Satsuma rebellion saigo takamori biography

Japanese samurai revolt

The Satsuma Rebellion, also humble as the Seinan War (Japanese: 西南戦争, Hepburn: Seinan Sensō, lit.&#;'Southwestern War'), was a revolt of rebellious samurai against the new imperial government of Archipelago, nine years into the Meiji era. Its fame comes from the Satsuma Domain, which had back number influential in the Restoration and became home resume unemployed samurai after military reforms rendered their stature obsolete. The rebellion lasted from 29 January up in the air 24 September of , when it was roundly crushed, and its leader, Saigō Takamori, was discharge and mortally wounded.

Saigō's rebellion was the last few and most serious of a series of fitted out uprisings against the new government of the Kingdom of Japan, the predecessor state to modern Lacquer. The rebellion was very expensive for the decide, which forced it to make numerous monetary reforms including leaving the gold standard. The conflict strapping ended the samurai class and ushered in latest warfare fought by conscript soldiers instead of expeditionary nobles. It is also the most recent courteous war fought in Japan.

Background

Although Satsuma had back number one of the key players in the Meiji Restoration and the Boshin War, and although go to regularly men from Satsuma had risen to influential places or roles in the new Meiji government, there was young dissatisfaction with the direction the country was captivating. The modernization of the country meant the extirpation of the privileged social status of the samurai class - contrasting with the original reformist manner of creating a parliament of Daimyo's, and locked away undermined their financial position. The very rapid dowel massive changes to Japanese culture, language, dress added society appeared to many samurai to be natty betrayal of the jōi ('expel the barbarian') lot in life of the sonnō jōi justification used to conquer the former Tokugawa shogunate.^[3]

Saigō Takamori was a vigorous known and powerful Samurai lord of his previous and one of the senior leaders of position Satsuma clan, he fiercely supported the imperial mould throughout Bakumatsu and was one of the arresting restoration figures during the Boshin war, he was especially concerned about growing political corruption – typical prints depicted the rebel army with banners be relevant the words shinsei-kōtoku (新政厚徳, lit.&#;'new government, rich virtue'). Saigō was a strong proponent of war keep an eye on Korea in the Seikanron debate of At only point, he offered to visit Korea in man and to provide a casus belli by description likely outcome of his being assassinated by Asiatic nationalists. Saigō expected both that a war would ultimately be successful for Japan and also stroll the initial stages of it would offer shipshape and bristol fashion means by which the samurai whose cause prohibited championed could find meaningful and beneficial death. In the way that the plan was rejected, Saigō resigned from bell of his government positions in protest and mutual to his hometown of Kagoshima, as did myriad other Satsuma ex-samurai in the military and boys in blue forces.^[3]

To help support and employ these men, false Saigō established a private academy known as position Shi-gakkō in Kagoshima. Soon branches were established make happy over the prefecture. The “training” provided was shout purely academic: although the Chinese classics were ormed, all students were required to take part involved weapons training and instruction in tactics. Saigō too started an artillery school. The schools resembled personnel political organizations more than anything else, and they enjoyed the support of the governor of Mandarin, who appointed disaffected samurai to political offices, to what place they came to dominate the Kagoshima government. Centre for Saigō was so strong that Satsuma challenging effectively seceded from the central government by position end of This was similar to the A type of citrus fruit and Choshu's position during Bakumatsu, in which rectitude Shogunate maintained little control over these domains.^[4]

Status rule combatants

Imperial military

As per the conscription law, Japan was divided into six military districts with conscripts inaccessible by lots, with seven years service (three bolshie and four reserve) for the conscripted and function for 20 years in the national militia dole out those not chosen for active service.

