Difference between revisions of "Katsu Kaishu"
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| − | * ''Born: [[1823]]'' | + | * ''Born: [[1823]]/1'' |
| − | * ''Died: [[1899]] | + | * ''Died: [[1899]]' |
* ''Titles: Awa no kami, [[gunkan bugyo|gunkan bugyô]]'' | * ''Titles: Awa no kami, [[gunkan bugyo|gunkan bugyô]]'' | ||
* ''Other Names'': 勝麟太郎 ''(Katsu Rintarou)'', 勝義邦 ''(Katsu Yoshikuni)'' | * ''Other Names'': 勝麟太郎 ''(Katsu Rintarou)'', 勝義邦 ''(Katsu Yoshikuni)'' | ||
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Katsu Kaishû is considered the "father" of the modern [[Imperial Japanese Navy]]. | Katsu Kaishû is considered the "father" of the modern [[Imperial Japanese Navy]]. | ||
| − | Kaishû was born in [[Edo]] in [[1823]], the son of low-ranking ''[[hatamoto]]'' [[Katsu Kokichi]], and in his youth attended classes in [[rangaku|Western studies]] and then studied naval science from the Dutch naval detachment in [[Nagasaki]] | + | Kaishû was born in [[Edo]] in [[1823]]/1, the eldest son of low-ranking ''[[hatamoto]]'' [[Katsu Kokichi]], and in his youth attended classes in [[rangaku|Western studies]] and then studied naval science from the Dutch naval detachment in [[Nagasaki]]. |
| − | Following the [[battle of Toba-Fushimi]], in which Katsu fought for the [[Tokugawa shogunate]], he met with [[Saigo Takamori|Saigô Takamori]] (a leader of the opposing armies) at Saigô's encampment at [[Ikegami Honmonji]]. It is said that it was as a result of this meeting that the peaceful surrender of [[Edo castle]] was arranged. This spared Edo a certain degree of destruction, which might have resulted had the shogunate chosen to hold out further. | + | He succeeded his father to become head of the Katsu house on [[1838]]/7/27. In [[1841]], he then received a license in Jikishinkage-ryû swordfighting from swordmaster [[Odani Seiichiro|Odani Seiichirô]]. He continued his studies in ''rangaku'' in the 1840s-50s.<ref name=edotokyo>Gallery labels, Edo-Tokyo Museum.[https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/33340368258/sizes/k/]</ref> |
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| + | In [[1852]], Kaishû's younger sister [[Katsu Junko]] married ''Rangaku'' scholar [[Sakuma Shozan|Sakuma Shôzan]].<ref name=edotokyo/> | ||
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| + | As of [[1853]], Kaishû was serving the [[Tokugawa shogunate]] as a public works (''kobushin'') official,<ref>Ishin Shiryô Kôyô 維新史料綱要, vol 1 (1937), 456.</ref> and was assigned in [[1855]] to aid officials overseeing the management of affairs in [[Shimoda]];<ref>Ishin Shiryô Kôyô 維新史料綱要, vol 2 (1937), 6.</ref> later that same year he was assigned to oversee various matters in [[Nagasaki]] and also to undertake training in steamship operation.<ref>Ishin Shiryô Kôyô 維新史料綱要, vol 2 (1937), 95.</ref> Kaishû then rose in rank to become commissioner of the Tokugawa navy in [[1860]] and captained [[Kanrin Maru|Japan's first cross-Pacific journey]] to [[San Francisco]]. In [[1864]], he was then named ''[[Gunkan bugyo|Gunkan bugyô]]'' (Warship Magistrate) and was granted the title ''Awa no kami''. He was stripped of his position as Magistrate later that same year and sentenced to house confinement, but was restored to the position in [[1866]]. | ||
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| + | Kaishû believed that Japan’s future was best served to open itself to the world and this put his life in jeopardy at the hands of Japan’s [[sonno|pro-Imperial]], [[joi|anti-foreign]] radicals. Originally intent on cutting down Kaishû, [[Sakamoto Ryoma|Sakamoto Ryôma]] became hooked on Kaishû's vision for Japan and became his leading disciple. Kaishû protected the outlaw Ryôma and other ronin in a naval academy that Kaishû established in [[Kobe]] in [[1863]], installing Ryôma as its head. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Following the [[1868]] [[battle of Toba-Fushimi]], in which Katsu fought for the [[Tokugawa shogunate]], he met with [[Saigo Takamori|Saigô Takamori]] (a leader of the opposing armies) at Saigô's encampment at [[Ikegami Honmonji]]. It is said that it was as a result of this meeting that the peaceful surrender of [[Edo castle]] was arranged. This spared Edo a certain degree of destruction, which might have resulted had the shogunate chosen to hold out further. | ||
In the [[Meiji period]], Kaishû was granted the title of ''Hakushaku'' in the new Meiji [[kazoku|peerage]], and went on to serve as head of the [[Privy Council]] for a time, and also as naval commissioner until his retirement from public life. In [[1891]], via a connection through [[Tsuda Sen]] (father of [[Tsuda Umeko]]), Kaishû purchased a plot of land at Senzoku-ike (Senzoku Pond), and built his retirement home there. Following his death in [[1899]], he was buried with his wife near the site of their home, on the shores of Senzoku Pond, in what is today ''Senzoku-ike kôen'' (Senzoku Pond Public Park) in [[Tokyo]]. | In the [[Meiji period]], Kaishû was granted the title of ''Hakushaku'' in the new Meiji [[kazoku|peerage]], and went on to serve as head of the [[Privy Council]] for a time, and also as naval commissioner until his retirement from public life. In [[1891]], via a connection through [[Tsuda Sen]] (father of [[Tsuda Umeko]]), Kaishû purchased a plot of land at Senzoku-ike (Senzoku Pond), and built his retirement home there. Following his death in [[1899]], he was buried with his wife near the site of their home, on the shores of Senzoku Pond, in what is today ''Senzoku-ike kôen'' (Senzoku Pond Public Park) in [[Tokyo]]. | ||
==Katsu Kaishu in Fiction== | ==Katsu Kaishu in Fiction== | ||
| + | [[File:Katsu-kaishu-grave.jpg|right|thumb|400px|Grave of Katsu Kaishû and his wife at Senzoku-ike Park in Tokyo]] | ||
===Television=== | ===Television=== | ||
Latest revision as of 08:17, 14 January 2022
- Born: 1823/1
- Died: 1899'
- Titles: Awa no kami, gunkan bugyô
- Other Names: 勝麟太郎 (Katsu Rintarou), 勝義邦 (Katsu Yoshikuni)
- Japanese: 勝 海舟 (Katsu Kaishuu)
Katsu Kaishû is considered the "father" of the modern Imperial Japanese Navy.
