Imperial Rescript to Soldiers and Sailors

Imperial Rescript to Soldiers and Sailors


Military presence in our land had always been under the Emperor’s command. More than 2500 years have passed since Emperor Jinmu himself rose to lead the soldiers of the Ohtomo and Mononobe Clans to subjugate the defiant clans in the central region of our land, and proclaimed himself Emperor to rule the nation.

Since then, throughout the ages, the military had adapted in various ways to accommodate the changes occurring to society. In ancient times, it was customary that the Emperor himself led the army, occasionally being replaced in this role by his Empress or Crown Prince. But supreme military command was never relinquished to his minions.

In the middle ages (Kamakura and Muromachi eras), warriors and civil servant classes came to be organized into structures borrowed from the Chinese system, thereby establishing the six Guard Divisions, two military horse bureaus, and garrisons stationed at the frontiers of our land to solidify our national defenses.

However, through complacency born from a long reign of peace, the policies of the Imperial Court started to neglect fighting skills in preference of higher learning. And as a distinction between farmers and warriors classes arose, the ancient conscription system faded out to be replaced by a system of volunteer fighters, who formed a professional warrior class led by the Shogun, who was their leader.

The Shogun also eventually came to rule the land politically as a result of years of turbulent unrest plaguing our nation, introducing roughly 700 years of military rule.

Though the tides of time had caused such deplorable, but irreversible shifts, these developments were a violation nonetheless of the promises our nation was founded upon and against the wishes of Emperor Jinmu, the founder.

But as those conditions persisted into the Kohka and Kaehi eras (of late Edo period), the diminishing power of the Tokugawa Shogunate and the rising threat from foreign nations combined to bring imminent humiliation to our nation, which was a cause of constant heartache to my grandfather, Emperor Ninkoh and my father, Emperor Kohmyo.

Then as I took the throne still as a child, it came to be that the Shogun soon returned sovereignty of the land, and as the domain lords returned their populations of subjects and lands to me, we soon found ourselves again to be a united nation and could revert to our ancient traditions. This became possible due to loyal servants within the civil and military ranks, who had provided me great and highly commendable service.

It is true that the love that Emperors of the past had shown his people had left this to us as a permanent inheritance to be cherished, but that it could once again be reinstated to flourish in this way, is proof that the people of our land possess an infallible sense of justice and loyalty.

Supported by such developments, in the past 15 years, we have revised our military system and established an Army and Navy in the hope they will bring glory to our nation. Although various military functions naturally need to be delegated to those who serve me, the ultimate authority of supreme command will remain my prerogative.

It is my wish that both sovereignty and military command be recognized as inherited prerogatives of the Emperor and be passed down the generations, not to repeat the mistakes of the middle ages.

Soldiers and Sailors, I am your supreme Commander in Chief. The relationship between you and I will need to be a most intimate one, as if you were my limbs and I your head. Whether I am able to guard the Empire, and so prove myself worthy of Heaven’s blessings and repay the benevolence of my Ancestors, depends upon the faithful discharge of your duties as soldiers and sailors.

If the majesty and power of our Empire should be impaired, you shall share with me the humiliation. On the other hand, if our arms would win us resplendent glory, I shall be delighted to join you in that honor. If you all do your duty, and be one with me in spirit to do your utmost for the protection of the state, our people will long enjoy the blessings of peace, and might and dignity of Our Empire will shine in the world. As I thus expect much of you, Soldiers and Sailors, I confer upon you the following precepts:

I.	The soldier and sailor should consider loyalty their essential duty. Those born in this land must be willing to show a spirit of grateful service to it. No soldier or sailor can be of service to our nation unless this spirit is strongly embedded within him. A soldier or a sailor lacking in this conviction, however skilled he may be in art or well learned in academics is a mere puppet; and a formation of soldiers or sailors wanting in loyalty, however well ordered and disciplined they may be, are no better than a rabble in an emergency. Remember that, as the defense of the state and the maintenance of its power depend upon the strength of its military, growth or decline of this military strength will directly affect the ebb and flow of the nation’s fortunes; therefore neither be led astray by public opinion nor meddle in politics, but single-mindedly devote yourself to the duty of loyalty, and bear in mind that duty is weightier than a mountain, while death is lighter than a feather. Never by failing in moral principle fall into disgrace and bring dishonor upon your name.