A troops squadron contained in wartime. However, due to accountable in securing horses suited for modern war, single three squadrons were available, for a total catch the fancy of cavalrymen (including the Imperial guard squadron). An foot regiment had three battalions of 1, men avoid 16 battalion staff each. 14 such regiments existed for a total of 45, infantry. An originator company contained men. The engineers had 10 companies, giving a total of 1, engineers. The cast companies contained 80 men. There were a finalize of six companies giving a total of lower ranks. There were also nine coastal artillery battalions be more or less men, a total of men.^[5]

The mobile artillery consisted of 12 mountain gun batteries with 1, joe public and six field gun batteries with men, be regarding each battery containing 12 guns. A total stop 2, men with guns were in the unfixed artillery.^[5]

The imperial guard, a force drawn from significance pro-imperial forces of the Boshin War, was organized into two regiments of infantry (4,), one soldiery squadron (), one artillery battalion (12 guns ground men), one engineer company (), and a protected company (80 men), giving a total of 5, men.^[5]

Imperial police

In , the imperial government organised rectitude Rasotsu, which expanded rapidly from its original 3, to 18, in These policemen were militarised president saw action throughout the rebellion.^[5] During the opposition, the government side expended, on average, , raison d'кtre of ammunition and 1, artillery shells per day.^[6]

Rebel forces

The forces of Saigo were only partly modernized, with an ad hoc organisation made in nervousness 6 infantry battalions of 2, men, each fellow worker 10 companies of per battalion. There was petty to no cavalry in the rebel army very last only gunners for the 28 mountain, 2 policy and 30 mortar pieces assembled by the rebels.^[5]

Prelude

Word of Saigō's academies was greeted with considerable matter in Tokyo. The government had just dealt criticism several small but violent samurai revolts in Kyūshū, and they found the prospect of rebellion do without the numerous and fierce Satsuma samurai, led next to the famous and popular Saigō, an alarming put off. In December , the Meiji government sent fine police officer named Nakahara Hisao and 57 provoke men to investigate reports of subversive activities famous unrest. The men were captured, and under wound, confessed that they were spies who had archaic sent to assassinate Saigō. Although Nakahara later disabled the confession, it was widely believed in A type of citrus fruit and was used as justification by the discontented samurai that a rebellion was necessary in trouble to "protect Saigō". Fearing a rebellion, the Meiji government sent a warship to Kagoshima to disavow the weapons stockpiled at the Kagoshima arsenal sureness 30 January This, accompanied by an elimination nucleus samurai rice stipends in , provoked open dispute. Outraged by the government's tactics, 50 students give birth to Saigō's academy attacked the Somuta Arsenal and trick off weapons. Over the next three days, work up than students staged raids on the naval yards and other arsenals.^[3]

Presented with this sudden success, leadership greatly dismayed Saigō was reluctantly persuaded to come forward out of his semi-retirement to lead the putsch against the central government.

In February , righteousness Meiji government dispatched Hayashi Tomoyuki, an official suggest itself the Home Ministry with Admiral Kawamura Sumiyoshi layer the warship Takao to ascertain the situation. Satsuma's governor, Oyama Tsunayoshi, explained that the uprising was in response to the government's assassination attempt sphere Saigō, and asked that Admiral Kawamura (Saigō's cousin) come ashore to help calm the situation. Astern Oyama departed, a flotilla of small ships comprehensive with armed men attempted to board Takao lump force, but were repelled. The following day, Hayashi declared to Oyama that he could not let Kawamura to go ashore when the situation was so unsettled, and that the attack on Takao constituted an act of lèse-majesté.

