He was one of the most influential samurai in Japanese history and one of the three great nobles who led the Meiji Restoration. A major underlying issue within many cultures in the world is the struggle to either hold on to traditions and values or to move . After centuries of samurai rule, however, many members of the warrior class were understandably reluctant to give up their status and power. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. 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). 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. '", 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. The Satsuma Rebellion: An Episode of Modern Japanese History ; with Maps. Bonded by their distaste for the shogunate, Choshu and Satsuma gradually formed an alliance. The samurai were armed with traditional weapons including katanas, naginata and yari polearms, yumi bows, and Sengoku era gunpowder weapons such as tanegashima, baj-zutsu, and wooden cannons. A gripping graphic novel describing the uprising of 1887, when. the authority of the Mikado's government, and form the nucleus of a permanent force, which was now seen . Browsing subject area: Satsuma Rebellion, 1877 (Exclude extended shelves) You can also browse an alphabetical list from this subject or from: . Sources of the Meiji Restoration. Modern Asian Studies, Volume 28, Issue 3, Cambridge University Press, July 1994. Saigo Takamori likely was killed in the initial barrage, although tradition holds that he was just gravely injured and committed seppuku. As tensions increased, in January 1877, the central government sent a ship to seize munitions stores from Kagoshima. He also married a local woman namedAigana and fathered a son. Each battalion consisted of four companies. It is not clear what was done with Saig's head immediately after his death. The Meiji Restoration of 1868 signaled the beginning of the end for Japan's samurai warriors. 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. Szczepanski, Kallie. Legend says that one of his followers, Beppu Shinsuke, acted as kaishakunin and aided Saig in committing seppuku before he could be captured. After two days of fruitless attack, the Satsuma forces dug into the rock-hard icy ground around the castle and tried to starve the garrison out in a siege. 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. 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. . This upbringing instilled a sense of dignity, frugality, and honor in young Saigo. 0 references. History of the Western Insurrection in Western Pennsylvania, Commonly Called the Whiskey Insurrection. This was the end of the so-called Satsuma Rebellion. In the autumn of 1875 it was already in a flourishing condition, and in the course of the following year there were in Kagoshima alone some seven thousand pupils, or associates. Marching north, his army was hampered by the deepest snowfall Satsuma had seen in more than 50 years, which, because of the similarity to the weather that had greeted those setting out to enact the Meiji Restoration nine years earlier, was interpreted by some as a sign of divine support.[3]. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. After his failure to take Kumamoto, Saig led his followers on a seven-day march to Hitoyoshi. The formal ceremony took place on April 4, 1868, and the former shogun was even allowed to keep his head! This opposition reached the boiling point in 1876 when the central government banned samurai from carrying swords and stopped paying them stipends. 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. The artillery consisted of 28 5-pounders, two 16-pounders, and 30 mortars. They resorted to digging up unexploded Satsuma ordinance and refiring it. Szczepanski, Kallie. Living during the late Edo and early Meiji periods, he later led the Satsuma Rebellion against the Meiji government. The Satsuma Rebellion. The Japanese people appreciated the fact that he remained loyal to his virtues until his death in 1877. 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. 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. Today, he serves the thoroughly modern nation of Japan as a symbol of its samurai traditionstraditions that he reluctantly helped to destroy. "Saigo Takamori: The Last Samurai." A famous bronze statue of Saig in hunting attire with his dog stands in Ueno Park, Tokyo. In July, the Emperor's army encircled Saigo's men, but the Satsuma army fought its way free with heavy casualties. On December 25, 1866, the 35-year-old Emperor Komei suddenly died. 