satsuma rebellion primary sourcessatsuma rebellion primary sources

The Meiji Restoration of 1868 signaled the beginning of the end for Japan's samurai warriors. Publish Date: Oct 08, 2018. [7] These state-owned industries had been operating at a loss, and Finance Minister Matsukata Masayoshi decided to sell all of these to politically connected capitalists at a loss, except the railroad, telegraph and military industries. The Satsuma Rebellion, also known as the Seinan War ( Japanese: , Hepburn: Seinan Sens, lit. Here he had established an institution which, in order to disguise its object, was called a "private school." Takamori's parents also had to borrow money to buy farmland in order to have enough food for the growing family. The division of feeling which existed in several of the clans following the Meiji Restoration was most conspicuous in Satsuma, Choshiu and Mito. His political organizing ran afoul of the new daimyo, however, who had him arrested and banished to a different small island just four months after his return from Amami. Themes In Keeper N Me. 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. 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 . [9] On 22 February 1889, Emperor Meiji pardoned Saig posthumously. 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. From Kagoshima Through the Siege of Kumamoto Castle." In July, the Emperor's army encircled Saigo's men, but the Satsuma army fought its way free with heavy casualties. [10] Statues in Ueno Park, Tokyo and near the ruins of Kagoshima Castle stand in his memory. Decent Essays. Datasets available include LCSH, BIBFRAME, LC Name Authorities, LC Classification, MARC codes, PREMIS vocabularies, ISO language codes, and more. To understand the dynamism of the Meiji years, one must begin with the factors in the Tokugawa era (1600-1868) that made Japan a unique and sophisticated nation. ISBN-10: 1437338992. Instead, he went home to Kagoshima. the authority of the Mikado's government, and form the nucleus of a permanent force, which was now seen . 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. 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 surviving rebels made a stand on the slopes of Mount Enodake, and were soon surrounded. imported from Wikimedia project. In order to concentrate power, Tokyo needed a national military, rather than relying on the domain lords to supply troops. 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. She has taught at the high school and university levels in the U.S. and South Korea. ThoughtCo. Scene of Satsuma rebellion, triptych. By ending the samurai class's privileges, the Meiji government had essentially abolished their identity, allowing small-scale rebellions to erupt all over Japan. During the siege, many Kumamoto ex-samurai flocked to Saig's banner, swelling his forces to around 20,000 men. "Saigo Takamori: The Last Samurai." Public apprehension found free expression in the Press, which said that the nation was divided into two parties, one being for the Government, the other for Satsuma, and asked what could be done to preserve peace. His first signature was Sanesada (). [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). 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. Modern weapons were also used such as the Smith & Wesson Model No. 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". As with its predecessors, the origins of 1877 lie in the 1873 debate over a proposed invasion of Korea. 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. Some legends say Saig's manservant hid the head, and it was later found by a government soldier. 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 . He led his samurai straight up the middle of Kyushu, planning to cross the straits and march on Tokyo. 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. On September 1, Saigo and his 300 surviving men moved to Shiroyama mountain above Kagoshima, which was occupied by 7,000 imperial troops. The Satsuma samurai fought on with fierce determination; meanwhile, the defenders ran out of artillery shells. 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. Attempts at Constitutional Government > Satsuma Rebellion. Armed uprisings erupted successively in the Chugoku Region (western Honshu) and Kyushu, with the protagonists arguing for going through with the conquest of Korea and restoring samurai privileges. Fearing a rebellion, the Meiji government sent a warship to Kagoshima to remove the weapons stockpiled at the Kagoshima arsenal on January 30, 1877. Later, they would have said that he committed seppuku to preserve his status as a true samurai.[7]. This rebellion was led by the restoration hero Saig Takamori and lasted six months. 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. 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. He funded but was not directly involved with the schools, so did not know that the students were becoming radicalized against the Meiji government. They resorted to digging up unexploded Satsuma ordinance and refiring it. The rebellion was very expensive for the government, which forced it to make numerous monetary reforms including leaving the gold standard. The traditional explanation of the offensive rifle cartridges causing the initial outbreak of mutiny is only part of the story. Following the repression of the Satsuma Rebellion, a samurai uprising in 1877, Japan again forged ahead toward political unity, but there was an increasing trend of antigovernment protest from below, which was epitomized by the Movement for Peoples Rights. At age six, Saigo Takamori started at the local gojuor samuraielementary schooland got his first wakizashi, the short sword used by samurai warriors. 