As Japanese Buddhist temples are eminently tranquil, it's unthinkable that, as this bundle shows (especially the 毀 essay), an 1868 government mandate to separate Shinto and Buddhism nearly eliminated the latter religion. The Meiji government banned Fuke Zen, viewing its monks as informants for the ousted government. More significantly, the government aimed to make Shinto the national religion, prompting the destruction of Buddhist property nationwide. People burned sutras and discarded Buddhist statues, and monks either returned to secular life or became Shinto priests. With about 40,000 temples destroyed—up to 80 percent in certain places—Japanese Buddhism neared eradication.

With momentous changes, new names emerge (as when countries split off from other nations or when people marry or divorce). Accordingly, the Meiji era (1868–1912) ushered in copious changes to proper names, as this bundle shows. People needed to choose surnames, and many drew inspiration from nature. Provinces became prefectures, though borders often changed. For instance, three provinces combined to form Osaka Prefecture. Japan's capital moved from Kyoto to Tokyo in 1868 and acquired a new name by 1895; with the colonization of Taiwan, Japan became an imperial power, making Tokyo the "imperial capital" (帝京).

As this bundle shows, the Meiji era (1868–1912) plunged the Japanese economy into turmoil. The government disbanded feudal domains, leaving many samurai unemployed. In response, the government provided them with work—a land reclamation project. Silkworms also saved the day! Raw silk accounted for 70 percent of Japan's exports, generating money that enabled the Japanese to buy machines. As the country rapidly industrialized and developed a capitalist economy, feudal workers became wage laborers, gaining freedom and power thanks to their earnings. But these changes also brought tumult to the country in the form of labor disputes, strikes, and riots.