Although the tendency of not knotting the top-hair was already common since Western-styled military system was adapted in the last days of Tokugawa Shogunate, the edict formally given a freedom of forming their own hairstyle and noble and warrior class to not yield their swords at all time, stating 'one shall chose to have hair cut or to leave one's sword' (a prohibition was issued regarding to common people to wear a sword in the previous year, February 16, 1871).
幕末に洋式軍制の導入が始まって以後、ちょんまげを結わずに散髪する風潮が広まりつつあったが、この日「散髪脱刀勝手たるべし」として髪型については勝手にし、華族・士族が刀を差さなくても構わないとした（なお、庶民の帯刀については前年12月27日(旧暦)（1871年2月16日）に改めて禁止令が出されている）。