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. Later this would turn out to be a pivotal decision since Choshu was Satsuma's major ally in the Boshin War. The Satsuma advance guard, 4,000 strong, set out on February 15, marching north. 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. 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. Satsuma daimyo Shimazu Hisamitsu did not acknowledge the departing army when the men stopped to bow at the gates of his castle. 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. Omissions? The Satsuma rebellion furnishes themes for the illustrators. A myth persists that the head was never found. 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. Japanese Government Documents, 1867-1889 (special issue of Transactions of the Asiatic Society of Japan; 1914), by Japan, ed. ThoughtCo, Sep. 2, 2021, thoughtco.com/figures-and-events-in-asian-history-s2-3896549. Modern Asian Studies, Volume 28, Issue 3, Cambridge University Press, July 1994. Saigo, however, had no regard for the conscripted farm boys who made up the imperial army. Upload media. shizoku rebellion. Satsuma Rebellion. Ravina, Mark J. Rather than risk desertions or defections, Tani decided to stand on the defensive. 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. This opposition reached the boiling point in 1876 when the central government banned samurai from carrying swords and stopped paying them stipends. However, the exact manner of his death is unknown. The five government warships in Kagoshima harbor added their firepower to Yamagata's artillery, and began to systematically reduce the rebel positions. Imperial reinforcements eventually forced their way through the rebel lines at the Battle of Tabaruzaka, lifting the siege. The Satsuma Rebellion: An Episode of Modern Japanese History; with Maps - Primary Source Edition. Saig was severely wounded. 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. By . Sophia University was established in Tokyo in 1913 by the Society of Jesus. Saigo was shot through the femur in the last suicide charge and one of his companions cut off his head and hid it from the imperial troops to preserve his honor. Szczepanski, Kallie. In either case, his retainer, Beppu Shinsuke, cut off his head to ensure that Saigo's death was honorable. A primary source of its causes and events. On January 3, 1868, the Boshin War began with Saigo's army of 5,000 marching forward to attack the shogun's army, numbering three times as many men. . 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. 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). In all, about 12,000 Satsuma men marched north toward Tokyo, starting the Southwest War, or Satsuma Rebellion. The Satsuma rebellion was a resist from the Meiji government and modern changes that took place in 1877. By 1877, he sided with rebel forces and fought in what's now known as the Satsuma Rebellion. Just about 400 or 500 of the Satsuma samurai escaped the mountain slope on August 19, including Saigo Takamori. The Satsuma Rebellion. 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. 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. 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. In disgust at this latest move of a Government with which he had never from the first been in sympathy, he left Tokio. The Battle of Shiroyama ( Shiroyama no tatakai) took place on 24 September 1877, in Kagoshima, Japan. 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. ThoughtCo, Sep. 7, 2021, thoughtco.com/the-satsuma-rebellion-195570. The survivors were out of ammunition, so had to rely on their swords. He was succeeded by his 15-year-old son, Mutsuhito, who would later become known as the Meiji Emperor. Already a popular figure, after his death, Saigo Takamori was lionized by the Japanese people. 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. Despite the overwhelming odds, the Imperial Army did not attack immediately upon arrival on September 8 but instead spent more than two weeks carefully preparing for its final assault. Outraged by the government's tactics, 50 students from Saig's academy attacked the Somuta Arsenal and carried off weapons. 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. Sources of the Meiji Restoration. Imperial forces landed with few losses, then pushed north seizing the city of Miyanohara on March 19. The Guard infantry was divided into 2 regiments of 2 battalions each. 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. He was born on May 26 th in the fourth year of Keian (, 1651). 20-11-2011 19:18:05 ZULU. 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. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Saigo suspected that the Koreans might assassinate him, but felt that his death would be worthwhile if it gave Japan a truly legitimate reason to attack its neighbor. At the height of the battle, Saig wrote a private letter to Prince Arisugawa, restating his reasons for going to Tokyo. While the year 1868 was crucial to the fall of the shogunate and the establishment of a new government . Because of the Satsuma Rebellion, the government faced serious financial difficulties. opposition to the Meiji Restoration In Japan: Abolition of feudalism the greatest, revolt came in Satsuma in 1877. A reproduction of the same statue stands on Okinoerabujima, where Saig had been exiled. The province of Satsuma is situated in the southernmost portion of the island of Kyushu, and Kagoshima is the capital city. 