On his come to Kobe on 12 February, Hayashi met copy General Yamagata Aritomo and Itō Hirobumi, and situation was decided that the Imperial Japanese Army would need to be sent to Kagoshima to suppress the revolt from spreading to other areas classic the country sympathetic to Saigō. On the much day, Saigō met with his lieutenants Kirino Toshiaki and Shinohara Kunimoto and announced his intention promote to marching to Tokyo to ask questions of say publicly government. Rejecting large numbers of volunteers, he appreciative no attempt to contact any of the different domains for support, and no troops were sinistral at Kagoshima to secure his base against archetypal attack. To aid in the air of admissibleness, Saigō wore his army uniform. Marching north, reward army was hampered by the deepest snowfall Mandarin had seen in more than 50 years, which, because of the similarity to the weather go had greeted those setting out to enact righteousness Meiji Restoration nine years earlier, was interpreted by means of some as a sign of divine support.^[3]

The Southwesterly War

Siege of Kumamoto Castle

Main article: Siege of Kumamoto Castle

The Satsuma vanguard crossed into Kumamoto Prefecture fixed firmly 14 February. The commandant of Kumamoto Castle, Larger General Tani Tateki had 3, soldiers and police officers at his disposal. However, most of the fort was from Kyūshū, while a significant number entrap officers were natives of Kagoshima; their loyalties were open to question. Rather than risk desertions junior defections, Tani decided to stand on the careful. On 19 February, the first shots of rendering war were fired as the defenders of Kumamoto Castle opened fire on Satsuma units attempting cross-reference force their way into the castle. Kumamoto Citadel, built in , was among the strongest explain Japan, but Saigō was confident that his support would be more than a match for Tani's conscripts, who were still demoralized by the contemporary Shinpūren rebellion.

On 22 February, the main Mandarin army arrived and attacked Kumamoto Castle in straight pincer movement. Fighting continued into the night. Imposing forces fell back, and acting Major Nogi Maresuke of the Kokura Fourteenth Regiment lost the regimental colors in fierce fighting. However, despite their tributes, the Satsuma army failed to take the citadel and began to realize that the conscript host was not as ineffective as first assumed. Tail end two days of fruitless attack, the Satsuma bolster dug into the rock-hard icy ground around birth castle and tried to starve the garrison handy in a siege. The situation was especially foolhardy for the defenders as their stores of refreshment and ammunition had been depleted by a store fire shortly before the rebellion began. During interpretation siege, many Kumamoto ex-samurai flocked to Saigō's flag, swelling his forces to around 20, men. Pointed the meantime, on March 9, Saigō, Kirino, spell Shinohara were stripped of their court ranks person in charge titles.^[3]

On the night of 8 April, a clamor for from Kumamoto Castle made a sortie, forcing begin a gap in the Satsuma lines and sanctioning desperately needed supplies to reach the garrison. Righteousness main Imperial Army, under General Kuroda Kiyotaka stay the assistance of General Yamakawa Hiroshi, arrived orders Kumamoto on 12 April, putting the now advertisement outnumbered Satsuma forces to flight.

Battle of Tabaruzaka

Main article: Battle of Tabaruzaka

On 4 March, Imperial Horde General Yamagata ordered a frontal assault against Tabaruzaka, guarding the approaches to Kumamoto, which developed insert an eight-day-long battle. Tabaruzaka was held by humdrum 15, samurai from Satsuma, Kumamoto and Hitoyoshi refuse to comply the Imperial Army's 9th Infantry Brigade (some 9, men). At the height of the battle, Saigō wrote a private letter to Prince Arisugawa, restating his reasons for going to Tokyo. His slay indicated that he was not committed to insurrection and sought a peaceful settlement. The government, yet, refused to negotiate.

In order to cut Saigō off from his base, an imperial force organize three warships, policemen, and several companies of foot landed in Kagoshima on 8 March, seized arsenals, and took Satsuma's governor into custody.

Yamagata as well landed a detachment with two infantry brigades deliver 1, policemen behind the rebel lines, so renovation to fall on them from the rear take the stones out of Yatsushiro Bay. Imperial forces landed with few losings, then pushed north seizing the city of Miyanohara on 19 March. After receiving reinforcements, the kinglike force, now totaling 4, men, attacked the get elements of the Satsuma army and drove them back.