II.	Military members are required to know how to show proper respect. According to rank that ranges from field marshal to private, and the various functions existing in between, the military is structured into a strict chain of command, and even among equal ranks, a clear notion of seniority in service requires one to obey another with more seniority. Orders subordinates receive from his superiors are to be interpreted as orders from me personally. Even if that superior may not be the one you are attached to, you must show respect and courtesy to all your superiors as well as seniors in service. In return, superiors must never slight his subordinates or behave arrogantly towards them. Unless a sense of dignity needs to be maintained and exhibited in public, the superior must otherwise prioritize treating subordinates with kindness, consideration and affection, so that all ranks may together jointly devote themselves body and soul to serving the endeavors of their Emperor. Military men incapable of courtesy and showing respect to his superiors or those without understanding for his juniors, causing disruption and disharmony are not only liabilities to the military forces, but are unforgivable criminals to the entire nation itself.

III.	The soldier and the sailor should esteem valor. Valor has always been prized by us as a tradition. So citizens of our nation must all be familiar with this quality. Particularly those in military service have it as their occupation to face the enemy in battle, so they must never rest their sense of valor. However, there are distinctions of true valor and petty bravado. To be incited by mere impetuosity to violent action cannot be called true valor. The soldier and the sailor should have sound discrimination of right and wrong, cultivate self-possession, and form their plans with deliberation. Never to despise an inferior enemy or fear a superior, but to do one’s duty as soldier or sailor; that is true valor. Those who thus appreciate true valor should in their daily intercourse set gentleness first and aim to win the love and esteem of others. If you affect valor and act with violence, the world will in the end detest you and look upon you as wild beasts. Of this you should take heed.

IV.	The soldier and the sailor should highly value faithfulness and righteousness. That is already a universal requirement, but particularly military men without such qualities would not even last a day in the company of his peers. Faithfulness implies the keeping of one’s word, and righteousness the fulfillment of one’s duty. If then you wish to be faithful and righteous in anything, you must carefully consider at the outset whether you can really deliver. If you thoughtlessly agree to do something that is vague in its nature and bind yourself to unwise obligations, and then try to prove yourself faithful and righteous, your may find yourself in great straits from which there is no escape. It would then be too late for regrets. You must thoroughly consider beforehand whether you should take on the commitment and should you conclude that you are not in a position to deliver on such a promise, you should quickly refrain from committing. Ever since ancient times there have been repeated instances of great men and heroes who, overwhelmed by misfortune, have perished and left a tarnished name to posterity, simply because in their effort to be faithful in small matters they failed to discern right and wrong with reference to fundamental principles, or because, losing sight of the true path of public duty, they kept faith in private relations. You should, then, take serious warning by these examples.

V.	The soldier and sailor should make simplicity their aim. If you do not make simplicity your aim, you will become effeminate and frivolous and acquire fondness for luxurious and extravagant ways; you will finally grow selfish and sordid and sink to the last degree of baseness, so that neither loyalty nor valor will avail to save you from the contempt of the world. The spreading of such tendency in the military can clearly undermine discipline and morale like a contagious disease. I greatly fear such a possibility, which caused me to previously introduce impeachment rules to make that point, but will repeat myself here nonetheless because such thoughts trouble me without end. You must never take this word of caution lightly.

These five articles should not be disregarded even for a moment by soldiers and sailors. Now for putting them into practice, the all important thing is sincerity. These five articles are the soul of our soldiers and sailors, and sincerity is the soul of these articles. If the heart be not sincere, words and deeds, however good, are all mere outward show and cannot accomplish anything. If only the heart be sincere, anything can be accomplished. Moreover these five articles are the “Grand Way” of Heaven and earth and the universal law of humanity, easy to observe and to practice. If you, Soldiers and Sailors, in obedience to my instruction, will observe and practice these principles and fulfill your duty of grateful service to the country, it will be a source of joy, not only to me alone, but to all the people of Japan.

4th January 1882, Emperor Meiji