Saig expected both that a war would ultimately be successful for Japan and also that the initial stages of it would offer a means by which the samurai whose cause he championed could find meaningful and beneficial death. This opposition reached the boiling point in 1876 when the central government banned samurai from carrying swords and stopped paying them stipends. Historian Ivan Morris described him as "the quintessential hero of modern Japanese history". ISBN-13: 9781142113520. The rebellion of the Satsuma samurai involved about 12000 men, almost all of which were of that class and hence would have proper swords.Wikipedia states that there were about 1200 labourers. The rebels' momentum soon stalled when they settled into a months-long siege of Kumamoto Castle, just 109 miles north of Kagoshima. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. 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". Soon, Saigo was Daimyo Shimazu Nariakira's closest adviser, consulting other national figures on affairs including the shogunal succession. They resorted to digging up unexploded Satsuma ordinance and refiring it. 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 eight-month-long Satsuma Rebellion was the last great rebellion of feudal Japan, quite literally the last stand of the disaffected samurai warriors against the new imperial government, put in place by the Meiji Restoration. Yates, Charles L. "Saigo Takamori in the Emergence of Meiji Japan." Szczepanski, Kallie. 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 It contains an account of the battle, listing the number of cannons used, etc. 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. "How the Samurai Ended During the Satsuma Rebellion." From Kagoshima Through the Siege of Kumamoto Castle." Satire picture of Boshin War, diptych. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Sophia University was established in Tokyo in 1913 by the Society of Jesus. 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. At the height of the battle, Saig wrote a private letter to Prince Arisugawa, restating his reasons for going to Tokyo. The samurai then attacked imperial facilities around the province, seizing weapons and parading them through the streets of Kagoshima. However, the Imperial Army was likewise depleted, and fighting was suspended for several weeks to permit reinforcement. He was succeeded by his 15-year-old son, Mutsuhito, who would later become known as the Meiji Emperor. Meanwhile, the Joseon Dynasty in Korea refused to recognize the Mutsuhito as an emperor, because it traditionally recognized only the Chinese emperor as suchall other rulers were mere kings. Japanese Government Documents, 1867-1889 (special issue of Transactions of the Asiatic Society of Japan; 1914), by Japan, ed. Publication Date: 2006. Conscription System in Japan Author : Ogawa, Gataro Year- 1921 Type- book "The Satsuma Rebellion led Japan to turn over a new leaf. She has taught at the high school and university levels in the U.S. and South Korea. 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. But this war served as a touchstone to test the ability of the new regime and was an indispensable medium for perfecting the modern institutions and unified organization of the state. 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. Many native infantryman (sepoys) believed that these new cartridges introduced in early 1857 had been greased by cow and pig fat. The year 2018 has seen many events in Japan marking 150 years since the Meiji Restoration. The province of Satsuma is situated in the southernmost portion of the island of Kyushu, and Kagoshima is the capital city. The Satsuma Rebellion, also known as the Seinan War was a revolt of disaffected samurai against the new imperial government, nine years into the Meiji Era. Takamori's parents also had to borrow money to buy farmland in order to have enough food for the growing family. [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. He also cancelled scholarships for Japanese students abroad and fired foreign experts.[8]. As a result, Takamori and his siblings all shared a single blanket at night even though they were large people, sturdy with a few standing over six feet tall. At its head was Saig Takamori, a hero of the restoration who had directed the military campaign against the Tokugawa. This was the end of the so-called Satsuma Rebellion. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. 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. Above all these classes were the Mikado, the secluded divinity of Ki6to, still theo- retically the source of all authority; . 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. RF HA13E4 - The donjon or central keep of the castle is a reconstruction built in the 1970s of the original sacked and burned during the AD.1877 Satsuma rebellion RM P3P0W0 - Battle of Seinan (1877)from Dainihon Rekishi Nishikie, published between late Edo and early Meiji period, Artist Yoshusai (Toyohara) Chikanobu, Private Collection. With Portrait, Maps, and. Faced with 21,000 imperial army troops, the majority of the rebels ended up committing seppuku (surrendering by suicide). Unable to overcome the affection that the people had for this paragon of traditional samurai virtues, the Meiji-era government pardoned him posthumously on February 22, 1889. 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. 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. However, other evidence contradicts this, stating that Saig in fact died of the bullet wound and then had his head removed by Beppu in order to preserve his dignity. 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. After centuries of samurai rule, however, many members of the warrior class were understandably reluctant to give up their status and power. imported from Wikimedia project. Outraged by the government's tactics, 50 students from Saig's academy attacked the Somuta Arsenal and carried off weapons. [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]. ThoughtCo. Saigo, however, had no regard for the conscripted farm boys who made up the imperial army. 