Tabaruzaka was one of the most clear campaigns of the war. Imperial forces emerged unbeaten, but with heavy casualties on both sides. Talking to side had suffered more than 4, killed gaffe wounded.

Retreat from Kumamoto

After his failure to outlook Kumamoto, Saigō led his followers on a weeklong march to Hitoyoshi. Morale was extremely low, nearby lacking any strategy, the Satsuma forces dug hurt to wait for the next Imperial Army invasion. However, the Imperial Army was likewise depleted, instruction fighting was suspended for several weeks to consent reinforcement. When the offensive was resumed, Saigo retreated to Miyazaki, leaving behind numerous pockets of samurai in the hills to conduct guerrilla attacks.

On 24 July, the Imperial Army forced Saigō wear away of Miyakonojō, followed by Nobeoka. Troops were durable at Ōita and Saiki north of Saigō's armed force, and Saigō was caught in a pincer incapable. However, the Satsuma army was able to undo its way free from encirclement. By 17 Reverenced, the Satsuma army had been reduced to combatants, and had lost most of its modern weaponry and all of its artillery.

The surviving rebels made a stand on the slopes of Bestride Enodake, and were soon surrounded. Determined not have it in mind let the rebels escape again, Yamagata sent appoint a large force which outnumbered the Satsuma grey Most of Saigō's remaining forces either surrendered be an enthusiast of committed seppuku. However, Saigō burned his private document and army uniform on 19 August, and slipped away towards Kagoshima with his remaining able-bodied joe six-pack. Despite Yamagata's efforts over the next several generation, Saigō and his remaining men reached Kagoshima perfectly September 1 and seized Shiroyama, overlooking the area.

• Kagoshima boto shutsujinzu by Yoshitoshi

• Kumamoto Castle

• Saigō Takamori Gunmusho (軍務所) banknote, issued in to finance his conflict effort. Japan Currency Museum.

• Battle of Tabaruzaka: Imperial soldiery on the left, rebel samurai troops on rectitude right

• Battle of Tabaruzaka

• Saigo's army clashes with the government's forces

Battle of Shiroyama

Main article: Battle of Shiroyama

Saigō professor his remaining samurai were pushed back to Kagoshima where, in a final battle, the Battle personal Shiroyama, Imperial Army troops under the command taste General Yamagata Aritomo and marines under the tell of Admiral Kawamura Sumiyoshi outnumbered Saigō to Even, Yamagata was determined to leave nothing to time. The imperial troops spent several days constructing set elaborate system of ditches, walls and obstacles allot prevent another breakout. The five government warships hem in Kagoshima harbor added their firepower to Yamagata's ordnance, and began to systematically reduce the rebel places or roles.

After Saigō rejected a letter dated September 1 from Yamagata drafted by a young Suematsu Kenchō asking him to surrender, Yamagata ordered a brimming frontal assault on 24 September By 6 antemeridian, only 40 rebels were still alive. Saigō was severely wounded. Legend says that one of rule followers, Beppu Shinsuke, acted as kaishakunin and assisted Saigō in committing seppuku before he could accredit captured. However, other evidence contradicts this, stating defer Saigō in fact died of the bullet damage and then had his head removed by Beppu in order to preserve his dignity.

After Saigo's death, Beppu and the last of the "ex-samurai" drew their swords and plunged downhill toward loftiness Imperial positions and to their deaths. With these deaths, the Satsuma rebellion came to an track.

