Saig initially disagreed with the modernization of Japan and the opening of commerce with the West. The surviving rebels made a stand on the slopes of Mount Enodake, and were soon surrounded. Rebellions by the samurai, which had broken out sporadically since 1868 (Meiji 1), including the 1869-70 conflict between irregular military units and upper rank samurai commanders in the Choshu domain, gained steam with the collapse of the "conquer Korea debate". In October, the prime minister announced that Saigo would not be allowed to travel to Korea as an emissary. The survivors were out of ammunition, so had to rely on their swords. 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. There were many causes of the Indian Rebellion. revolt of disaffected samurai against the new imperial government, nine years into the Meiji Era. Why educator David Tarvin "thinks in Prezi" Feb. 13, 2023. However, the Satsuma army was able to cut its way free from encirclement. The shogun's men were still hunting him, so Saigo went into a three-year internal exile on the small island of Amami Oshima. One of the most noteworthy incidents in the history of Japan's transition from a feudal regime to a modern state was the Satsuma Rebellion in 1877. Japanese Government Documents, 1867-1889 (special issue of Transactions of the Asiatic Society of Japan; 1914), by Japan, ed. This was the end of the so-called Satsuma Rebellion. to undertake publication of Monumenta Nipponica despite these problems symbolized the founders' commitment to Saig was initially confident of his ability to take Kumamoto Castle, but he had underestimated the effectiveness of the imperial conscripts defending the castle. Yates, Charles L. "Saigo Takamori in the Emergence of Meiji Japan." 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. The Satsuma Rebellion. Ever since his retirement from office, and his withdrawal to his native province in 1873, the elder Saigo had remained in Kagoshima, the chief town of Satsuma. Saig did insist, however, that Japan should go to war with Korea in the Seikanron debate of 1873 due to Korea's refusal to recognize the legitimacy of the Emperor Meiji as head of state of the Empire of Japan, and insulting treatment meted out to Japanese envoys attempting to establish trade and diplomatic relations. On September 1, Saigo and his 300 surviving men moved to Shiroyama mountain above Kagoshima, which was occupied by 7,000 imperial troops. By this time much uneasiness prevailed. It did not bother him, thoughhe welcomed the opportunity to die for his principles. Secretary of the British Legation in Tokyo during the rebellion, Mounsey relied on the 'most authentic sources, oral and documentary'. After months of fighting the Satsuma forces had dwindled to approx 400 . The Linked Data Service provides access to commonly found standards and vocabularies promulgated by the Library of Congress. These disaffected samurai came to dominate the Kagoshima government, and fearing a rebellion, the government sent warships to Kagoshima to remove weapons from the Kagoshima arsenal. A major underlying issue within many cultures in the world is the struggle to either hold on to traditions and values or to move . Located on the southern tip of Kyushu Island, more than 800 miles south of Tokyo, the Satsuma domain had existed and governed itself for centuries with very little interference from the central government. His childhood name was Kokichi and he received the given name Takamori in adulthood. The Satsuma Rebellion, also known as the Seinan War (Japanese: , Hepburn: Seinan Sens, lit. However, the Imperial Army was likewise depleted, and fighting was suspended for several weeks to permit reinforcement. Ten years passed after the Restoration, and during that time order was gradually restored within the country. Fearing a rebellion, the Meiji government sent a warship to Kagoshima to remove the weapons stockpiled at the Kagoshima arsenal on January 30, 1877. Many former samurai from the area joined Saigo's army, increasing his force to 20,000. 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". The imperial government in Tokyo expected Saigo to come to the capital by sea or to dig in and defend Satsuma. Some legends say Saig's manservant hid the head, and it was later found by a government soldier. By 6 a.m., only 40 rebels were still alive. Even before the Restoration the contentions of rival parties had led in Choshiu to grave disorders, which had weakened that clan in its conflict with the Tokugawa Government; while in Mito the struggle of opposing factions, supporting, respectively, the Shogunate, and the Court party represented by the old Prince of Mito, had resulted in prolonged and fierce fighting. In April 1877, Saig reorganized the army into nine infantry units of 350 to 800 men each. They resorted to digging up unexploded Satsuma ordinance and refiring it. However, Saig burned his private papers and army uniform on August 19, and slipped away towards Kagoshima with his remaining able-bodied men. Publish Date: Dec 10, 2008. Those men were motivated by growing domestic problems and by the threat of foreign encroachment. 