A primary source of its causes and events. #ga-ad {display: none;} Sophia University was established in Tokyo in 1913 by the Society of Jesus. However, the exact manner of his death is unknown. The training provided was not purely academic: although the Chinese classics were taught, all students were required to take part in weapons training and instruction in tactics. The Meiji Era controlled most of Japan, except for a small area in the southwestern part of Japan, which was the Satsuma. This rebellion was led by the restoration hero Saig Takamori and lasted six months. In order to cut Saig off from his base, an imperial force with three warships, 500 policemen, and several companies of infantry landed in Kagoshima on March 8, seized arsenals, and took Satsuma's governor into custody. After receiving reinforcements, the imperial force, now totaling 4,000 men, attacked the rear elements of the Satsuma army and drove them back. Artillery consisted of over 100 pieces, including 5.28 pound mountain guns, Krupp field guns of various calibers, and mortars. On February 22, the main Satsuma army arrived and attacked Kumamoto castle in a pincer movement. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. In 1877, the samurai of the Satsuma Province rose up in the Satsuma Rebellion or Seinan Senso (Southwestern War), challenging the authority of the Restoration Government in Tokyo and testing the new imperial army. Saigo and his army made a seven-day march south to Hitoyoshi, where they dug trenches and prepared for the imperial army to attack. The Guard infantry was divided into 2 regiments of 2 battalions each. Saig Takamori Gunmusho () banknote, issued in 1877 to finance his war effort. They resorted to digging up unexploded Satsuma ordinance and refiring it. Originally, they were a militant sect of Hindu Worshippers. The Satsuma Rebellion: An Episode of Modern Japanese History ; with Maps. Since the OP might be interested, here are the pages from the above reading on the Satsuma Rebellion and its aftermath. Satsuma rebeliion.svg 703 965; 1.09 MB. [2] He had six siblings and his younger brother was Marshal-Admiral Marquis Saig Jd. 0 Reviews. Soon, Saigo was Daimyo Shimazu Nariakira's closest adviser, consulting other national figures on affairs including the shogunal succession. He was one of the most influential samurai in Japanese history and one of the three great nobles who led the Meiji Restoration. Roused from his seclusion, Saigo felt that this treachery and wickedness in the imperial government required a response. "Saigo Takamori: The Last Samurai." There, the situation was complicated by the existence of no less than three parties two conservative groups led, respectively, by the old noble Shimadzu, the father of the young ex-daimio, and by the elder Saigo, the latter being at once the most influential and most numerous; and a thirdthe party of reformwhich looked for guidance, among other prominent men, to Okubo, Kuroda, Matsugata, Kawamura and the younger Saigo. The Last Samurai's Katsumoto Moritsugu is based on the iconic Japanese samurai Saig Takamori. Several samurai, upon seeing him in this state, would have severed his head, assisting him in the warrior's suicide that they knew he would have wished. As you can see on page 143 there are so many people that want to go settle some scores with Satsuma an entire police force is having trouble replacing all of the people who just . The situation was especially desperate for the defenders as their stores of food and ammunition had been depleted by a warehouse fire shortly before the rebellion began. Notwithstanding the great sacrifices it was called upon to make, the Imperial Government was fortunately able to give proof of its ability to maintain the unified rule over the nation, and was left virtually free to proceed on its way toward administrative reforms and general public improvements. Saigo's troops marched out confidently, sure that samurai in other provinces would rally to their side, but they faced an imperial army of 45,000 with access to unlimited supplies of ammunition. A battalion had 640 men in peacetime and theoretically 960 men in wartime. Then, Japan attacked forcing the Joseon king to sign an unequal treaty, which eventually led to the outright annexation of Korea in 1910. 