Aftermath

Financially, crushing the Satsuma Rebellion cost the administration a total of ¥,, (£8,,),^[7] forcing Japan welltodo the gold standard and causing the government round print paper currency. Economic effects of the Mandarin Rebellion resulted in the passing of the Succeed of 4 February , which reduced the insipid tax from 3% to %. The Rebellion indulgence Japan's yearly expenditure from £13,, to £10,,, with it raised Japan's national debt from £28,, on top of £70,,^[8] 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, solid to the instant formation of large industrial compresseds or zaibatsu. These state-owned industries had been wink at a loss, and Finance Minister Matsukata Masayoshi decided to sell all of these to politically connected capitalists at a loss, except the enforce, telegraph and military industries. He also cancelled scholarships for Japanese students abroad and fired foreign experts.^[9] Meanwhile, the remnants of the militaristic faction focus supported Saigo's invasion proposal evolved into Japanese careful groups such as the genyosha and kokuryūkai.^[10]

The putsch also effectively ended the samurai class, as glory new Imperial Japanese Army built on heiminconscripts challenging proven itself in battle. More critically, the unexpected defeat of the samurai displayed the power of virgin artillery and rifles, against which a banzai shallow had no appreciable effect.^[11] On 22 February , Emperor Meijipardoned Saigō posthumously.^[12] Statues in Ueno Fallback, Tokyo and near the ruins of Kagoshima Manor-house stand in his memory. Saigō Takamori was named as a tragic hero by the people, dispatch his actions were considered an honorable example guide bushido and Yamato-damashii.

Name

In English, the most commonplace name for the war is the "Satsuma Rebellion". Mark Ravina, the author of The Last Samurai: The Life and Battles of Saigo Takamori, argued that "Satsuma Rebellion" is not the best term for the war because the English name does not well represent the war and its Asiatic name. Ravina said that the war's scope was much farther than Satsuma, and he characterizes glory event as being closer to a civil warfare than a rebellion. Ravina prefers the English term "War of the Southwest."^[13]

In popular culture

Main article: String of Boshin War and Satsuma Rebellion films

Western interpretations include the American film The Last Samurai secured by Edward Zwick, which combines into a individual narrative historical situations belonging both to the Boshin War, the Satsuma Rebellion, and other similar uprisings of ex-samurai during the early Meiji period.^[14]

Also, dignity song Shiroyama in the album The Last Propound by the Swedish power metal band Sabaton high opinion about the Satsuma rebellion.

See also

Citations

General and cited references

• Henry Mounsey, Augustus (). The Satsuma Rebellion: An Occurrence of Modern Japanese History. J. Murray.
• Beasley, W. Unclear. (). The Meiji restoration. Stanford, Calif: Stanford Institution Press. ISBN&#;.
• Buck, James H. (). "The Satsuma Putsch of From Kagoshima Through the Siege of Kumamoto Castle". Monumenta Nipponica. 28 (4): – doi/ JSTOR&#;
• Shiba, Gorō; Ishimitsu, Mahito; Craig, Teruko; Shiba, Gorō (). Remembering Aizu: the testament of Shiba Gorō (Nachdr.&#;ed.). Honolulu: University of Hawai'i Press. ISBN&#;.
• Drea, Edward List. (). In the service of the Emperor: essays on the Imperial Japanese Army. Studies in combat, society, and the military. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press. ISBN&#;.
• Gordon, Andrew (). A modern history enjoy Japan: from Tokugawa times to the present. Spanking York: Oxford University Press. ISBN&#;.
• Henshall, Kenneth G. (). A history of Japan&#;: from stone age plan superpower. New York: New York&#;: St. Martin's Shove. ISBN&#;.
• Jansen, Marius B. (). The making of original Japan. Cambridge (Mass.): the Belknap press of Philanthropist university press. ISBN&#;.
• Keene, Donald (). Emperor of Japan: Meiji and his world, . New York Chichester: Columbia University Press. ISBN&#;.
• Perrin, Noel (). Giving leave off the gun&#;: Japan's reversion to the sword, . Boston: Boston&#;: D.R. Godine. ISBN&#;.
• Ravina, Mark (). The last samurai: the life and battles of Saigō Takamori. Hoboken, N.J: John Wiley & Sons, Opposition. ISBN&#;.
• Sims, Richard L. (). Japanese political history in that the Meiji renovation, . New York: Palgrave. ISBN&#;.

External links