Saigō Takamori's statue in Ueno park

Saigō Takamori (西郷 隆盛 Saigō Takamori, 23 January 1827/28 - 24 September 1877), one of the most influential samurai in Japanese history, lived during the late Edo Period and early Meiji Era. As a low-ranking samurai, he was recruited to travel to Edo, modern day Tokyo, to assist Shimazu Nariakira, daimyo of Satsuma han. He was later put in command of over fifty thousand samurai, a large part of the Imperial Army. Download high resolution version (480x640, 116 KB)Saigo Takamori statue in Ueno park (Tokyo). ... Download high resolution version (480x640, 116 KB)Saigo Takamori statue in Ueno park (Tokyo). ... January 23 is the 23rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Naval Battle of Navarino by Carneray 1827 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... 1828 was a leap year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... September 24 is the 267th day of the year (268th in leap years). ... 1877 (MDCCCLXXVII) was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... Japanese samurai in armour, 1860s. ... The Edo period (Japanese: 江戸時代, Edo-jidai), also called Tokugawa period, is a division of Japanese history running from 1603 to 1867. ... History of Japan Paleolithic Jomon Yayoi Yamato period ---Kofun period ---Asuka period Nara period Heian period Kamakura period Muromachi period Azuchi-Momoyama period ---Nanban period Edo period Meiji period Taisho period Showa period ---Japanese expansionism ---Occupied Japan ---Post-Occupation Japan Heisei The Meiji period (Japanese: Meiji Jidai 明治&#26178... Edo (Japanese: 江戸, literally: bay-door, estuary, pronounced //), once also spelled Yedo or Yeddo, is the former name of the Japanese capital Tokyo. ... Tokyo , literally Eastern capital)   is the capital and one of the forty-seven prefectures of Japan. ... Shimazu Nariakira (島津 斉彬, April 28, 1809 – August 24, 1858) 19th century Japanese feudal lord. ... Daimyo Matsudaira Katamori visits the residence of a retainer. ... Satsuma (薩摩国; -no Kuni) was an old province of Japan that is now the western half of Kagoshima prefecture on the island of Kyushu. ... The Han ) were the fiefs of feudal clans of Japan that were created by Toyotomi Hideyoshi and existed until their abolition in 1871, three years after the Meiji Restoration. ...

Boshin War (1868-69)

As a leader of the Imperial forces in the Boshin War, Saigō was one of the key figures in the Meiji Restoration. In spite of his humble background, he became the state councilor and army general of the new state. The Boshin War (戊辰戦争 Boshin Sensō, literally War of the Year of the Dragon) was fought in 1868-1869 between the Tokugawa Shogunate and the pro-Imperial forces in Japan. ... The Meiji Restoration ), also known as the Meiji Ishin, Revolution, or Renewal, was a chain of events that led to a change in Japans political and social structure. ...

Seikanron debate (1873)

Saigō initially disagreed with the modernization of Japan and the opening of commerce with the West. He did insist, however, that Japan should go to war with Korea because of the Koreans' refusal to recognise the legitimacy of the Emperor Meiji as head of state of the Empire of Japan. But because the other leaders of the restoration strongly opposed these plans out of budgetary and cost considerations, Saigō resigned and returned to his hometown of Kagoshima. Korea (Korean: (ì¡°ì„  or 한국, see below) is a geographic area, civilization, and former state situated on the Korean Peninsula in East Asia. ... Emperor Meiji (Mutsuhito) Emperor Meiji (明治天皇, Meiji Tennō, literally Emperor of Enlightened Rule) (3 November 1852–30 July 1912), also known as Mutsuhito (睦仁), was the 122nd Emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. ... Official language Japanese Capital Tokyo Area 7. ... Kagoshima (鹿児島市; -shi) the capital city of Kagoshima Prefecture at the southwest tip of the Kyushu island of Japan. ...

