Changes

[[Image:Saigo.JPG|right|thumb|Statue of Saigô Takamori by sculptor [[Takamura Koun|Takamura Kôun]] in [[Ueno Park]]. Unveiled [[1898]]/12/18.<ref>Conrad Schirokauer, David Lurie, and Suzanne Gay, A Brief History of Japanese Civilization, Wadsworth Cengage (2013), 176.</ref>]]

[[Image:Saigo.JPG|right|thumb|Statue of Saigô Takamori by sculptor [[Takamura Koun|Takamura Kôun]] in [[Ueno Park]]. Unveiled [[1898]]/12/18.<ref>Conrad Schirokauer, David Lurie, and Suzanne Gay, A Brief History of Japanese Civilization, Wadsworth Cengage (2013), 176.</ref>]]

* ''Born: [[1828]]''

* ''Born: [[1828]]''

* ''Died: [[1877]]''

* ''Died: [[1877]]/9/24''

*''Other Names'': 古吉 ''(Kokichi)'', 吉之助 ''(Kichinosuke)'', 南洲 ''(Nanshuu)'', 南洲翁 ''(Nanshuu Ou)''

*''Other Names'': 古吉 ''(Kokichi)'', 吉之助 ''(Kichinosuke)'', 南洲 ''(Nanshuu)'', 南洲翁 ''(Nanshuu Ou)''

* ''Japanese'': [[西郷]] 隆盛 ''(Saigou Takamori)''

* ''Japanese'': [[西郷]] 隆盛 ''(Saigou Takamori)''

==Early Life==

==Early Life==

Saigô was born in [[1828]] in the Shita-Kajiya-machi neighborhood of [[Kagoshima]]. His childhood name was Kokichi. He was also known as Kichinosuke, and later took on the [[art-name|pseudonym]] (''gô'') Nanshû. As a youth, he served as ''nise gashira'' (youth leader), and submitted opinions on agricultural administration which attracted the attention of Lord [[Shimazu Nariakira]], who then made Saigô one of his advisors.

Saigô was born in [[1828]] in the Shita-Kajiya-machi neighborhood of [[Kagoshima]]. His childhood name was Kokichi. He was also known as Kichinosuke, and later took on the [[art-name|pseudonym]] (''gô'') Nanshû. As a youth, he served as ''nise gashira'' (youth leader), and submitted opinions on agricultural administration which attracted the attention of Lord [[Shimazu Nariakira]], who then made Saigô one of his advisors in [[1854]].

When Nariakira died suddenly, Saigô joined the monk [[Gessho|Gesshô]] in a desperate act of loyalty, as both attempted to drown themselves in Kinko Bay in order to [[junshi|join their lord in death]]. Saigô survived, however, and was then exiled to [[Amami Oshima|Amami Ôshima]].

When Nariakira died suddenly in [[1858]], Saigô joined the monk [[Gessho|Gesshô]] in a desperate act of loyalty, as both attempted to drown themselves in Kinko Bay in order to [[junshi|join their lord in death]]. Saigô survived, however, and was then exiled to [[Amami Oshima|Amami Ôshima]]. In [[1862]]/2, he was called to the capital, but was exiled again, to [[Tokunoshima]] in the sixth month, and then to [[Okinoerabu Island]] in the 8th month.<ref name=death>Plaque at site of Saigô's death, Shiroyama, Kagoshima.[https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/19641624728/sizes/k/]</ref>

==Bakumatsu==

==Bakumatsu==

After returning from his exile, Saigô joined [[Okubo Toshimichi|Ôkubo Toshimichi]] and others in agitating for the toppling of the [[Tokugawa shogunate]]. He met with [[Katsura Kogoro|Katsura Kogorô]] in [[1866]] to negotiate and establish the [[Sat-Cho Alliance|Sat-Chô Alliance]] between Satsuma and [[Choshu han|Chôshû domains]].

After returning from his exile in [[1864]], Saigô took up an official military position in the Satsuma domain government, and also joined [[Okubo Toshimichi|Ôkubo Toshimichi]] and others in agitating for the toppling of the [[Tokugawa shogunate]]. The following year he became head of the guard (''Ôban-no-kami''). Saigô then met with [[Katsura Kogoro|Katsura Kogorô]] in [[1866]] to negotiate and establish the [[Sat-Cho Alliance|Sat-Chô Alliance]] between Satsuma and [[Choshu han|Chôshû domains]].

Saigô then went on to be one of the chief leaders of both the political/ideological and military campaigns against the shogunate, and was directly involved in negotiating the peaceful surrender of [[Edo castle]] in [[1868]].