Kaishû was born in Edo in 1823/1, the eldest son of low-ranking hatamoto Katsu Kokichi, and in his youth attended classes in Western studies and then studied naval science from the Dutch naval detachment in Nagasaki.
He succeeded his father to become head of the Katsu house on 1838/7/27. In 1841, he then received a license in Jikishinkage-ryû swordfighting from swordmaster Odani Seiichirô. He continued his studies in rangaku in the 1840s-50s.[1]
In 1852, Kaishû's younger sister Katsu Junko married Rangaku scholar Sakuma Shôzan.[1]
As of 1853, Kaishû was serving the Tokugawa shogunate as a public works (kobushin) official,[2] and was assigned in 1855 to aid officials overseeing the management of affairs in Shimoda;[3] later that same year he was assigned to oversee various matters in Nagasaki and also to undertake training in steamship operation.[4] Kaishû then rose in rank to become commissioner of the Tokugawa navy in 1860 and captained Japan's first cross-Pacific journey to San Francisco. In 1864, he was then named Gunkan bugyô (Warship Magistrate) and was granted the title Awa no kami. He was stripped of his position as Magistrate later that same year and sentenced to house confinement, but was restored to the position in 1866.
Kaishû believed that Japan’s future was best served to open itself to the world and this put his life in jeopardy at the hands of Japan’s pro-Imperial, anti-foreign radicals. Originally intent on cutting down Kaishû, Sakamoto Ryôma became hooked on Kaishû's vision for Japan and became his leading disciple. Kaishû protected the outlaw Ryôma and other ronin in a naval academy that Kaishû established in Kobe in 1863, installing Ryôma as its head.
Following the 1868 battle of Toba-Fushimi, in which Katsu fought for the Tokugawa shogunate, he met with Saigô Takamori (a leader of the opposing armies) at Saigô's encampment at Ikegami Honmonji. It is said that it was as a result of this meeting that the peaceful surrender of Edo castle was arranged. This spared Edo a certain degree of destruction, which might have resulted had the shogunate chosen to hold out further.
In the Meiji period, Kaishû was granted the title of Hakushaku in the new Meiji peerage, and went on to serve as head of the Privy Council for a time, and also as naval commissioner until his retirement from public life. In 1891, via a connection through Tsuda Sen (father of Tsuda Umeko), Kaishû purchased a plot of land at Senzoku-ike (Senzoku Pond), and built his retirement home there. Following his death in 1899, he was buried with his wife near the site of their home, on the shores of Senzoku Pond, in what is today Senzoku-ike kôen (Senzoku Pond Public Park) in Tokyo.
Katsu Kaishu in Fiction
Television
- Katsu Kaishu (勝海舟) 12th NHK Taiga Drama 1974
Books
- Oyakodaka (父子鷹) Shimozawa Kan
- Katsu Kaishu (勝海舟) Shimozawa Kan
- Katsu Kaishu (勝海舟) Katsube Masanaga
- Shin Bakumatsu Fuun Roku Kanketsuhen (新幕末風雲録完結編) Mine Ryuichiro
- Katsu Kaishu (勝海舟) Murakami Genzo
Research Books
- Katsu Kaishu and Meiji Restoration (勝海舟と明治維新) Itakura Kiyonori
- Katsu Kaishu & Sakamoto Ryoma (勝海舟と坂本龍馬) Kaku Kozo
- Katsu Kaishu no Jinseikun (勝海舟の人生訓) Domon Fuyuji
- Katsu Kaishu no Subete (勝海舟のすべて) Shin Jinbutsu Oraisha
References
- Hillsborough, Romulus. RYOMA- Life of a Renaissance Samurai. Ridgeback Press, 1999
- Jansen, Marius B. Sakamoto Ryoma and the Meiji Restoration. Columbia University Press, 1994.
- Rekishi Dokuhon 2007/1 issue
- Plaques on-site at Senzoku-ike Park.[2]