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". Saig Takamori Gunmusho () banknote, issued in 1877 to finance his war effort. He changed his name to Saigo Sasuke, and the domain government declared him dead. A battalion was 672 men strong and was organized as per the line battalions. (2021, September 2). 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. Saig was a strong proponent of war with Korea in the Seikanron debate of 1873. As with its predecessors, the origins of 1877 lie in the 1873 debate over a proposed invasion of Korea. The Satsuma Rebellion which took place in 1877was the most famous, and the final major instance out of a series of shizoku rebellionsled in the late 1870s by former samuraiof southwestern Japan against the prospect of the Meiji governmentabolishing their elite status and the rice stipends which had traditionally been the samurai's chief or sole [9] On 22 February 1889, Emperor Meiji pardoned Saig posthumously. The modernization of the country meant the abolition of the privileged social status of the samurai class, and had undermined their financial position. He was one of the most influential samurai in Japanese history and one of the three great nobles who led the Meiji Restoration. Each battalion consisted of four companies. It threatened an all-out attack on Choshu, even though it did not have the military might to defeat that large domain. By HORACE WALLER, FRGS, Rector of Twywell, Northampton. Ravina, Mark. 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. Continued by a Narrative of his Last Moments and Sufferings, obtained from his Faithful Servants Chuma and Susi. 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. "Southwestern War") was a revolt of disaffected samurai against the new imperial government, nine years into the Meiji Era. 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. Ravina said that the war's scope was much farther than Satsuma, and he characterizes the event as being closer to a civil war than a rebellion. He led his samurai straight up the middle of Kyushu, planning to cross the straits and march on Tokyo. At the same time, the shogun's government in Edo was increasingly tyrannical, trying to keep a hold on power. Although Satsuma had been one of the key players in the Meiji Restoration and the Boshin War, and although many men from Satsuma had risen to influential positions in the new Meiji government, there was growing dissatisfaction with the direction the country was taking. The imperial government in Tokyo expected Saigo to come to the capital by sea or to dig in and defend Satsuma. Sources describe him as dressed in an austere yellow kimono . A gripping graphic novel describing the uprising of 1887, when. The Satsuma Rebellion. ISBN-10: 1142113523. This fighter's primary weapon is a percussion rifle, and the only other 'modern' element of his D: THE SATSUMA REBELLION, 1877 appearance is a white crossbelt supporting a cap pouch on D1: Highranking samurai, rebel army his chest and a cartridge pouch behind his right hip. In real life, Saig initially led the Imperial forces and won the four-day Battle of Toba-Fushimi in January 1868. However, Northeastern domains led by Aizu continued to fight on the shogun's behalf until September., when they surrendered to Saigo, who treated them fairly, furthering his fame as a symbol of samurai virtue. 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). Maebara Ikkaku, from Bumbu komei den (Story of famous figures for military and literary) 20,000 YEN TOSHIMOTO. Author: Mounsey, Augustus Henry. The rebels fought two significant battles against the central government: the Siege of Kumamoto Castle and the Battle of Tabaruzaka. Sources of the Meiji Restoration. 8 Practical Tips to Maximize Efficiency in Real Estate Investing Today, building on this tradition, Sophia has developed ISBN-13: 9781437338997. 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. The Satsuma Rebellion: An Episode of Modern Japanese History ; With Maps. In April 1877, Saig reorganized the army into nine infantry units of 350 to 800 men each. 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". However, the imperial government gradually sent more than 45,000 reinforcements to relieve Kumamoto, finally driving the Satsuma army away with heavy casualties. He led his samurai straight up the middle of Kyushu, planning to cross the straits and march on Tokyo. Those men were motivated by growing domestic problems and by the threat of foreign encroachment. After his retirement, however, Saigo simply wanted to play with his kids, hunt, and go fishing. ode to the vampire mother results; national asset mortgage lawsuit; green tuna paper; mary davis sos band net worth ISBN-10: 0341798762. Each battalion was divided into ten companies of 200 men. The cavalry regiment consisted of 150 men. When the offensive was resumed, Saigo retreated to Miyazaki, leaving behind numerous pockets of samurai in the hills to conduct guerilla attacks. In order to concentrate power, Tokyo needed a national military, rather than relying on the domain lords to supply troops. In April of 1871, Saigo was persuaded to return to Tokyo to organize the new national army. 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. His father, Saigo Kichibei, was a low-ranking samurai tax official who only managed to scrape by despite his samurai status. 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. He famously opposed the construction of a railway network, insisting that money should rather be spent on military modernization.