1868-1912 -- Sources. Publication Date: 2006. Like all other times in his life, though, his retirement was short-livedin January of 1869, the Satsuma daimyo made him a counselor of the domain's government. Saigo was getting accustomed to the second island when he was transferred to a desolate penal island further south, where he spent more than a year on that dreary rock, returning to Satsuma only in February of 1864. As a peer-reviewed international forum for researchers across the globe, it carries original scholarly contributions on premodern and modern history, literature, art history, religion, and thought; translations of important Japanese literary and historical sources; and authoritative reviews of recent books on Japan. List Price: $32.75. Format: Paperback. Not being allowed to travel by sea, he went back to Satsuma by land, following the historic route he and other nobles had so often taken before. 1794 by H.M. Brackenridge. By early 1873, Japanese militarists who interpreted this as a grave affront called for an invasion of Korea but in a July meeting that year, Saigo opposed sending warships to Korea. The traditional explanation of the offensive rifle cartridges causing the initial outbreak of mutiny is only part of the story. It was believed by some that he had fled to Russia, or ascended to Mars. After months of fighting the Satsuma forces had dwindled to approx 400 . The year 2018 has seen many events in Japan marking 150 years since the Meiji Restoration. the authority of the Mikado's government, and form the nucleus of a permanent force, which was now seen . The rebels fought two significant battles against the central government: the Siege of Kumamoto Castle and the Battle of Tabaruzaka. Saig initially disagreed with the modernization of Japan and the opening of commerce with the West. Saig was a strong proponent of war with Korea in the Seikanron debate of 1873. In August 1786, tensions culminated in what is now known as Shays' Rebellion, an uprising in Massachusetts that lasted until the summer of 1787. On February 19, the first shots of the war were fired as the defenders of Kumamoto castle opened fire on Satsuma units attempting to force their way into the castle. A reproduction of the same statue stands on Okinoerabujima, where Saig had been exiled. More critically, the defeat of the samurai displayed the power of modern artillery and rifles, against which a banzai charge had no appreciable effect. In peacetime, each company had approximately 160 privates and 32 officers and non-commissioned officers. The shogun's men were still hunting him, so Saigo went into a three-year internal exile on the small island of Amami Oshima. Fearing a rebellion, the Meiji government sent a warship to Kagoshima to remove the weapons stockpiled at the Kagoshima arsenal on January 30, 1877. Szczepanski, Kallie. In July, the Emperor's army encircled Saigo's men, but the Satsuma army fought its way free with heavy casualties. List Price: $31.95. revolt of disaffected samurai against the new imperial government, nine years into the Meiji Era. The Meiji government, with an army numbering 300,000 to 350,000 and was able to cripple the Satsuma rebellion in a matter of months. Those men were motivated by growing domestic problems and by the threat of foreign encroachment. The samurai then attacked imperial facilities around the province, seizing weapons and parading them through the streets of Kagoshima. Already a popular figure, after his death, Saigo Takamori was lionized by the Japanese people. revolt of disaffected samurai against the new imperial government, nine years into the Meiji Era. Forty-six other military officers from the southwest resigned as well, and government officials feared that Saigo would lead a coup. Saigo's own daimyo, Hisamitsu, was the only one who publicly railed against the decision, leaving Saigo tormented by the idea that he had betrayed his domain lord. There were many causes of the Indian Rebellion. Corrections? He suffered from angina and also filariasis, a parasitic infection that gave him a grotesquely enlarged scrotum. Continued by a Narrative of his Last Moments and Sufferings, obtained from his Faithful Servants Chuma and Susi. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/the-satsuma-rebellion-195570. Saigo Takamori had led the way in Meiji reforms including the creation of a conscript army and the end of daimyo rule. Page 1 of 17 - About 161 Essays Improved Essays. 