They saw Japan as the abode of godssince the Emperor descended from the Sun Goddessand believed that the heavens would protect them from the western military and economic might. Originally, they were a militant sect of Hindu Worshippers. 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. To aid in the air of legality, Saig wore his army uniform. Themes In Keeper N Me. Who are Satnamis? They retreated once more to Mount Shiroyama, which stands above the city of Kagoshima, where the rebellion began seven months earlier. 8 Practical Tips to Maximize Efficiency in Real Estate Investing Szczepanski, Kallie. What will you do when your traditional way of life is threatened by a powerful force in your native lands? Publish Date: Oct 08, 2018. The Meiji Era controlled most of Japan, except for a small area in the southwestern part of Japan, which was the Satsuma. In real life, Saig initially led the Imperial forces and won the four-day Battle of Toba-Fushimi in January 1868. 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. Author: Mounsey, Augustus Henry. This was witnessed by the American sea captain John Capen Hubbard. What the disaffected clans and individuals wanted was a larger share of power. HOME > Initial Steps toward a Constitutional State > b. Each side had suffered more than 4,000 killed or wounded. Saigo was getting accustomed to the second island when he was transferred to a desolate penal island further south, where he spent more than a year on that dreary rock, returning to Satsuma only in February of 1864. Saigo privately cheered on the rebels in other provinces, but stayed at his country house rather than returning to Kagoshima for fear that his presence might spark yet another rebellion. 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. Many rules and regulations changed, from the number of soldiers to the type of weapons used.laws were changed to prevent any further uprisings against the Japanese government." 2. The Satsuma rebellion is often presented as an assault by modernity on the noble samurai tradition, but this is an idealized view. After Saigo's death, Beppu and the last of the "ex-samurai" drew their swords and plunged downhill toward the Imperial positions and to their deaths. "How the Samurai Ended During the Satsuma Rebellion." Modern weapons were also used such as the Smith & Wesson Model No. 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. In addition to the army, the central government also used marines and Tokyo policemen in its struggle against Satsuma. The year 2018 has seen many events in Japan marking 150 years since the Meiji Restoration. Saigo and his army made a seven-day march south to Hitoyoshi, where they dug trenches and prepared for the imperial army to attack. 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. 0 Reviews. In its central quarters in that town, and in branches elsewhere, the youth of the clan received a military training. 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. Shogun Tokugawa Yoshinobu resigned, returning power to the Emperor in what came to be known as the Meiji Restoration. Vol. 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 major religious activity of this sect is to chant and meditate the true names (Sat-Nam) of God, specially Rama and Krishna. During 1867, Saigo and officials from Choshu and Tosa made plans to bring down the Tokugawa bakufu. After the Restoration the condition of things became less unsettled in Mito, and to some extent also in Choshiu. On July 24, the Imperial Army forced Saig out of Miyakonoj, followed by Nobeoka. This includes data values and the controlled vocabularies that house them. A primary source of its causes and events. traffic source, etc. Saigo Takamori was born on January 23, 1828, in Kagoshima, Satsuma's capital, the oldest of seven children. Next, I stated the cause of the rebellion and the reaction of the Japanese government. Just four days after his return, he had an audience with the daimyo, Hisamitsu, who shocked him by appointing him commander of the Satsuma army in Kyoto. From Kagoshima Through the Siege of Kumamoto Castle." A battalion had 640 men in peacetime and theoretically 960 men in wartime. Along with troops from Aizu, Saigo's massive army marched on Choshu, where he negotiated a peaceful settlement rather than launching an attack. 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. Upload media. 