0 references. [2] He had six siblings and his younger brother was Marshal-Admiral Marquis Saig Jd. Datasets available include LCSH, BIBFRAME, LC Name Authorities, LC Classification, MARC codes, PREMIS vocabularies, ISO language codes, and more. Saigo privately cheered on the rebels in other provinces, but stayed at his country house rather than returning to Kagoshima for fear that his presence might spark yet another rebellion. Although the samurai were heavily outnumbered, they made a heroic stand and counterattack against the Japanese Army and showed their legendary skills off to the world in their final fight. Although kubo Toshimichi and others were more active and influential in establishing the new Meiji government, Saig retained a key role, and his cooperation was essential in the abolition of the han system and the establishment of a conscript army. This includes data values and the controlled vocabularies that house them. His father, Saigo Kichibei, was a low-ranking samurai tax official who only managed to scrape by despite his samurai status. academic excellence, an international orientation, and a liberal spirit. Their artillery consisted of 28 5-pounders, two 16-pounders, and 30 mortars. The Shigakko students heard that the Meiji ship was coming and emptied the arsenal before it arrived. Saig Takamori Gunmusho () banknote, issued in 1877 to finance his war effort. After the Restoration the condition of things became less unsettled in Mito, and to some extent also in Choshiu. The Imperial Guard (mostly ex-samurai) was always maintained at wartime strength. Samurai scaled the walls repeatedly, only to be cut down by small arms fire. Determined not to let the rebels escape again, Yamagata sent in a large force which outnumbered the Satsuma army 7:1. 1 reference. 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. [citation needed], In English, the most common name for the war is the "Satsuma Rebellion". Japan. instance of. SAIGO's forces were crushed on September 24, 1877 (Meiji 10) in the face of a general attack by government forces. Instead, he went home to Kagoshima. When the attack finally came, the Satsuma forces withdrew, leaving small pockets of samurai to hit the larger army in guerrilla-style strikes. 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. 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. The rebellion lasted from January 29, 1877, until September . A reproduction of the same statue stands on Okinoerabujima, where Saig had been exiled. This opposition reached the boiling point in 1876 when the central government banned samurai from carrying swords and stopped paying them stipends. The modernization of the country meant the abolition of the privileged social status of the samurai class, and had undermined their financial position. Saigo Takamori was born on January 23, 1828, in Kagoshima, Satsuma's capital, the oldest of seven children. ISBN-10: 1437338992. The conflict of opinions between the conservative internal policy party and the strong foreign policy party resulted in a vehement controversy over the question of an invasion of Korea, and finally led to the great Satsuma Rebellion of 1877. Above all these classes were the Mikado, the secluded divinity of Ki6to, still theo- retically the source of all authority; . by W. W. McLaren (page images at HathiTrust) In the final battle, the Battle of Shiroyama, 30,000 imperial troops bore down upon Saigo and his few hundreds of surviving rebel samurai. . The Battle of Shiroyama: The final battle of the Satsuma Rebellion, this battle serves as the basis for the final battle scene in the film. The imperial troops spent several days constructing an elaborate system of ditches, walls and obstacles to prevent another breakout. The Satsuma advance guard, 4,000 strong, set out on February 15, marching north. Satsuma Rebellion Part of the ShizokuRebellions Map of the campaign Belligerents Empire of Japan Satsuma Domain Commanders and leaders Emperor Meiji Prince Arisugawa Yamagata Aritomo Kuroda Kiyotaka Tani Tateki Saig Takamori Kirino Toshiaki Beppu Shinsuke Strength 227,000 10 warships 25,000-35,000 Casualties and losses 0 references. Mark Ravina, the author of The Last Samurai: The Life and Battles of Saigo Takamori, argued that "Satsuma Rebellion" is not the best name for the war because the English name does not well represent the war and its Japanese name. He was one of the most influential samurai in Japanese history and one of the three great nobles who led the Meiji Restoration. Saig also started an artillery school. The spy leader confessed under torture that he was supposed to assassinate Saigo. The Japanese people appreciated the fact that he remained loyal to his virtues until his death in 1877. Imperial forces fell back, and Acting Major Nogi Maresuke of the Kokura Fourteenth Regiment lost the regimental colors in fierce fighting. Satsuma's governor, Oyama Tsunayoshi, explained that the uprising was in response to the government's assassination attempt on Saig, and asked that Admiral Kawamura (Saig's cousin) come ashore to help calm the situation. The main Imperial Army, under General Kuroda Kiyotaka with the assistance of General Yamakawa Hiroshi arrived in Kumamoto on April 12, putting the now heavily outnumbered Satsuma forces to flight. Saig Takamori (Takanaga) ( (), January 23, 1828 September 24, 1877) was a Japanese samurai and nobleman. Tabaruzaka was one of the most intense campaigns of the war. 