Boshin Imperial Edict

This Imperial Rescript was issued on October 13, 1908 (Meiji 41). It is called the Boshin Imperial Rescript because that year was the year of the Earth Monkey. As a result of the Russo-Japanese War, Japan gained an international status as an imperialist nation on par with the great powers. However, within the country, the devastation and impoverishment of local communities became apparent, and the so-called "deterioration of ideology" caused by socialism and individualism became a problem. This Imperial Rescript was intended to address this situation, and called on the people to unite "high and low" with the Imperial Family at the center, to "devote themselves faithfully to work and manage property frugally" in order to develop the nation's fortunes and to rank among the great powers. In the local improvement movement carried out by the Ministry of Home Affairs and others after the Russo-Japanese War, this Imperial Rescript was considered important as a path that the people should take after the war, and after it was issued, reading sessions were held at local government offices and elementary schools, and it was also considered to be on par with the Imperial Rescript on Education in school education, and had a great impact on the people.

[Yoji Okada]

"Study of the Post-Russo-Japanese War Political History" by Masato Miyaji (1973, University of Tokyo Press)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

1908年（明治41）10月13日に渙発(かんぱつ)された詔書。同年が戊申(つちのえさる)の年のため戊申詔書とよばれる。日露戦争の結果、日本は帝国主義国として列強と並ぶ国際的地位を得た。しかし、国内では、地方社会の荒廃、疲弊が表面化し、また社会主義、個人主義などによるいわゆる「思想悪化」が問題化した。この詔書は、こうした状態に対処しようとしたもので、皇室を中心として「上下」が一体となり、「忠実業ニ服シ勤倹産ヲ治メ」ることによって国運を発展させ、列強に伍(ご)していくことを国民に求めたものであった。日露戦争後、内務省などによって行われた地方改良運動のなかで、戦後の国民のとるべき道を示すものとして重視され、渙発後、各地の役場、小学校などで捧読(ほうどく)会が開かれたほか、学校教育でも教育勅語と並ぶものとされ、国民に大きな影響を与えた。

［岡田洋司］

『宮地正人著『日露戦後政治史の研究』（1973・東京大学出版会）』

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