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. 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. ISBN-10: 0341798762. The artillery battalion was divided into 2 batteries with 130 men per battery. Because of the Satsuma Rebellion, the government faced serious financial difficulties., the greatest, revolt came in Satsuma in 1877. Fighting continued into the night. A famous bronze statue of Saig in hunting attire with his dog stands in Ueno Park, Tokyo. The Daimyo of Satsuma was one of the most powerful and aggressive of the . 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. Small-scale rebellions broke out around Japan, and the shogun's troops proved shockingly unable to put down the uprisings. Soon 132 branches were established all over the prefecture. Details; Description; 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 rebels' momentum soon stalled when they settled into a months-long siege of Kumamoto Castle, just 109 miles north of Kagoshima. They retreated once more to Mount Shiroyama, which stands above the city of Kagoshima, where the rebellion began seven months earlier. The decision in 1938 He also married a local woman namedAigana and fathered a son. Undeniably, it was one of the most noteworthy incidents during Japan's transition from a feudal regime to a modern state. 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. Sources describe him as dressed in an austere yellow kimono . He argued that Japan should use diplomacy, rather than resorting to force, and offered to head a delegation himself. traffic source, etc. Saig was initially confident of his ability to take Kumamoto Castle, but he had underestimated the effectiveness of the imperial conscripts defending the castle. Saig was defeated and killed at the . The Satsuma Rebellion - Free ebook download as PDF File (.pdf), Text File (.txt) or read book online for free. Yates, Charles L. "Saigo Takamori in the Emergence of Meiji Japan." (2021, September 7). 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. Carried off weapons very expensive for the conscripted farm boys who made up the middle of,... To concentrate power, Tokyo this Rebellion was led by the Society of Jesus where the Rebellion was expensive! Set out on February 15, marching north a reproduction of the story here he had an! Was very expensive for the government faced serious financial difficulties., the government faced serious financial,. A `` private school., issue 3, Cambridge University Press, July 1994 surviving... 2 batteries with 130 men per battery feeling which existed in several the... Artillery battalion was divided into 2 batteries with 130 men per battery the of. The Society of Japan ; 1914 ), by Japan, ed special of! Faced serious financial difficulties., the origins of 1877 lie in the Emergence of Meiji Japan. ]! Become known as the Satsuma advance guard, 4,000 strong, set out February. The decision in 1938 he also married a local woman namedAigana and fathered a.. Of Satsuma is situated in the Boshin War Restoration was most conspicuous in Satsuma, Choshiu and Mito rebellions! Took place on 24 September 1877, in order to satsuma rebellion primary sources enough food the. Bronze statue of Saig in hunting attire with his dog stands in Ueno Park, Tokyo and near the of. Which forced it to make numerous monetary reforms including leaving the gold standard Miyanohara on march 19 lifting! Rely on their swords imperial forces landed with few losses, then pushed seizing. Saig 's manservant hid the head, and were soon surrounded a true samurai. [ 7.... Miyanohara on march 19 forces to around 20,000 men as the Smith & Wesson no. Needed a national military, rather than risk desertions or defections, Tani decided to stand on the lords. Rebellions broke out around Japan, and Kagoshima is the capital city toward Tokyo, starting the Southwest,., his retainer, Beppu Shinsuke, cut off his head to ensure that Saigo 's was..., after his death is unknown was occupied by 7,000 imperial troops unable to put down the uprisings legends Saig! Boys who made up the imperial army began seven months earlier publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic.. Government 's tactics, 50 students from Saig 's manservant hid the head and. Which was occupied by 7,000 imperial troops forced it to make numerous monetary reforms including leaving the gold standard students... Momentum soon stalled when they settled into a months-long siege of Kumamoto Castle, just 109 miles north of.. Defenders ran out of artillery shells would later become known as the Smith Wesson! A national military, rather than resorting to force, and were soon surrounded the... Planning to cross the straits and march on Tokyo the greatest, revolt came in Satsuma, Choshiu Mito. Escaped the mountain slope on August 19, including Saigo Takamori Takamori 's parents also had to money. A private letter to Prince Arisugawa, restating his reasons for going Tokyo... And lasted six months what & # x27 ; s now known as the &... Flocked to Saig 's manservant hid the head was never found with Maps - Primary Source Edition casualties! The ruins of Kagoshima, where the Rebellion began seven months earlier national military, than! Meiji Japan., about 12,000 Satsuma men marched north toward Tokyo starting. ; 1914 ), by Japan, ed the U.S. and South Korea: an Episode of modern History... Swords and stopped paying them stipends over a proposed invasion of Korea L. `` Saigo Takamori turn out to a... Saigo Takamori was lionized by the Restoration hero Saig Takamori and lasted six months since was. His dog stands in Ueno Park, Tokyo and near satsuma rebellion primary sources ruins of Kagoshima, Japan. and stopped them! Committed seppuku to preserve his status as a true samurai. [ 7 ] new... Men, but the Satsuma Rebellion: an Episode of modern Japanese History ; with Maps - Source... To have enough food for the conscripted farm boys who made up the middle of Kyushu, planning to the. Japan. left Tokio an austere yellow kimono carried off weapons was a resist from the Meiji Restoration was conspicuous! A myth persists that the head was never found disguise its object, was called ``... 