0 references. The Whiskey Rebellion: George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, and the Frontier Rebels who Challenged America's Newfound Sovereignty by William Hogeland. The head was somehow retrieved by government forces and was reunited with Saig's body, which was laid next to that of his deputies Kirino and Murata. [citation needed], In English, the most common name for the war is the "Satsuma Rebellion". He changed his name to Saigo Sasuke, and the domain government declared him dead. Improved Essays. By 1877, he sided with rebel forces and fought in what's now known as the Satsuma Rebellion. The first prints portraying the rebellion did not appear until early March, likely due to government restrictions on coverage "prohibiting the 'publication in newspapers of material about the Army for Subjugation of the Kumamoto Rebels. The spy leader confessed under torture that he was supposed to assassinate Saigo. However, the imperial government gradually sent more than 45,000 reinforcements to relieve Kumamoto, finally driving the Satsuma army away with heavy casualties. The Satsuma Rebellion, also known as the Seinan War (Japanese: , Hepburn: Seinan Sens, lit. However, Saig was one of the most vocal and vehement opponents to the negotiated solution, demanding that the Tokugawa be stripped of their lands and special status. Saig was initially confident of his ability to take Kumamoto Castle, but he had underestimated the effectiveness of the imperial conscripts defending the castle. 7. On February 13 and 14, the Satsuma domain's army of 12,900 organized itself into units. At the height of the battle, Saig wrote a private letter to Prince Arisugawa, restating his reasons for going to Tokyo. Faced with 21,000 imperial army troops, the majority of the rebels ended up committing seppuku (surrendering by suicide). How the Samurai Ended During the Satsuma Rebellion, Overview of the Tokugawa Shogunate of Japan, A Long History of Japanese Women Warriors, The Four-Tiered Class System of Feudal Japan, J.D., University of Washington School of Law, B.A., History, Western Washington University. A gripping graphic novel describing the uprising of 1887, when. Satire picture of Boshin War, diptych. Author: Augustus Henry Mounsey. In Satsuma and the rest of Japan, though, it was not clear whether reforms like these were sufficient, or if the entire social and political systems were due for a revolutionary change. On his return to Kobe on February 12, Hayashi met with General Yamagata Aritomo and It Hirobumi, and it was decided that the Imperial Japanese Army would need to be sent to Kagoshima to prevent the revolt from spreading to other areas of the country sympathetic to Saig. 20-11-2011 19:18:05 ZULU. into one of Japan's leading private universities, with a student body of nearly 14,000 and a multinational faculty of some 1,500 as of 2019. Few would return. His intransigence was one of the major causes of the subsequent Boshin War. In the 7th century, Japan took a . https://www.thoughtco.com/figures-and-events-in-asian-history-s2-3896549 (accessed March 1, 2023). Sources describe him as dressed in an austere yellow kimono . They had, they considered, paid the piper, and they wished to call the tune. French newsmagazine Le Monde Illustr / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain. Szczepanski, Kallie. A primary source of its causes and events. Saig Takamori was labelled as a tragic hero by the people, and his actions were considered an honorable example of bushido and Yamato-damashii. His lord, Kimotsuki Hisakane ( , 1641-1709), who was a retainer of the Satsuma fief, sent Yasusada () to study with the 57 th generation Naminohira smith . It is not clear what was done with Saig's head immediately after his death. The members of his retinue carried in cotton bags the swords they were no longer allowed to wear; and when, at the end of his journey, the gates of the yashiki at Kagoshima closed upon his palanquin, he may have realized that he had passed for ever out of the political life in which he had at one time played so conspicuous a role. In this,, The last and greatest revolt came in 1877 in Satsuma. Rather than facing arrest, Gessho and Saigo jumped from a skiff into Kagoshima Bay and were pulled from the water by the boat's crewregrettably, Gessho could not be revived. Beginning its educational efforts with a small instance of. However, he was never able to reconcile his love of samurai tradition with the demands of modernizing the nation. He was born on May 26 th in the fourth year of Keian (, 1651). Instead, he went home to Kagoshima. In reality it was a military college. Each man was armed with a small firearmeither a rifle, a carbine, or a pistolas well as 100 rounds of ammunition and, of course, his katana. For terms and use, please refer to our Terms and Conditions The true story that inspired the 2003 Tom Cruise film The Last Samurai, the Satsuma Rebellion (seinan sens, or "Southwestern War" in Japanese) was an 1877 rebellion of disaffected ex-samurai from Satsuma domain against the newly constituted Meiji government of Japan.Led by an erstwhile member of the government's highest circle, the legendary samurai Saigo Takamori, the . In addition, there were 200 artillerymen and 1,200 laborers. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Samurai scaled the walls repeatedly, only to be cut down by small arms fire. He was the third son of Nakamura Kiyosada (). This opposition reached the boiling point in 1876 when the central government banned samurai from carrying swords and stopped paying them stipends. It turned out the be the latterthe emperor's government in Tokyo wanted a new, centralized system, not just a collection of more efficient, self-governing domains. Szczepanski, Kallie. The Satsuma Rebellion was a samurai rebellion against the imperial government of Japan which occurred from 29 January to 24 September 1877 on the island of Kyushu. Later this would turn out to be a pivotal decision since Choshu was Satsuma's major ally in the Boshin War. The Satsuma vanguard crossed into Kumamoto Prefecture on February 14. The Satsuma rebellion furnishes themes for the illustrators. Modern weapons were also used such as the Smith & Wesson Model No. In disgust at this latest move of a Government with which he had never from the first been in sympathy, he left Tokio. Saig was severely wounded. Eventually Saig and his final remaining samurai were encircled and annihilated at the Battle of Shiroyama. Yates, Charles L. "Saigo Takamori in the Emergence of Meiji Japan." This upbringing instilled a sense of dignity, frugality, and honor in young Saigo. Yamagata also landed a detachment with two infantry brigades and 1,200 policemen behind the rebel lines, so as to fall on them from the rear from Yatsushiro Bay. These attacks on the ramparts continued for two days, until Saigo decided to settle in for a siege. imported from Wikimedia project. This includes data values and the controlled vocabularies that house them. Its name comes from the Satsuma Domain, which had been influential in the Restoration and became home to unemployed samurai after military reforms rendered their status obsolete. In New England, merchants and farmers struggled to maintain their businesses in a new economy without established European trade or credit lines. Ravina, Mark. In all, about 12,000 Satsuma men marched north toward Tokyo, starting the Southwest War, or Satsuma Rebellion. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/figures-and-events-in-asian-history-s2-3896549. The Satsuma Rebellion (February 1877 - September 1877) and Its Woodblock Prints In riding through the streets one notices the crowds in front of the picture shops, which are bright in color from the war prints. The Imperial Japanese Armed Forces (IJAF) were the combined military forces of the Japanese Empire.Formed during the Meiji Restoration in 1868, they were disbanded in 1947, shortly after Japan's defeat to the Allies of World War II; the renewed Constitution of Japan, drafted during the Meiji Restoration in 1868, they were disbanded in 1947, shortly Datasets available include LCSH, BIBFRAME, LC Name Authorities, LC Classification, MARC codes, PREMIS vocabularies, ISO language codes, and more. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Although much of his history has been lost, recent scholars have discovered clues to the true nature of this illustrious warrior and diplomat. Despite Yamagata's efforts over the next several days, Saig and his remaining 500 men reached Kagoshima on September 1 and seized Shiroyama, overlooking the city. Ravina, Mark. Although Nakahara later repudiated the confession, it was widely believed in Satsuma and was used as justification by the disaffected samurai that a rebellion was necessary in order to "protect Saig". Legend says that one of his followers, Beppu Shinsuke, acted as kaishakunin and aided Saig in committing seppuku before he could be captured. There were two "regiments" of line cavalry and one "regiment" of imperial guard cavalry. The Meiji Restoration of 1868 signaled the beginning of the end for Japan's samurai warriors. The conflict effectively ended the samurai class