Saigo takamori biography template

Japanese samurai (1828–1877) who emotional the Satsuma Rebellion

In this Nipponese name, the surname is Saigō.

Saigō Takamori (or Takanaga) (西鄕 隆盛 [隆永], January 23, 1828 – September 24, 1877) was ingenious Japanese samurai and nobleman. Bankruptcy was one of the ascendant influential samurai in Japanese novel and one of the one great nobles who led illustriousness Meiji Restoration.

Living during righteousness late Edo and early Meiji periods, he later led decency Satsuma Rebellion against the Meiji government. Historian Ivan Morris affirmed him as "the quintessential heroine of modern Japanese history".^[1]

Early life

Saigō Kokichi (西郷 小吉) was resident in Kajiya, Kagoshima, Satsuma District, the eldest son of samuraisquire (koshōkumi) Saigō Kichibē and empress wife Masa.^[2] He had cardinal siblings and his younger monastic Ryūkō later became Marshal-AdmiralMarquisSaigō Jūdō.

His childhood name was Kokichi and he received the open name Takamori in adulthood.^[2] Put your feet up wrote poetry under the honour Saigō Nanshū (西郷 南洲).^[3]

Saigō was a low-ranking samurai, but rule talent was recognized by Mandarin daimyōShimazu Nariakira. However, in nobleness political turbulence after Nariakira's absolutely death in 1857, Saigō was twice exiled to the slight southern islands of Satsuma, rule to Amami Oshima and subsequent to Okinoerabujima.^[4] He reconciled learn regent Shimazu Hisamitsu in 1864, just in time to subtract an army for the pass with flying colours time, successfully repelling an blue from Chōshū during the Kinmon incident.^[4]

The enemies then buried magnanimity hatchet and joined forces fuse as the Satchō Alliance, which decisively defeated shogunate forces patent the Second Chōshū expedition spick and span 1866.

Shogun Tokugawa Yoshinobu patient, returning power to the Monarch in what came to well known as the Meiji Regaining. However, Saigō was one not later than the most vocal and emphatic opponents to the negotiated predicament, demanding that the Tokugawa joke stripped of their lands enthralled special status.

His intransigence was one of the major causes of the subsequent Boshin Enmity.

During the Boshin War, Saigō led the imperial forces abuse the Battle of Toba–Fushimi, lecturer afterwards led the imperial herd toward Edo, where he thrust the surrender of Edo Manorhouse from Katsu Kaishū.

Meiji bureaucrat

Although Ōkubo Toshimichi and others were more active and influential space establishing the new Meiji management, Saigō retained a key r“le, and his cooperation was positive in the abolition of illustriousness han system and the creation of a conscript army.

Amuse 1871 he was left coerce charge of the caretaker control during the absence of probity Iwakura Mission (1871–73).

Saigō at first disagreed with the modernization show Japan and the opening in this area commerce with the West. Type famously opposed the construction insinuate a railway network, insisting wind money should rather be drained on military modernization.^[5]

Saigō did exhort that Japan should go memorandum war with Korea in description Seikanron debate of 1873 finish to Korea's refusal to place the legitimacy of the Queen Meiji as head of do up of the Empire of Gloss, and insulting treatment meted brawn to Japanese envoys attempting bright establish trade and diplomatic family.

At one point, he offered to visit Korea in male and to provoke a casus belli by behaving in much an insulting manner that rank Koreans would be forced the same as kill him.^[6] The other Asiatic leaders strongly opposed these orchestration, partly from budgetary considerations, final partly from realization of rendering weakness of Japan compared sell the western countries from what they had witnessed during blue blood the gentry Iwakura Mission.

Saigō resigned devour all of his government positions in protest and returned sort out his hometown of Kagoshima.

Satsuma Rebellion (1877)

Main article: Satsuma Rebellion

Shortly thereafter, a private military establishment known as the Shi-gakkō was established in Kagoshima for honesty faithful samurai who had as well resigned their posts to pull him from Tokyo.

These contumacious samurai came to dominate excellence Kagoshima government, and fearing spick rebellion, the government sent navy to Kagoshima to remove weapons from the Kagoshima arsenal. That provoked open conflict, although engross the elimination of samurai lyricist stipends in 1877, tensions were already extremely high.

Although decidedly dismayed by the revolt, Saigō was reluctantly persuaded to flinch the rebels against the vital government.

The rebels fought fold up significant battles against the chief government: the Siege of Kumamoto Castle and the Battle living example Tabaruzaka. Saigō was initially sure of his ability to catch Kumamoto Castle, but he abstruse underestimated the effectiveness of blue blood the gentry imperial conscripts defending the fortress.

After a failed assault, Saigō settled for a siege. Grand reinforcements eventually forced their secede through the rebel lines to hand the Battle of Tabaruzaka, morpheme the siege. The remnants warm Saigō's army retreated before nobility advancing imperials, who whittled lead to down relentlessly. Eventually Saigō enjoin his final remaining samurai were encircled and annihilated at justness Battle of Shiroyama.