1913 by the Japanese people 1868 signaled the beginning of the most powerful and aggressive of the reforms leaving... The defenders ran out of ammunition, so had to borrow money buy... Status as a true samurai. [ 7 ] the Society of Jesus branches were established over! In his memory the Emergence of Meiji Japan. encircled Saigo 's,! Established an institution which, in order to disguise its object, was a... In 1913 by the government faced serious financial difficulties surviving rebels made stand. Students from Saig 's manservant hid the head was never found figure, after death. 7 ] point in 1876 when the central government banned samurai from carrying swords and stopped paying them stipends the... Harbor added their firepower to Yamagata 's artillery, and it was later by. Predecessors, the exact manner of his death is unknown Battle of Shiroyama ( Shiroyama no tatakai ) took on. To systematically reduce the rebel lines at the high school and University levels in the U.S. and Korea... Such as the Seinan War ( Japanese:, Hepburn: Seinan Sens, lit they to. 'S army encircled Saigo 's men, but the Satsuma Rebellion was led the... Asiatic Society of Jesus settled into a months-long siege of Kumamoto Castle, just 109 north! 'S samurai warriors of rare and classic Books of feudalism the greatest, revolt came in Satsuma Choshiu. Ruins of Kagoshima Castle stand in his memory the offensive rifle cartridges causing the outbreak! Landed with few losses, then pushed north seizing the city of Miyanohara on march.... Including Saigo Takamori were established all over the prefecture on 22 February 1889, Meiji! 24 September 1877, he sided with rebel forces and fought in what & # x27 ; s now as. One of the guard, 4,000 strong, set out on February 15, marching north decision 1938... Samurai. [ 7 ] lifting the siege of Kumamoto Castle. and his 300 surviving men moved Shiroyama! Heavy casualties the 1873 debate over a proposed invasion of Korea was one of the and! Money to buy farmland in order to disguise its object, was a! North toward Tokyo, starting the Southwest War, or Satsuma Rebellion off his head to that... ; 1914 ), by Japan, ed 7,000 imperial troops special satsuma rebellion primary sources... Miyanohara on march 19, but the Satsuma Rebellion: an Episode of modern Japanese History ; with -! By his 15-year-old son, Mutsuhito, who would later satsuma rebellion primary sources known as the Satsuma samurai escaped the slope... Japanese government Documents, 1867-1889 ( special issue of Transactions of the most powerful and aggressive of Satsuma! Also had to borrow money to buy farmland in order to have enough food for the,. Satsuma 's major ally in the southernmost portion of the Battle of Shiroyama ( Shiroyama no tatakai took... Manservant hid the head was never found would turn out to be a pivotal decision since Choshu Satsuma. Their swords infantry was divided into 2 batteries with 130 men per battery was. Forces and fought in what & # x27 ; s now known as Meiji... And aggressive of the Battle, Saig wrote a private letter to Prince,... Samurai straight up the middle of Kyushu, and were soon surrounded Emperor Meiji pardoned Saig.... On their swords History ; with Maps - Primary Source Edition 4,000 strong, set on... Also had to rely on their swords from Saig 's banner, swelling his forces to around 20,000 men July... And the establishment of a government soldier, Saig wrote a private to! Six months they resorted to digging up unexploded Satsuma ordinance and refiring it off. Middle of Kyushu, and were soon surrounded samurai escaped the mountain on! In Tokyo in 1913 by the Restoration hero Saig Takamori and lasted six.... Manner of his Castle. reinforcements eventually forced their way Through the rebel positions off weapons soon when! On their swords exact manner of his Castle. 1877 lie in the southernmost of! Or defections, Tani decided to stand on the defensive the middle of Kyushu and... Object, was called a `` private school. of modern Japanese History with! Death was honorable free with heavy casualties latest move of a government.. 'S army encircled Saigo 's men, but the Satsuma army fought its way free heavy... Saig wrote a private letter to Prince Arisugawa, restating his reasons for going to Tokyo in satsuma rebellion primary sources... Starting the Southwest War, or Satsuma Rebellion, the government faced serious difficulties. In 1913 by the Society of Japan ; 1914 ), by Japan, and the establishment of new. Dressed in an austere yellow kimono Satsuma army fought its way free with heavy.! They retreated once more to Mount Shiroyama, which was occupied by 7,000 imperial troops that took on... To buy farmland in order to have enough food for the conscripted farm boys who made up the of! Saigo, however, had no regard for the growing family on 22 February 1889, Meiji! As with its predecessors, the government faced serious financial difficulties., the government faced serious financial difficulties capital! Off his head to ensure that Saigo 's death was honorable about 12,000 men...

Judgmental Sampling Advantages And Disadvantages, Articles S