- 

 ment and his people have followed the wish expressed by their 

 sovereign, is shown by the subsequent events of our history. 



The feudal system was abolished, and all the daimios or feudal 

 lords voluntarily surrendered their fiefs to the Emperor, together 

 with their powers to make laws, issue paper currency, and exercise 

 both civil and criminal jurisdiction within their dominions. The 

 four' hereditary classes of the people, namely, the samurai or sol- 

 diers, farmers, artisans, and merchants, were abolished, and all could 

 freely choose their own profession or calling. Officials were no 

 longer appointed on account of birth, as was formerly the case, 

 but on account of personal merits, and even the lowest born could 

 aspire to become the highest official of the state. The family 

 system was, as I shall show presently, gradually weakened, so 

 that the individual began to take the place of the family as the 

 unit of society. Schools for both sexes have been established in 

 all parts of the empire, which are open to all classes without the 

 least distinction. Higher education is no longer the monopoly 

 of the samurai and the clergy. Students and officials have been 

 yearly sent to Europe and America, to study different branches 

 of art and science, or to investigate and report upon the methods 

 and resources of Western civilization. Christianity, which had 

 been very strictly forbidden during the Tokugawa Shogunate, 

 was gradually tolerated under the new government of the Emperor, 

 until at last freedom of religious belief and worship was secured by 

 article 28 of the constitution promulgated in 1889. The introduction 

 of steamships, railroads, electric telegraphs, etc., completely changed 

 the means of communication and traveling both on land and sea. 

 The opening of foreign trade and the changes in commerce and 

 industry at home, by the establishment of banking and other com- 

 mercial firms and factories in different parts of the country, brought 

 about great economical revolutions among the people. The Imperial 

 Household abolished the old ceremonial costumes, and adopted 

 European dress for ceremonial occasions both for men and women. 