[4]. On its march to Kumamoto castle, the army was divided into three divisions; a vanguard of 4,000 men, the main division of 4,000 men, and a rearguard of 2,000 men. ThoughtCo. With these deaths, the Satsuma rebellion came to an end. In July, the Emperor's army encircled Saigo's men, but the Satsuma army fought its way free with heavy casualties. Legend says that one of his followers, Beppu Shinsuke, acted as kaishakunin and aided Saig in committing seppuku before he could be captured. The five government warships in Kagoshima harbor added their firepower to Yamagata's artillery, and began to systematically reduce the rebel positions. Monumenta Nipponica 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. Next, I stated the cause of the rebellion and the reaction of the Japanese government. traffic source, etc. During 1867, Saigo and officials from Choshu and Tosa made plans to bring down the Tokugawa bakufu. 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. In February 1877, the Meiji government dispatched Hayashi Tomoyuki, an official with the Home Ministry with Admiral Kawamura Sumiyoshi in the warship Takao to ascertain the situation. Pro-emperor daimyo and radicals called for an end to the shogunate and the expulsion of all foreigners. Imperial forces landed with few losses, then pushed north seizing the city of Miyanohara on March 19. 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. . As the siege wore on, the rebels ran low on munitions, prompting them to switch back to their swords. In reality it was a military college. 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. Saig Takamori was labelled as a tragic hero by the people, and his actions were considered an honorable example of bushido and Yamato-damashii. In this rebellion, Saigo Takamori, one of the veteran statesmen of the Restoration, who enjoyed a wide popularity and was well versed in military tactics, acted as the head of the insurrection. The samurai didn't hesitate to answer this questio. Saig was defeated and killed at the . In all, about 12,000 Satsuma men marched north toward Tokyo, starting the Southwest War, or Satsuma Rebellion . Saig was initially confident of his ability to take Kumamoto Castle, but he had underestimated the effectiveness of the imperial conscripts defending the castle. Japan. 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. 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. Shiba was in the Imperial Army at the time. 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. This item is part of a JSTOR Collection. How the Samurai Ended During the Satsuma Rebellion. This was witnessed by the American sea captain John Capen Hubbard. It began to promote samurai officials based on talent, rather than rank, and also encouraged the development of modern industry. @media only screen and (min-device-width : 320px) and (max-device-width : 480px) { Over the next two years, the government seized land from the elite samurai and redistributed profits to lower ranked warriors. 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. Rejecting large numbers of volunteers, he made no attempt to contact any of the other domains for support, and no troops were left at Kagoshima to secure his base against an attack. The formal ceremony took place on April 4, 1868, and the former shogun was even allowed to keep his head! The Meiji Restoration of 1868 signaled the beginning of the end for Japan's samurai warriors. On December 25, 1866, the 35-year-old Emperor Komei suddenly died. "Saigo Takamori: The Last Samurai." ThoughtCo, Sep. 2, 2021, thoughtco.com/figures-and-events-in-asian-history-s2-3896549. Browsing subject area: Satsuma Rebellion, 1877 (Exclude extended shelves) You can also browse an alphabetical list from this subject or from: . The Satsuma Rebellion (also known as "seinan sens" - the Southwestern War) was a turning point in Japanese history. 28, No. Author: Augustus Henry Mounsey. The Imperial Guard (mostly ex-samurai) was always maintained at wartime strength. 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. shizoku rebellion. In either case, his retainer, Beppu Shinsuke, cut off his head to ensure that Saigo's death was honorable. The Commandant of Kumamoto Castle Major General Tani Tateki had 3,800 soldiers and 600 policemen at his disposal. Few would return. 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. She has taught at the high school and university levels in the U.S. and South Korea. For terms and use, please refer to our Terms and Conditions The Satsuma Rebellion, also known as the Seinan War was a revolt of disaffected samurai against the new imperial government, nine years into the Meiji Era.. 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. . Satsuma Rebellion The imperial government in Tokyo expected Saigo to come to the capital by sea or to dig in and defend Satsuma. These attacks on the ramparts continued for two days, until Saigo decided to settle in for a siege. Scene of Satsuma rebellion, triptych. the authority of the Mikado's government, and form the nucleus of a permanent force, which was now seen . The Last Samurai's Katsumoto Moritsugu is based on the iconic Japanese samurai Saig Takamori. Artillery consisted of over 100 pieces, including 5.28 pound mountain guns, Krupp field guns of various calibers, and mortars. After the Boshin War, Saigo retired to hunt, fish, and soak in hot springs. 25,000 YEN TOSHIMOTO. The Satsuma Rebellion, also known as the Seinan War (Japanese: , Hepburn: Seinan Sens, lit. Satsuma Rebellion. Page 1 of 17 - About 161 Essays Improved Essays. . On July 24, the Imperial Army forced Saig out of Miyakonoj, followed by Nobeoka. Instead, he went home to Kagoshima. While the year 1868 was crucial to the fall of the shogunate and the establishment of a new government . Professor John Lynn 442 Gregory Hall Office Hours: MW, 1pm and by appointment [email protected] Cell Phone: 217-778-7333 History 251/GLBL 251: War, Military Institutions, and Society since 1815 Spring Semester 2023 MW, 12pm, 319 Lincoln Hall Check out Professor Lynn's web page and CV: Canvas All the basic materials for this class can be found on Canvas at Spring 2023-HIST 251-Warfare Milit . The Satsuma Rebellion: An Episode of Modern Japanese History; with Maps - Primary Source Edition. The rebellion was very expensive for the government, which forced it to make numerous monetary reforms including leaving the gold standard. 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