The Taika Reforms (大化改新 taikakaishin) were a set of doctrines established by the Emperor Kotoku in the year 646. They were written shortly after the death of Shotoku Taishi, and the defeat of the Soga clan, which united Japan. Crown Prince Naka no Oye (who would later reign as Emperor Tenchi), Nakatomi no Kamatari, and Emperor Kotoku jointly embarked on the details of the Reforms. Emperor Kotoku then took the name "Taika" (大化), or 'Great Reform.'

The basic aims of the Reforms were to bring about greater centralization and to enhance the power of the Imperial Court. Prior to the accession of Emperor Kotoku, Japan was divided among many clans and warlords. These Reforms were needed to bring all of these recently conquered and united people & lands under the control of the Emperor. In essence, they established the basics of the feudal system, under which lords could hold power within their lands, and could still exercise hereditary rights to land and titles, but under which all land ultimately belonged to the Emperor, and all loyalties were to the Emperor above all other lords & masters. To set an example to other nobles, the Crown Prince surrendered his own private estates to the public domain (the Emperor's control).

Much of the ideas for the Reforms, and for the system of government that would result from them, came from the codes of the government of concurrent T'ang Dynasty China.

Summary of the Four Articles of the Reforms

• Article I abolished private ownership of land & workers, deriving from "namesake," succession, or other means of appropriation.
• Article II established a central capital metropolitan region, called the Kinai (畿内), or Inner Provinces. A capital city was to be built there, and governors would be appointed. (This region would come to be known as Heian-kyo, before gaining its current name of Kyoto, literally 'capital metropolis.')
• Article III established population registers, as well as the redistribution of rice-cultivating land equitably. It also provided for the appointment of rural village heads.
• Article IV abolished the old forms of taxes, and established a new system.

References

• Sansom, George (1958). 'A History of Japan to 1334'. Stanford, California: Stanford University Press.

de:Taika-Reformen ja:大化改新