Saigô then went on to be one of the chief leaders of both the political/ideological and military campaigns against the shogunate, and was directly involved in negotiating the peaceful surrender of [[Edo castle]] in [[1868]]/4.

==Meiji Period==

==Meiji Period==

Following the [[Meiji Restoration]], Saigô became one of the inner circle of leaders of [[Meiji government|the new government]]. He played a key role in suggesting, formulating, and enacting numerous major policies, including the [[abolition of the han]] in [[1871]].

Following the [[Meiji Restoration]], Saigô served briefly as ''[[Daisanji]]''<!--大参事--> in Kagoshima,<ref name=death/> before relocating to [[Tokyo]] in [[1871]] to become one of the inner circle of leaders of [[Meiji government|the new government]]. He played a key role in suggesting, formulating, and enacting numerous major policies, including the [[abolition of the han]].

When [[Iwakura Tomomi]], Ôkubo Toshimichi, Katsura Kogorô, and a number of other top government ministers left Japan on [[Iwakura mission|a major mission to Europe and the US]] in 1871, Saigô stayed behind and took over much of the top-level governmental administration.

When [[Iwakura Tomomi]], Ôkubo Toshimichi, Katsura Kogorô, and a number of other top government ministers left Japan on [[Iwakura mission|a major mission to Europe and the US]] in 1871, Saigô stayed behind and took over much of the top-level governmental administration. The following year, he was named Army General (''rikugun gensui'') and governor-general of the imperial guard (''Konoe totoku'').<ref name=death/>

When Iwakura and the others returned in [[1873]], however, a factional dispute emerged which split the government. Saigô supported [[Seikanron|proposals to invade Korea]] at this time, believing that only with China and Korea on her side could Japan hope to successfully resist the West; he expressed in a letter to [[Itagaki Taisuke]] in that year that he was willing to go so far as to travel to Korea as an ambassador and arrange for himself to be killed in order to manufacture a justification for invasion.<ref>Schirokauer, et al., 171.; Wm. Theodore de Bary, Tsunoda Ryûsaku, and Donald Keene, ''Sources of Japanese Tradition'', vol 1., Columbia University Press (1964), 147-149.</ref> The invasion was ardently opposed by his younger brother [[Saigo Tsugumichi|Saigô Tsugumichi]], among many others, and the dispute ended in Saigô voluntarily leaving the government and returning to Kagoshima. There, he established a private academy called the [[Shigakko|Shigakkô]], and began training a new generation of Satsuma political and military leaders.

When Iwakura and the others returned in [[1873]], however, a factional dispute emerged which split the government. Saigô supported [[Seikanron|proposals to invade Korea]] at this time, believing that only with China and Korea on her side could Japan hope to successfully resist the West; he expressed in a letter to [[Itagaki Taisuke]] in that year that he was willing to go so far as to travel to Korea as an ambassador and arrange for himself to be killed in order to manufacture a justification for invasion.<ref>Schirokauer, et al., 171.; Wm. Theodore de Bary, Tsunoda Ryûsaku, and Donald Keene, ''Sources of Japanese Tradition'', vol 1., Columbia University Press (1964), 147-149.</ref> The invasion was ardently opposed by his younger brother [[Saigo Tsugumichi|Saigô Tsugumichi]], among many others, and the dispute ended in Saigô voluntarily leaving the government and returning to Kagoshima in November 1873. There, he established a private academy called the [[Shigakko|Shigakkô]], and began training a new generation of Satsuma political and military leaders.

In [[1877]], he led these men and others in the [[Satsuma Rebellion]], the largest ''[[shizoku]]'' (former samurai) uprising against the Meiji government. The rebellion was ultimately unsuccessful, and Saigô died making a last stand at [[battle of Shiroyama|Shiroyama]] in Kagoshima, fighting against the very Restoration government he had fought to establish a decade earlier.

In [[1877]], he led these men and others in the [[Satsuma Rebellion]], the largest ''[[shizoku]]'' (former samurai) uprising against the Meiji government. The rebellion was ultimately unsuccessful, and Saigô died on 9/24 making a last stand at [[battle of Shiroyama|Shiroyama]] in Kagoshima, fighting against the very Restoration government he had fought to establish a decade earlier. After Saigô took two bullets, and was cornered by enemy forces, he Saigô performed ''[[seppuku]]'', with [[Beppu Shinsuke]] as his second.<ref name=death/>

==Legacy==

==Legacy==