Satsuma Rebellion

Quick Facts: Who was Satsuma Rebellion?

Subject:

Satsuma Rebellion

Known for:

The final samurai revolt against the modernizing Meiji government in 1877.

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2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

The Satsuma Rebellion, known more widely in Japanese as the Seinan War (Japanese: 西南戦争, Hepburn: Seinan Sensō; lit. 'Southwestern War'), was a revolt of disaffected samurai against the new imperial government of the Empire of Japan, nine years into the Meiji era. 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. The rebellion lasted from 29 January until 24 September 1877, when it was decisively crushed, and its leader, Saigō Takamori, was shot and mortally wounded. Saigō's rebellion was the last and most serious of a series of armed uprisings against the new government of the Empire of Japan, the predecessor state to modern Japan.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

The rebellion was very expensive for the government, which forced it to make numerous monetary reforms including leaving the gold standard. The conflict effectively ended the samurai class and ushered in modern warfare fought by conscript soldiers instead of military nobles. It is the most recent civil war to have been fought in Japan. Although Satsuma had been one of the key players in the Meiji Restoration and the Boshin War, and although many men from Satsuma had risen to influential positions in the new Meiji government, there was growing dissatisfaction with the direction the country was taking. The modernization of the country meant the abolition of the privileged social status of the samurai class - contrasting with the original reformist vision of creating a parliament of Daimyo, and had undermined their financial position.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The very rapid and massive changes to Japanese culture, language, dress and society appeared to many samurai to be a betrayal of the jōi ('expel the barbarian') portion of the sonnō jōi justification used to overthrow the former Tokugawa shogunate. Saigō Takamori was a well known and powerful Samurai lord of his time and one of the senior leaders of the Satsuma clan. He fiercely supported the imperial faction throughout Bakumatsu and was one of the prominent restoration figures during the Boshin war. He was especially concerned about growing political corruption – popular prints depicted the rebel army with banners bearing the words shinsei-kōtoku (新政厚徳; lit. 'new government, rich virtue').

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1877: 1877 Milestone — The rebellion lasted from 29 January until 24 September 1877, when it was decisively crushed, and its leader, Saigō Takamori, was shot and mortally wounded.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Satsuma Rebellion

True or False: “The Satsuma Rebellion was the first major armed uprising against the new Meiji government.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): It was actually the last and most serious of a series of such uprisings.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Satsuma Rebellion