To achieve these reforms, the old Tokugawa class system of samurai, farmer, artisan, and merchant was abolished by 1871, and, even though old prejudices and status consciousness continued, all were theoretically equal before the law.
為了實現這些改革，1871年廢除了由武士、農民、工匠和商人組成的德川階級體系，並且，儘管昔日的偏見和地位意識繼續存在，但在法律之前理論上人人都是平等的。