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. The schools resembled paramilitary political organizations more than anything else, and they enjoyed the support of the governor of Satsuma, who appointed disaffected samurai to political offices, where they came to dominate the Kagoshima government. A primary source of its causes and events. The decision in 1938 The Apocryphal Suicide of Saig Takamori: Samurai, Seppuku, and the Politics of Legend. Journal of Asian Studies 69.3 (2010): 691-721. English Wikipedia. The Satsuma Rebellion of 1877: Letters of John Capen Hubbard E. Nock Published 1 August 1948 History The Far Eastern Quarterly 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. The modernization of the country meant the abolition of the privileged social status of the samurai class, and had undermined their financial position. Along with troops from Aizu, Saigo's massive army marched on Choshu, where he negotiated a peaceful settlement rather than launching an attack. OutOfFighters 3 yr. ago. During war a company's strength was to be increased to 240 privates. Officially, the Meiji Emperor's government had authority over those facilities after 1871, but Satsuma officials actually retained control of them. When the attack finally came, the Satsuma forces withdrew, leaving small pockets of samurai to hit the larger army in guerrilla-style strikes. 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. 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. Over the next several nights, they raided additional arsenals around Kagoshima, stealing weapons and ammunition, and to make matters worse, they discovered that the national police had sent a number of Satsuma natives to the Shigakko as central government spies. 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. 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. Many former samurai from the area joined Saigo's army, increasing his force to 20,000. Sources describe him as dressed in an austere yellow kimono . 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. #ga-ad {display: none;} The Satsuma Rebellion is recommended to all readers interested in Japanese and samurai history. A battalion had 640 men in peacetime and theoretically 960 men in wartime. Each entry is based on a primary source we analysed ; We used a website to compile the entries because it's easier to navigate with; HERE is the link to the primary documents/analysis In the about page there will be a video on the Satsuma Rebellion and a brief paragraph describing what was going on in the rebellion Then we have Luke's entry. His intransigence was one of the major causes of the subsequent Boshin War. By 1877, he sided with rebel forces and fought in what's now known as the Satsuma Rebellion. Who are Satnamis? The imperial troops spent several days constructing an elaborate system of ditches, walls and obstacles to prevent another breakout. As none of the eyewitness accounts mention a wound to the abdomen, or any fresh sword wound at all, it is unknown if Saig pierced his stomach with his sword. Though in Satsuma the rivalry of individual leaders had stopped short of open hostilities, the division of feeling was not less marked. The work is generally accurate and has much of . Continued by a Narrative of his Last Moments and Sufferings, obtained from his Faithful Servants Chuma and Susi. In addition, there were 200 artillerymen and 1,200 laborers. 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. First I developed my thesis statement. A reproduction of the same statue stands on Okinoerabujima, where Saig had been exiled. 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. 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. The Guard infantry was divided into 2 regiments of 2 battalions each. 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. List Price: $31.95. He funded but was not directly involved with the schools, so did not know that the students were becoming radicalized against the Meiji government. Read 7 reviews from the world's largest community for readers. 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 . After the Restoration the condition of things became less unsettled in Mito, and to some extent also in Choshiu. revolt of disaffected samurai against the new imperial government, nine years into the Meiji Era. [5] However, the other Japanese leaders strongly opposed these plans, partly from budgetary considerations, and partly from realization of the weakness of Japan compared with the western countries from what they had witnessed during the Iwakura Mission. ISBN-13: . Paperback, 1 edition, Wiley, February 7, 2005. In all, about 12,000 Satsuma men marched north toward Tokyo, starting the Southwest War, or Satsuma Rebellion. By May, the rebel army was in retreat southward, with the imperial army picking them off up and down Kyushu until September of 1877. Presented with this sudden success, the greatly dismayed Saig was reluctantly persuaded to come out of his semi-retirement to lead the rebellion against the central government. 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. Contemporary illustrations show the cavalry armed with lances. The Satsuma samurai fought on with fierce determination; meanwhile, the defenders ran out of artillery shells. By this time much uneasiness prevailed. At the height of the battle, Saig wrote a private letter to Prince Arisugawa, restating his reasons for going to Tokyo. 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. Omissions? The coming into force in January, 1877, of the edict, issued in the previous year, prohibiting the wearing of swords, was followed by Shimadzu's resignation of the high office he held in the Ministry. When an Imperial Navy landing party reached the arsenal at Somuta under cover of night, locals raised the alarm. 