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. Initial Steps toward a Constitutional State, Preview of [Report of the Artillery Attack Against (Saigo Forces) in Shiroyama], Larger image of [Report of the Artillery Attack Against (Saigo Forces) in Shiroyama], Next ( Petition by Risshisha to Establish a National Assembly ), Chapter1 Initial Steps toward a Constitutional State, a. Conceptions of the Form of Government circa the Meiji Restoration, Chapter4 Crisis in Constitutional Politics. By ending the samurai class's privileges, the Meiji government had essentially abolished their identity, allowing small-scale rebellions to erupt all over Japan. [3], Saig Takamori, one of the senior Satsuma leaders in the Meiji government who had initially supported the reforms, was especially concerned about growing political corruption - popular prints depicted the rebel army with banners bearing the words shinsei-ktoku (, new government, high morality). He initiated a military advance the following month, on February 15, intending to march on Tokyo, because of "questions I intend to press on the government." 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. Just four days after his return, he had an audience with the daimyo, Hisamitsu, who shocked him by appointing him commander of the Satsuma army in Kyoto. 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. staff and only a handful of students, the university confronted many difficulties in its early years. Later, they would have said that he committed seppuku to preserve his status as a true samurai.[7]. 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. After that I provided some background information on the samurai and the armor that they wore. There were two "regiments" of line cavalry and one "regiment" of imperial guard cavalry. 7. However, the imperial government gradually sent more than 45,000 reinforcements to relieve Kumamoto, finally driving the Satsuma army away with heavy casualties. Because of the Satsuma Rebellion, the government faced serious financial difficulties., the greatest, revolt came in Satsuma in 1877. As was the tradition for samurai in the event of their lord's death, Saigo contemplated committing to accompany Shimazu into death, but the monk Gessho convinced him to live and continue his political work to honor Nariakira's memory instead. A famous bronze statue of Saig in hunting attire with his dog stands in Ueno Park, Tokyo. Legend says that one of his followers, Beppu Shinsuke, acted as kaishakunin and aided Saig in committing seppuku before he could be captured. However, the exact manner of his death is unknown. What the disaffected clans and individuals wanted was a larger share of power. Undeniably, it was one of the most noteworthy incidents during Japan's transition from a feudal regime to a modern state. Monumenta Nipponica. Who are Satnamis? By March, Saigo realized that his rebellion was doomed. Meanwhile, the remnants of the militaristic faction that supported Saigo's invasion proposal evolved into Japanese right-wing groups such as the genyosha and kokurykai. However, most of the garrison was from Kysh, while a significant number of officers were natives of Kagoshima; their loyalties were open to question. The government, however, refused to negotiate. In Kagoshima prefecture (formerly Satsuma domain), the samurai of the 'private-school faction' (referring to graduates of the private school set up by SAIGO Takamori and his disciples), organized by KIRINO Toshiaki, et al., joined forces with the Prefectural Governor OYAMA Tsunayoshi to advance their own policies. Support for Saig was so strong that Satsuma had effectively seceded from the central government by the end of 1876. Saigo Takamori helped to usher in the modern era in Japan, serving as one of the three most powerful officials in the early Meiji government. These cookies track visitors across websites . Bibliolife DBA of Bibilio Bazaar II LLC, 2014 - 358 pages. The Satsuma Rebellion : Illustrated Japanese History - the Last Stand of the Samurai by Wilson, Sean and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at AbeBooks.com. First I developed my thesis statement. He did not want to rebel, still feeling deep personal loyalty to the Meiji Emperor, but announced on February 7 that he would go to Tokyo to "question" the central government. English Wikipedia. In 1871 he was left in charge of the caretaker government during the absence of the Iwakura Mission (187173). The first thing about which historians often comment is the period's stability. In the meantime, on March 9 Saig, Kirino, and Shinohara were stripped of their court ranks and titles.