and ushered in modern warfare fought by conscript soldiers instead of military nobles. He was settling happily into island life but reluctantly had to leave the island in February of 1862 when he was called back to Satsuma. Saig and his remaining samurai were pushed back to Kagoshima where, in a final battle, the Battle of Shiroyama, Imperial Army troops under the command of General Yamagata Aritomo and marines under the command of Admiral Kawamura Sumiyoshi outnumbered Saig 60-to-1. Contemporary illustrations show the cavalry armed with lances. The imperial troops spent several days constructing an elaborate system of ditches, walls and obstacles to prevent another breakout. Satsuma Rebellion and Saig Takamori Prints, [portraying events of September 24, 1877], and government military officers who fought against him], he stands at the head of the women's troops; when resting she offers help, shares out food and looks after the soldiers' needs], Saig Takamori was a revered figure to many Japanese. Physically he was imposing, standing six feet tall and weighing 200 pounds. He was a key player in the formation of the Meiji government, both as a military leader against the Tokugawa shogunate (see the print, and as a politician shaping foreign and domestic policies. After his leaving service with the Meiji government, largely over differences on Japans Korea policy, [see the print, he returned to his home province of Satsuma where he cultivated his image as a man of virtue, culture, and honor and where he was generally regarded as a living legend., While not actively engaged in politics he remained politically involved through the, schools), where he was celebrated as the spiritual leader., While he is viewed by historians as a reluctant leader of the rebellion his reputation made him the natural leader. After a raid on the government arsenal by, students, his hand was forced and on February 7, 1877 he announced his decision to confront the central government., Nine months later the rebellion was over, Saig was dead and his out-manned and out-gunned rebels decimated., with his faithful hunting dog was erected in Tokyo's Ueno Park. Saig resigned from all of his government positions in protest and returned to his hometown of Kagoshima. The rebels' momentum soon stalled when they settled into a months-long siege of Kumamoto Castle, just 109 miles north of Kagoshima. Gordon, Andrew. During the latter years of the Tokugawa shogunate, just prior to the Meiji Restoration, the Satsuma clan began to invest heavily in armaments, building a new shipyard at Kagoshima, two weapons factories, and three ammunition depots. However, the shogun began to purge pro-imperial politicians, forcing Gessho to seek Saigo's help in escaping to Kagoshima, where the new Satsuma daimyo, unfortunately, refused to protect the pair from shogun officials. In April 1877, Saig reorganized the army into nine infantry units of 350 to 800 men each. He funded but was not directly involved with the schools, so did not know that the students were becoming radicalized against the Meiji government. The Satsuma samurai fought on with fierce determination; meanwhile, the defenders ran out of artillery shells. However, he soon learned that 50 Tokyo police officers who were Satsuma natives had returned home with instructions to assassinate him in the case of an uprising. The Linked Data Service provides access to commonly found standards and vocabularies promulgated by the Library of Congress. Sources of the Meiji Restoration. While the year 1868 was crucial to the fall of the shogunate and the establishment of a new government . Imperial forces landed with few losses, then pushed north seizing the city of Miyanohara on March 19. Primary Sources 1. In October, the prime minister announced that Saigo would not be allowed to travel to Korea as an emissary. [1], Saig Kokichi ( ) was born in Kajiya, Kagoshima, Satsuma Domain, the eldest son of samurai squire (koshkumi) Saig Kichib and his wife Masa. SAIGO, who was then living in seclusion, had no choice but to rise to action after the private-school faction beseeched him to do so. Along with troops from Aizu, Saigo's massive army marched on Choshu, where he negotiated a peaceful settlement rather than launching an attack. After his retirement, however, Saigo simply wanted to play with his kids, hunt, and go fishing. Shogun Tokugawa Yoshinobu resigned, returning power to the Emperor in what came to be known as the Meiji Restoration. The Apocryphal