Satsuma Rebellion (1877)

Shortly thereafter, he established a private academy in Kagoshima for the faithful samurai that had also resigned their posts in order to follow him from Tokyo. In 1877, led by Saigō, they revolted against the central government (the Satsuma Rebellion), which had just eliminated their rice stipends. The imperial palace had recruited new guards who had previously been rice-growing peasants. They were armed with modern weapons. The samurai, also being equipped with modern weapons, were able to seriously challenge the imperial army in battle for several months. Badly injured in the hip during the final battle, the Battle of Shiroyama, instead of being killed or captured by the enemy, Saigō asked for his head to be cut off by a comrade to preserve his honor. Legend and art show that Saigō committed seppuku, a traditional form of suicide. The Satsuma Rebellion (Seinan Sensō 西南戦争, Southwestern War) was a revolt of the Satsuma clan samurai against the Imperial Japanese Army. ... The Battle of Shiroyama took place on September 24, 1877, near Tahara-zaka hill in Kagoshima, Japan. ... A legend (Latin, legenda, things to be read) is a narrative of human actions that are perceived both by teller and listeners to take place within human history and to possess certain qualities that give the tale verisimilitude. ... Seppuku with ritual attire and second (staged) General Akashi Gidayu preparing to commit Seppuku after losing a battle for his master in 1582. ... Suicide (from Latin sui caedere, to kill oneself) is the act of willfully ending ones own life. ...

It is actually unknown what the exact style of his death was. The accounts of his subordinates claim either that he uprighted himself and committed seppuku after his injury, or that he requested a comrade assist his suicide. In debate, some scholars have suggested that neither is the case, and that Saigō may have gone into shock following his wound, losing his ability to speak. Several comrades upon seeing him in this state, would have severed his head, assisting him in the warrior's suicide they knew he would have wished. Later, they would have told that he committed seppuku in order to preserve his status as a true samurai. In any case, the head was hidden by a retainer and never found. This was unsettling to the government, as it was the head that would prove his death in battle. The lack of closure allowed for many folktales to be created, saying that Saigō was still alive and plotting revenge.

Legends about Saigo

Many legends sprung up concerning Saigō, many of which denied his death. Many people in Japan expected him to return from British Raj India or Qing Dynasty China or to sail back with Tsesarevich Alexander of Russia to overthrow injustice. It was even recorded that his image appeared in a comet near the close of the 19th century, an ill omen to his enemies. Unable to overcome the affection that the people had for this hero of tradition, the Meiji Era government recognized his bravery and pardoned him posthumously on February 22, 1889. The British Empire at its zenith in 1919. ... The Qing Dynasty (Chinese: ; Pinyin: QÄ«ng cháo; Wade-Giles: Ching chao; Manchu: daicing gurun), occasionally known as the Manchu Dynasty, is a Chinese term for the Empire of the Great Qing (Traditional Chinese: ; pinyin: dàqÄ«ngguó), founded by the Manchu clan Aisin Gioro, in what... Tsesarevich was the title of the Heir Apparent to the tsars of Russia, (see Tsar). ... Alexander III (March 10, 1845 – November 1, 1894) reigned as Emperor of Russia from March 14, 1881 until his death in 1894. ... History of Japan Paleolithic Jomon Yayoi Yamato period ---Kofun period ---Asuka period Nara period Heian period Kamakura period Muromachi period Azuchi-Momoyama period ---Nanban period Edo period Meiji period Taisho period Showa period ---Japanese expansionism ---Occupied Japan ---Post-Occupation Japan Heisei The Meiji period (Japanese: Meiji Jidai 明治&#26178... February 22 is the 53rd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1889 (MDCCCLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ...

Statue of Saigo

A famous statue of Saigō walking his dog stands in Ueno Park, Tokyo. It was unveiled on December 18, 1898. Saigō met the noted British diplomat Ernest Satow in the 1860s, as recorded in the latter's A Diplomat in Japan, and he was present at the unveiling as recorded in his diary. People enjoying cherry blossoms Ueno Park (上野公園 Ueno Kōen) is a spacious public park located in the Ueno section of Taito-ku, Tokyo, Japan. ... Tokyo , literally Eastern capital)   is the capital and one of the forty-seven prefectures of Japan. ... Sir Ernest Mason Satow, G.C.M.G., P.C. (1843-1929), a British scholar-diplomat born to an ethnically German father (Hans David Christoph Satow, born in Swedish-occupied Wismar, naturalised British in 1846) and an English mother (Margaret, nee Mason) in Clapton, North London, and educated at Mill...

Saigō's last stand against the Meiji government was the historical basis for the 2003 film The Last Samurai. 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Last Samurai is an action/drama film written by John Logan and directed by Edward Zwick that was released in the United States on December 5, 2003. ...

Reference

The Last Samurai : The Life and Battles of Saigo Takamori, Mark Ravina, Wiley, 2004 ISBN 0-471-08970-2