Ie In The Meji Era

Knowledge of a society is acquired through the understanding of its family structure as its cultural beliefs and values are heavily based around them. Family is above all, considered important when in comparison to the individual desires. It is said that family play an important role in an individuals life chances, determined through how well a family is presented for job or marriage candidates. (Imamura 1990) The Meji period implemented the patrilineal stem family system known as the ‘ie’ system which was where the eldest son had the right to receive the family inheritance and the other sons would have to leave the household. (Saito 2000) With a male head of the household and his wife, the eldest son would remain within the household and take on the family business after the patriarchal head has aged. During these times, women played the role of producing offspring’s for heirs, supporting her husband’s family business and as a caretaker for the aged parents-in-law. The

(Wilkinson 1962) For the creation of a centralized nation state for the preservation of the family resources and passing them to the next generation and those against or not following this system was punished. As a result by the end of the era most of Japan incorporated this ‘ie’ system continuing into WWII which contributed to the increase in the industrial market at the time of Japan, giving non-eldest sons to go into the labor force. (Nonoyama 2000) Among upper-class families, marriage at the time was used for the agreement between two households, where usually both members going through the marriage had little or no say, as a sacrifice in upholding social and political power for the family. (Saito 2000) Traditionally, three forms of marriage Mukoiri, Yomeiri and Oyakatadori and was highly regarded that a woman was to bear a child as a successor of the family. (Ariga