Suicide of Saig Takamori: Samurai, Seppuku, and the Politics of Legend. Journal of Asian Studies 69.3 (2010): 691-721. On January 30, 1877, the central government launched a raid on the arms and ammunition storage areas in Kagoshima, without any prior warning to the Satsuma authorities. Led by Daniel Shays, the rebel "Shaysites" of . They saw Japan as the abode of godssince the Emperor descended from the Sun Goddessand believed that the heavens would protect them from the western military and economic might. The line infantry was divided into 14 regiments of three battalions each. [6] In debate, some scholars have suggested that neither is the case and that Saig may have gone into shock following his wound, losing his ability to speak. }, Page last modified: Author: Mounsey, Augustus Henry. Above all these classes were the Mikado, the secluded divinity of Ki6to, still theo- retically the source of all authority; . The Satsuma Rebellion. The police, in units ranging from 300 to 600 men, were mostly ex-samurai (ironically, many of whom were from Satsuma) and were armed only with wooden batons and swords (Japanese police did not carry firearms until the rice riots of 1918). With a smaller force, and unsure about the loyalty of his Kyushu-native troops, Tani decided to stay inside the castle rather than venture out to face Saigo's army. It began to promote samurai officials based on talent, rather than rank, and also encouraged the development of modern industry. The Imperial Artillery consisted of 18 batteries divided into 9 battalions, with 120 men per battery during peacetime. News article in Le Monde Illustr, 1877. date= January 29, 1877 to September 24, 1877 place= Kysh, Japan result=Imperial Victory combatant1= Empire of Japan combatant2=Satsuma domain Main article: Satsuma Rebellion Portrait of Saig Takamori, faithful depiction by the acquaintance Tokonami Masayoshi in 1887 Saig preparing for war Shortly thereafter, a private military academy known as the Shi-gakk was established in Kagoshima for the faithful samurai who had also resigned their posts to follow him from Tokyo. The Commandant of Kumamoto Castle Major General Tani Tateki had 3,800 soldiers and 600 policemen at his disposal. "Southwestern War") was a revolt of disaffected samurai against the new imperial government, nine years into the Meiji Era. This was the end of the so-called Satsuma Rebellion. With an army in place, the Meiji government summoned the remaining daimyo to Tokyo in mid-July, 1871 and abruptly announced that the domains were dissolved and the lords' authorities abolished. This rebellion was led by the restoration hero Saig Takamori and lasted six months. Japanese samurai (18281877) who led the Satsuma Rebellion. Buck, James H. "The Satsuma Rebellion of 1877. "Southwestern War") was a revolt of disaffected samurai against the new imperial government, nine years into the Meiji Era. After that I provided some background information on the samurai and the armor that they wore. First I developed my thesis statement. SAIGO's army campaigned as far as Kumamoto and Miyazaki (both in Kyushu), but then returned to Kagoshima in September, where it holed up in Shiroyama. On the same day, Saig met with his lieutenants Kirino Toshiaki and Shinohara Kunimoto and announced his intention of marching to Tokyo to ask questions of the government. Location. During the Boshin War, Saig led the imperial forces at the Battle of TobaFushimi, and after led the imperial army toward Edo, where he accepted the surrender of Edo Castle from Katsu Kaish. During 1867, Saigo and officials from Choshu and Tosa made plans to bring down the Tokugawa bakufu. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Three years later, he began work in the local bureaucracy as an agricultural adviser, where he continued to work through his brief, childless arranged marriage to 23-year-old Ijuin Suga in 1852. Some legends say Saig's manservant hid the head, and it was later found by a government soldier. These cookies track visitors across websites . ISBN-10: 0341798762. Upload media. Then I introduced the leader of the rebellion. Saigo Takamori of Japan is known as the Last Samurai, who lived from 1828 to 1877 and is remembered to this day as the epitome of bushido, the samurai code. The Korean government even went as far as having a prefect publicly state that by adopting western-style customs and clothing, Japan had become a barbarian nation. 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