The Meiji Restoration overthrew the Tokugawa shogunate, returned major policies to the Emperor, and carried out major political, economic and social reforms, which promoted Japan's modernization and westernization.

Before the Meiji Restoration, Japan was a backward feudal country closed to the outside world in the Tokugawa shogunate era. At that time, the general was the biggest feudal Lord and held the state power, while the emperor was only the nominal head of state. In order to consolidate and strengthen the rule of the shogunate, the Tokugawa shogunate issued many "national lock orders", which almost completely isolated Japan from the outside world. It has greatly hindered Japan's social and economic development and made Japan far behind the advanced capitalist countries in the west. From 1 192, "General" took control of the state power and began the Tokugawa era in Japan. In the Tokugawa era, the emperor became a decoration. 1603, the Tokugawa family seized the Japanese regime, and Japan entered the Tokugawa era. In the Tokugawa era, the general held real power, and the center of power was located in Edo. At that time, the capital of Japan was Kyoto, and the organization of the Tokugawa era was in Edo, so Japan often called the Tokugawa era "Edo era". During the Tokugawa shogunate, the general was the highest military ruler and the largest Lord of the country. Under the general, feudal lords whose income was not less than 60,000 stone (1 stone equals 170 kg) were famous, and they occupied about two-thirds of Japan's land. Daming is the sole owner of their territory, San Francisco. They direct judicial trials and seize the rights of their peasants. They dominate the military, administration and taxation, and have great independence, while there are more than 260 governors, large and small, in the country. It can be seen that Japan is a centralized and fragile feudal separatist country. Samurai are generals and famous ministers, and some samurai are small feudal lords living on the land of the shogunate; Some samurai are junior officials of state organs; Other warriors lived on Daming's land and acted as Daming's own soldiers, which was a military force to suppress the peasant movement. A samurai is blindly loyal to his master, and his master will not hesitate to let him die. Warriors are brave and aggressive for fame, respect God and believe in Buddhism, and attach importance to etiquette. This is the basic content of "Bushido" that people often say. Emperors, generals, famous generals and warriors all belong to the feudal ruling class.

The rule of Tokugawa shogunate was decadent and backward. In order to prevent the spread of western ideas and Christianity in Japan, the Tokugawa shogunate issued the "National Lock-up Order" five times from the 17' s 1930' s. Implement a closed-door policy. Internally, the rule of man is constantly strengthened and a strict hierarchical system is implemented. The "four people" were also ranked fourth, and the order was scholars, agriculture, industry and commerce, with businessmen having the lowest status. Farmers, who account for 80% of the population, are tied to the land. In addition to paying heavy rent and labor, their lives are also subject to various restrictions. For example, they are not allowed to eat rice, only radish leaves and bean leaves, and they are not allowed to leave the village at will. The blackmail of the shogunate aroused the wave of people's anti-feudal struggle. Japan's sharp class contradictions directly threatened the Tokugawa era. In addition, the development of commodity economy and the disintegration of feudal economy in the middle of 19 century also contributed to the sharp domestic contradictions and the crisis in the Tokugawa era.