ABSTRACT
AT the time of the last Shōgun’s resignation, the new Emperor was only fifteen years old, and his councillors of the imperial party decided all matters of state, Their policy was to secure the supremacy of the imperial party throughout the empire, and to render nugatory any attempt at a future restoration of the Shōgunate. Their first act was to replace the Shōgunate troops to whom the custody of the imperial palace and capital were entrusted by a strong imperial army. For this purpose peace was concluded with the Daimiō of Nagato with whom there had been war in consequence of the change of imperial policy in 1863, and who had a large military force at his disposal. In December, 1867, Matsudaira Katamori was ordered to withdraw with his troops from the imperial palace. Its custody was transferred to the Daimiōs of Satsuma and Tosa and their friends. Terms of peace were offered to the Daimiō of Nagato, and he was asked to come to the capital with troops. The seven imperial court officials who had fled were recalled and reinstated in their offices. The official imperial proclamation relating to the new order of administration was published, 3rd January, 1868. It officially put an end to the former Shōgunate government, and it was solemnly declared that for the future all power was vested in the Emperor. The imperial bureaucracy was newly organized, The Sōsai (president) and under him the Gijō (lesser council) and the Sanyo (greater council) formed the head of the imperial officials. The Sōsai was Prince Arisugawa-no-miya Taruhito, an uncle of the Emperor, the members of the lesser council were princes and Daimiōs belonging to the imperial party, especially those of Satsuma, Tosa, and Nagato, and of the greater council Samurai of the imperial party. None of the former Shōgunate officials received a post. The ex-Shōgun, several of the Tokugawa, and Matsudaira Katamori were entirely passed over when the offices were filled.
