Imperial Edict of Reform

The Imperial Edict of Reform was a significant decree issued in 1868 during the Meiji Restoration in Japan. It aimed to modernize and centralize the government by reducing the power of regional feudal lords (daimyo) and establishing a more uniform political and administrative structure. The edict promoted new laws, military reforms, and educational changes to create a stronger, more unified nation capable of competing with Western powers. Essentially, it marked Japan’s transition from a fragmented feudal system to a modern, centralized state focused on rapid modernization.