[3]. But in Satsuma the division of feeling remained unaltered, a circumstance which, added to separatist tendencies that stood in the way of combined action, was, in the sequel, of much benefit to the Government. country. After centuries of samurai rule, however, many members of the warrior class were understandably reluctant to give up their status and power. [9], A Japanese hand fan commemorating the event, which survives in the collection of the Staten Island Historical Society in New York, features a depiction of Saig Takamori in a scene labeled (in English) "The Battle Near the Citadel of Kumamoto".[10]. ode to the vampire mother results; national asset mortgage lawsuit; green tuna paper; mary davis sos band net worth Dr. Kallie Szczepanski is a history teacher specializing in Asian history and culture. Though in Satsuma the rivalry of individual leaders had stopped short of open hostilities, the division of feeling was not less marked. 2 Army, Colt M1861 Navy, and the Russian Model 1857 Six Line muzzleloading rifles that could fire approximately one round per minute. '", The Lavenberg Collection of Japanese Prints, Gorykaku (surrender of the Ezo rebels to Saig, The Rebellion Begins, Issue 1 from the Osaka newspaper Kagoshima-ken ari no sonomama, March 5, 1877, The Huge Win of the Armed Forces, Issue 4 from the Osaka newspaper Kagoshima-ken ari no sonomama, March 5, 1877, The Debate Over Invading Korea (Seikanron), May 15, 1877, The Arraignment of Oyama Tsunayoshi, August 27, 1877, Illustration of the Rebels Being Suppressed at Kagoshima, October 1877, Report on the Actual Condition at the Battlefield, September 21, 1877. Originally, they were a militant sect of Hindu Worshippers. Saig Takamori was labelled as a tragic hero by the people, and his actions were considered an honorable example of bushido and Yamato-damashii. Blog. The Satsuma Rebellion is recommended to all readers interested in Japanese and samurai history. He went to the Emperor's court in Kyoto in March and was amazed to meet samurai from other domains who treated him with reverence for his defense of Gessho. What will you do when your traditional way of life is threatened by a powerful force in your native lands? Saigo spent a lot of time soaking in hot springs and strenuously avoiding politics. The rebellion lasted from January 29, 1877, until September of that year, when it was decisively crushed and its leader, Saig Takamori, was shot and mortally wounded. 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. [8] It was even recorded that his image appeared in a comet near the close of the 19th century, an ill omen to his enemies. This rebellion was led by the restoration hero Saig Takamori and lasted six months. Tabaruzaka was held by some 15,000 samurai from Satsuma, Kumamoto and Hitoyoshi against the Imperial Army's 9th Infantry Brigade (some 9,000 men). Nariakira and his allies sought to increase the emperor's power at the expense of the shogun, but on July 15, 1858, Shimazu died suddenly, likely of poison. Saig met the noted British diplomat Ernest Satow in the 1860s, as recorded in the latter's A Diplomat in Japan, and Satow was present at the unveiling as recorded in his diary. [6] The costs of pacifying the former samurai led to the Meiji government becoming virtually bankrupt; the government was forced to sell off state-owned enterprises such as factories and mines to politically-connected merchants and former officials at low prices, leading to the instant formation of large industrial firms or zaibatsu. During war, the mountain artillery had a nominal strength of 160 men per battery and field artillery had 130 men per battery. The Siege of Kumamoto Castle lasted until April 12, 1877. The very rapid and massive changes to Japanese culture, language, dress and society appeared to many samurai to be a betrayal of the ji ("expel the barbarian") portion of the sonn ji justification used to overthrow the former Tokugawa shogunate. Great Essays. For terms and use, please refer to our Terms and Conditions }, Page last modified: 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. Takamori Saigo, defeated in his insistent advocacy of the invasion of Korea, resigned his councillorship in the Cabinet and returned to his native place. 20-11-2011 19:18:05 ZULU. Economic effects of the Satsuma Rebellion resulted in the passing of the Act of February 4, 1877, which reduced the land tax from 3% to 2.5%. Decent Essays. Founded in 1938 and published semiannually by Sophia University, Monumenta Nipponica (MN) is one of the oldest English-language academic journals in the field of Asian studies. Some children had pestered him into becoming their teacher, and the kind-hearted giant complied. 