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. On September 24, 1877, at 3:45 am, the Emperor's army launched its final assault in what is known as the Battle of Shiroyama. The Death of the Last Samurai 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. Nariakira and his allies sought to increase the emperor's power at the expense of the shogun, but on July 15, 1858, Shimazu died suddenly, likely of poison. First I developed my thesis statement. "How the Samurai Ended During the Satsuma Rebellion." Kumamoto, Fukuoka, Saga and other places in Kyushu, not to speak of Satsuma, his birthplace, responded to his call. ISBN-10: 1142113523. Saig was a strong proponent of war with Korea in the Seikanron debate of 1873. Saigo Takamori likely was killed in the initial barrage, although tradition holds that he was just gravely injured and committed seppuku. [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. Updates? The Satsuma Rebellion (also known as "seinan sens" - the Southwestern War) was a turning point in Japanese history. After centuries of samurai rule, however, many members of the warrior class were understandably reluctant to give up their status and power. Economic effects of the Satsuma Rebellion resulted in the passing of the Act of February 4, 1877, which reduced the land tax from 3% to 2.5%. He famously opposed the construction of a railway network, insisting that money should rather be spent on military modernization.[4]. The following day, Hayashi declared to Oyama that he could not permit Kawamura to go ashore when the situation was so unsettled, and that the attack on Takao constituted an act of lse-majest. Instance of. Satsuma had no reserve of extra weapons and insufficient ammunition for an extended war. In all, about 12,000 Satsuma men marched north toward Tokyo, starting the Southwest War, or Satsuma Rebellion. It did not bother him, thoughhe welcomed the opportunity to die for his principles. At one point, he offered to visit Korea in person and to provoke a casus belli by behaving in such an insulting manner that the Koreans would be forced to kill him. The traditional explanation of the offensive rifle cartridges causing the initial outbreak of mutiny is only part of the story. The Siege of Kumamoto Castle lasted until April 12, 1877. In Satsuma and the rest of Japan, though, it was not clear whether reforms like these were sufficient, or if the entire social and political systems were due for a revolutionary change. The rebellion lasted from January 29, 1877, until September . 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. Sophia University was established in Tokyo in 1913 by the Society of Jesus. Imperial forces fell back, and Acting Major Nogi Maresuke of the Kokura Fourteenth Regiment lost the regimental colors in fierce fighting. Since the OP might be interested, here are the pages from the above reading on the Satsuma Rebellion and its aftermath. It threatened an all-out attack on Choshu, even though it did not have the military might to defeat that large domain. He suffered from angina and also filariasis, a parasitic infection that gave him a grotesquely enlarged scrotum. Saig was initially confident of his ability to take Kumamoto Castle, but he had underestimated the effectiveness of the imperial conscripts defending the castle. Primary Sources 1. While the year 1868 was crucial to the fall of the shogunate and the establishment of a new government . 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. 20-11-2011 19:18:05 ZULU. When an Imperial Navy landing party reached the arsenal at Somuta under cover of night, locals raised the alarm. 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. Gordon, Andrew. The Whiskey Rebellion: George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, and the Frontier Rebels who Challenged America's Newfound Sovereignty by William Hogeland. In July, the Emperor's army encircled Saigo's men, but the Satsuma army fought its way free with heavy casualties. However, a government garrison at Kumamoto Castle stood in the Satsuma rebels' path, manned by about 3,800 soldiers and 600 police under Major General Tani Tateki. This rebellion was led by the restoration hero Saig Takamori and lasted six months. By 6 a.m., only 40 rebels were still alive. Satsuma rebeliion.svg 703 965; 1.09 MB. [3], To help support and employ these men, in 1874 Saig established a private academy known as the Shi-gakk in Kagoshima. The Meiji government, with an army numbering 300,000 to 350,000 and was able to cripple the Satsuma rebellion in a matter of months. 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. 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. French newsmagazine Le Monde Illustr / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain. News article in Le Monde Illustr, 1877. date= January 29, 1877 to September 24, 1877 place= Kysh, Japan result=Imperial Victory combatant1= Empire of Japan combatant2=Satsuma domain Add to Wish List Link to this Book Add to Bookbag Sell this Book Buy it at Amazon Compare Prices. , here are the pages from the above reading on the noble tradition... Choshu and Tosa made plans to bring down the Tokugawa bakufu and its aftermath the arsenal at Somuta cover..., but this is an idealized view the southwestern part of Japan, was... Tradition holds that he was just gravely injured and committed seppuku of things became less in. 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