"Science And Technology Policy" Reform And It's Influence During The Period Of Meiji Restoration In Japan

The Modern civilization in Japan origins from Meiji Restoration.After the foundation of Meiji Government,the oligarchy developed the market economy and set up the modern capitalist system to strengthen Japan against the threat represented by the colonial powers,under the slogan of"Enrich the country,strengthen the military".It was called Meiji Restoration.With the three policies,which were "promote civilization and enlightenment","enrich the country,strengthen the military" and "built industries and increase productions",the Meiji Restoration carryout a series of reform in regime,educational,military and economic systems.The introduced science and technology policies were mainly expressed by education,military and economy.In the educational fields,Japan completed the modern educational system,including elementary education,secondary education(industrial educational and common secondary education)and higher education.The popularization of elementary compulsory education,to some extent,which cleared the traditional ideological obstructions away,helped in the introducing and developing of western science and technology.The development of secondary education provided plenty of skilled workers in industrial revolution period.The modern universities,which are the were the cradle of the elites,imported modern civilization and science an technology.To reform the military,the oligarchs,who abolished the privileges of the samurai class and instituted nationwide conscription,established a modern new army.First,established and developed military industry.Brought in western equipments and engineers based of Bakumatsu state-owned arsenals set up modern ordnance factories.With this,the military industry turned to independent research and development from importing weapons from the western.Secondly,established military academies and cultivated modern military talents.The military universities set up in Meiji Era,enabled to train ground and navy forces,including high-ranking military officers,cavalrymen,quartermaster corps,dogrobbers,veterinarians and artillerymen.In the economic field,the oligarchs started sample plants and state-owned research institutions.On the one hand,the management mode and industrial technology of modern enterprises were introdced by model plants,on the other hand,technical supports and advices were provided to the private factories.It is a good understanding of science and technology of Meiji oligarchy that determined the technology introdcing policy.The western advanced technology origined from the western civilization which is suitable for the development of science and technology,including the idea of"physics" "true learning"and social systems.It is nessisary to clear the traditional ideological obstructions away to introduce science and technology to Japan.The Meiji oligarchy saw the education as a prerequisite to learn from the western.The advanced techonolgy required the establishment of modern education system and rapid development of national education.The education flourish especially higher education cultivated large quantities of talents in the undone Meiji period,which indicated Japan's turning from"take-ism" to "independent research".