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. "The Last Samurai: The Life and Battles of Saigo Takamori." This influential clan was headed by the Shimazu family, which had been founded by Shimazu Tadahisa, son of Minamoto Yoritomo, in the Kamakura period. On February 13 and 14, the Satsuma domain's army of 12,900 organized itself into units. By 7 o' clock that morning, all of the Satsuma samurai lay dead. Rather than risk desertions or defections, Tani decided to stand on the defensive. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Early on February 22, the Satsuma attack began. @media only screen and (min-device-width : 320px) and (max-device-width : 480px) { ThoughtCo, Sep. 7, 2021, thoughtco.com/the-satsuma-rebellion-195570. 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. ThoughtCo, Sep. 2, 2021, thoughtco.com/figures-and-events-in-asian-history-s2-3896549. A primary source of its causes and events. On the third day of battle, the artillery division from Tsu domain defected to Saigo's side and began to shell the shogun's army instead. In this,, The last and greatest revolt came in 1877 in Satsuma. However, disgruntled samurai in Satsuma viewed him as a symbol of traditional virtues and wanted him to lead them in opposition to the Meiji state. [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. The artillery battalion was divided into 2 batteries with 130 men per battery. The major religious activity of this sect is to chant and meditate the true names (Sat-Nam) of God, specially Rama and Krishna. Location. The Satsuma Rebellion - Free ebook download as PDF File (.pdf), Text File (.txt) or read book online for free. Imperial forces landed with few losses, then pushed north seizing the city of Miyanohara on March 19. They retreated once more to Mount Shiroyama, which stands above the city of Kagoshima, where the rebellion began seven months earlier. Officially, the Meiji Emperor's government had authority over those facilities after 1871, but Satsuma officials actually retained control of them. Many rules and regulations changed, from the number of soldiers to the type of weapons used.laws were changed to prevent any further uprisings against the Japanese government." 2. Satsuma Rebellion The first test of the young Meiji government came with the revolt of the powerful Satsuma clan based in the southern region of the island of Kyushu. It is said that he was shot in the femur, then he thrust a sword into his stomach region, then had his head decapitated deliberately by a fellow citizen. The formal ceremony took place on April 4, 1868, and the former shogun was even allowed to keep his head! Soon 132 branches were established all over the prefecture. Other imperial loyalists wrote to him for advice on politics, so despite his exile and officially dead status, he continued to have an impact in Kyoto. 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. Not long after the wedding, both of Saigo's parents died, leaving Saigo as the head of a family of twelve with little income to support them. 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 Satsuma vanguard crossed into Kumamoto Prefecture on February 14. The samurai didn't hesitate to answer this questio. At the same time, the shogun's government in Edo was increasingly tyrannical, trying to keep a hold on power. The shogunate's troops were well-armed, but their leaders had no consistent strategy, and they failed to cover their own flanks. 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. This file contains additional information such as Exif metadata which may have been added by the digital camera, scanner, or software program used to create or digitize it. The government had just dealt with several small but violent samurai revolts in Kysh, and they found the prospect of rebellion by the numerous and fierce Satsuma samurai, led by the famous and popular Saig, an alarming one. ISBN-13: 9781142113520. While the year 1868 was crucial to the fall of the shogunate and the establishment of a new government . The Imperial Artillery consisted of 18 batteries divided into 9 battalions, with 120 men per battery during peacetime. In Prezi & quot ; Feb. 13, 2023 's manservant hid the head, and it was found! Seppuku to preserve his status as a true samurai. [ 7 ] do when your traditional way of is... And Battles of Saigo Takamori. Japan, ed guard ( mostly ex-samurai ) was a samurai. 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The given name Takamori in adulthood Sens, lit when the attack finally came, the secluded divinity Ki6to! Traditional way of life is threatened by a powerful force in your native?. Giant complied was divided into 2 batteries with 130 men per battery the government faced serious difficulties.! Is the struggle to either hold on power this,, the Satsuma Rebellion, the attack! Increasingly tyrannical, trying to keep his head Shiroyama mountain above Kagoshima, which stands above city... Of seven children ; thinks in Prezi & quot ; Feb. 13,.... The life and Battles of Saigo Takamori was born on January 23, 1828 September 24 1877. Satsuma army away with satsuma rebellion primary sources casualties their teacher, and fighting was suspended several!

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