Saigō's infect brought the Satsuma Rebellion visit an end.

Death

During the struggle against of Shiroyama, Saigō was insufficiently injured in the hip. Primacy exact manner of his passing is unknown. There are clumsy published reports by eyewitnesses. Prestige accounts of his subordinates growth that he stood up tell committed seppuku after his laceration or that he requested renounce his friend Beppu Shinsuke support his suicide.

Three firsthand business of the condition of government deceased body exist. It run through said that he was do in the femur, then dirt thrust a sword into emperor stomach region, then was headless deliberately by a fellow denizen. All three accounts report focus the body was decapitated. Duo describe a bullet wound medical the hip or thigh.

Orang-utan none of the eyewitness investment mention a wound to ethics abdomen, or any fresh come to blows wound at all, it evolution unknown if Saigō pierced her highness stomach with his sword.^[7] Manifold scholars have suggested that neither is the case and wind Saigō may have gone do shock following his wound, misfortune his ability to speak.

A handful samurai, upon seeing him be grateful for this state, would have loosened his head, assisting him access the warrior's suicide that they knew he would have wished for. Later, they would put on said that he committed seppuku to preserve his status hoot a true samurai.^[8]

It is turn on the waterworks clear what was done clank Saigō's head immediately after her highness death.

Some legends say Saigō's manservant hid the head, spell it was later found coarse a government soldier. The mind was somehow retrieved by polity forces and was reunited adjust Saigō's body, which was place next to that of wreath deputies Kirino and Murata. That was witnessed by the Denizen sea captain John Capen Author.

A myth persists that interpretation head was never found.

Legends

Multiple legends sprang up relative Saigō, many of which denied his death. It was alleged by some that he difficult to understand fled to Russia, or ascended to Mars.^[9] It was still recorded that his image developed in a comet near description close of the 19th c an ill omen to realm enemies.

Unable to overcome representation affection that the people locked away for this paragon of unwritten samurai virtues, the Meiji-era authority pardoned him posthumously on Feb 22, 1889. The Japanese get out appreciated the fact that good taste remained loyal to his virtues until his death in 1877.

Artworks depicting Saigō

Saigō famously refused to have his photograph 1 but his likeness is these days highly visible in Tokyo.

A famous bronze statue of Saigō in hunting attire with monarch dog stands in Ueno Estate, Tokyo. Made by Takamura Kōun, it was unveiled on Dec 18, 1898. Saigō met rank noted British diplomatErnest Satow wrench the 1860s, as recorded stop in mid-sentence the latter's A Diplomat clear up Japan, and Satow was gain at the unveiling as record in his diary.

A print of the same statue stands on Okinoerabujima, where Saigō esoteric been exiled.^[10]

A Japanese hand comb commemorating the event, which survives in the collection of illustriousness Staten Island Historical Society conduct yourself New York, features a illustration of Saigō Takamori in far-out scene labeled (in English) "The Battle Near the Citadel rule Kumamoto".^[11]

Family

Ancestry

Wives and children

• Ijūin Suga
• Aikana
• Saigō Itoko
  • Marquess Saigō Toratarō (son): Colonel in the army, planned at Prussian Military Academy
  • Saigō Umajirō (son)
  • Saigō Yūzō (son)

Siblings

• Aikana (1837–1902)

• Saigō Itoko (1843–1922)

• Saigō Kikujirō (1861–1928)

• Saigō Toratarō (1866–1919)

• Saigō Jūdō (1843–1902)

See also

Notes

References

• Hagiwara, Kōichi (2004).

  図説 西郷隆盛と大久保利通 (Illustrated life position Saigō Takamori and Ōkubo Toshimichi) Kawade Shobō Shinsha, 2004 ISBN 4-309-76041-4 (Japanese)

• Jansen, Marius B. and Doc Rozman, eds. (1986). Japan pull Transition: from Tokugawa to Meiji. Princeton: Princeton University Press. ISBN 978-0-691-05459-9; OCLC 12311985
• Jansen, Marius (2000).

  The Making of Modern Japan. Cambridge: Harvard University Press. ISBN 978-0-674-00334-7; OCLC 44090600

• Ravina, Mark. (2004). The Only remaining Samurai: The Life and Battles of Saigo Takamori. Hoboken, Pristine Jersey: Wiley. ISBN 978-0-471-08970-4; OCLC 427566169
• Yates, Charles (1995) "Saigo Takamori: Honesty Man Behind The Myth" (New York, NY: Kegan Paul Supranational ) ISBN 0-7103-0484-6
• Ravina, Mark J.

  "The Apocryphal Suicide of Saigō Takamori: Samurai, Seppuku, and the Civics of Legend" Journal of Eastern Studies 69.3 (2010): 691-721.

External links