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. Artillery consisted of over 100 pieces, including 5.28 pound mountain guns, Krupp field guns of various calibers, and mortars. Some children had pestered him into becoming their teacher, and the kind-hearted giant complied. 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). traffic source, etc. Outraged by the government's tactics, 50 students from Saig's academy attacked the Somuta Arsenal and carried off weapons. Tokyo intended to confiscate the weapons and take them to an imperial arsenal in Osaka. In October, the prime minister announced that Saigo would not be allowed to travel to Korea as an emissary. Saigo, however, had no regard for the conscripted farm boys who made up the imperial army. 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. 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. 28, No. In the end, he was killed by the imperial army he organized. There are no published reports by eyewitnesses. 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. Satsuma daimyo Shimazu Hisamitsu did not acknowledge the departing army when the men stopped to bow at the gates of his castle. 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 . Page 1 of 17 - About 161 Essays Improved Essays. Publish Date: Dec 10, 2008. ThoughtCo, Sep. 2, 2021, thoughtco.com/figures-and-events-in-asian-history-s2-3896549. Japanese Government Documents, 1867-1889 (special issue of Transactions of the Asiatic Society of Japan; 1914), by Japan, ed. ISBN-10: 1437338992. Over the next two years, the government seized land from the elite samurai and redistributed profits to lower ranked warriors. At its head was Saig Takamori, a hero of the restoration who had directed the military campaign against the Tokugawa. Soon 132 branches were established all over the prefecture. The year 2018 has seen many events in Japan marking 150 years since the Meiji Restoration. 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. Arguably one of the most influential samurai, especially during the fall of the samurai class during the transition into the Meiji period, he led the Satsuma Rebellion in 1877, which marked the last of a series of uprisings against the new Meiji government. In 1873, the central government began to conscript commoners as soldiers, replacing the samurai. by HistoryNet Staff 6/12/2006 Three firsthand accounts of the condition of his deceased body exist. Updates? He hoped to raise the samurai of other domains along the way. The myth stems from the fact that the legions used a phalanx system with spears as primary system before the manipel system was introduced and the Gladius became thr primary weapon for most of the empire. In addition to the army, the central government also used marines and Tokyo policemen in its struggle against Satsuma. Saigo Takamori was born on January 23, 1828, in Kagoshima, Satsuma's capital, the oldest of seven children. The imperial governments conscript levies were hard-pressed to defeat Saig, but in the end superior transport, modern communications, and better weapons assured victory for the government. 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. 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. Augustus Henry Mounsey. His father, Saigo Kichibei, was a low-ranking samurai tax official who only managed to scrape by despite his samurai status. Originally, they were a militant sect of Hindu Worshippers. During the battle of Shiroyama, Saig was badly injured in the hip. Ravina, Mark. Modern weapons were also used such as the Smith & Wesson Model No. These attacks on the ramparts continued for two days, until Saigo decided to settle in for a siege. Datasets available include LCSH, BIBFRAME, LC Name Authorities, LC Classification, MARC codes, PREMIS vocabularies, ISO language codes, and more. }, Page last modified: The Linked Data Service provides access to commonly found standards and vocabularies promulgated by the Library of Congress. ThoughtCo. 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. Corrections? The Satsuma Rebellion: An Episode of Modern Japanese History (1879) Author: Augustus Henry Mounsey. Financially, crushing the Satsuma Rebellion cost the government a total of 420,000,000 (8,400,000),[5] forcing Japan off the gold standard and causing the government to print paper currency. 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. 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. 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. The remnants of Saig's army retreated before the advancing imperials, who whittled it down relentlessly. Ravina, Mark. 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 . Modern Asian Studies 69.3 ( 2010 ): 691-721 three firsthand accounts of the same stands. Calibers, and the kind-hearted giant complied six feet tall and weighing 200 pounds status of the subsequent War! Things became less unsettled in Mito, and had undermined their financial position, revolt came in Satsuma 1877.! 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