Shimpuren Rebellion
Encyclopedia
The 1876 was one of a number of ex-samurai
uprisings which took place in the early Meiji period
against the new Meiji government of Japan
. The rebellion began in Kumamoto on 24 October 1876.
, many members of the former samurai
class were disgruntled with the direction the nation had taken. The abolition of their former privileged social status under the feudal order had also eliminated their income, and the establishment of universal military conscription had replaced much of their former role in the society. The very rapid modernization (Westernization) of the country was resulting in massive changes to Japanese culture, dress and society, and appeared to many samurai to be a betrayal of the joi ("Expel the Barbarian") portion of the Sonnō jōi
justification used to overthrow the former Tokugawa shogunate
. The Shinpūren was an extremist and xenophobic political society of ex-samurai from Kumamoto Prefecture
led by Otaguro Tomoo (1835-1876). The members were not satisfied with halting the westernization process — they wanted to turn the clock back and eradicate every trace of it, including the wearing of western clothes, use of the Western calendar
, and even the use of Western weapons. Members carried salt with them at all times for use in ritual purification of polluting foreign influences, such as electricity, railroads, and even Buddhist priests. They were incensed by government decrees permitting foreigners to purchase land in Japan, to allow missionaries
to spread the Christian religion, and to forbid the carrying of swords. A rumor that Emperor Meiji
was planning a trip overseas was the final straw.
Otaguro was also a Shinto priest
, and after several attempts at divination, was given what he considered to be divine authorization to lead an uprising. As the Meiji government had called upon the Imperial Japanese Army
garrison at Kumamoto to suppress the Saga Rebellion
, Kumamoto itself was only lightly defended. On October 24, after sending messages to like-minded groups in other domains, Otaguro led his 200 men in revolt. He divided his force into squads. One squad launched a surprise night attack on the barracks of the Kumamoto garrison, giving no quarter and showing no mercy even to the wounded or unarmed, spurred on by their hatred of the conscript army, many of whose members were from peasant backgrounds. Some 300 men of the garrison were slaughtered or wounded. A second squad smashed the telegraph office, although this in effect cut the rebels off from their would-be allies. A third squad attacked the offices and residences of Prefectural officials, killing the governor, commander of the Kumamoto garrison and his Chief of Staff.
However, once the remaining garrison officers overcame their surprise at the attack, superior numbers, and especially superior firepower of the defender's modern weapons turned the tide. The rebels were decimated, and the badly wounded Otaguro asked for one of his followers to cut off his head. After his death, many of his followers followed by committing seppuku
. The battle was over by the following morning, but a state of emergency
remained in effect in Kumamoto until November 3.
The graves of some 123 members of the Shinpūren are located in the grounds of Sakurayama Shrine in Kumamoto. Many of those who fell were in their teens or early twenties, indicating that their devotion to the samurai traditions was based more on a romanticism of an imaginary past ideal, rather than actual experience.
and the Hagi Rebellion
. Although this rebellion failed completely, the fact that a small, but determined band of men could create such a state of panic and could defeat such a large force proved to be an inspiration to political secret societies until the end of the Empire of Japan
in 1945.
Yukio Mishima
's Runaway Horses
, the second book of the Sea of Fertility
series, covers the Shinpūren Rebellion in detail.
Samurai
is the term for the military nobility of pre-industrial Japan. According to translator William Scott Wilson: "In Chinese, the character 侍 was originally a verb meaning to wait upon or accompany a person in the upper ranks of society, and this is also true of the original term in Japanese, saburau...
uprisings which took place in the early Meiji period
Meiji period
The , also known as the Meiji era, is a Japanese era which extended from September 1868 through July 1912. This period represents the first half of the Empire of Japan.- Meiji Restoration and the emperor :...
against the new Meiji government of Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. The rebellion began in Kumamoto on 24 October 1876.
Background
Following the 1868 Meiji RestorationMeiji Restoration
The , also known as the Meiji Ishin, Revolution, Reform or Renewal, was a chain of events that restored imperial rule to Japan in 1868...
, many members of the former samurai
Samurai
is the term for the military nobility of pre-industrial Japan. According to translator William Scott Wilson: "In Chinese, the character 侍 was originally a verb meaning to wait upon or accompany a person in the upper ranks of society, and this is also true of the original term in Japanese, saburau...
class were disgruntled with the direction the nation had taken. The abolition of their former privileged social status under the feudal order had also eliminated their income, and the establishment of universal military conscription had replaced much of their former role in the society. The very rapid modernization (Westernization) of the country was resulting in massive changes to Japanese culture, dress and society, and appeared to many samurai to be a betrayal of the joi ("Expel the Barbarian") portion of the Sonnō jōi
Sonno joi
is a Japanese political philosophy and a social movement derived from Neo-Confucianism; it became a political slogan in the 1850s and 1860s in the movement to overthrow the Tokugawa bakufu, during the Bakumatsu period.-Origin:...
justification used to overthrow the former Tokugawa shogunate
Tokugawa shogunate
The Tokugawa shogunate, also known as the and the , was a feudal regime of Japan established by Tokugawa Ieyasu and ruled by the shoguns of the Tokugawa family. This period is known as the Edo period and gets its name from the capital city, Edo, which is now called Tokyo, after the name was...
. The Shinpūren was an extremist and xenophobic political society of ex-samurai from Kumamoto Prefecture
Kumamoto Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located on Kyushu Island. The capital is the city of Kumamoto.- History :Historically the area was called Higo Province; and the province was renamed Kumamoto during the Meiji Restoration. The creation of prefectures was part of the abolition of the feudal system...
led by Otaguro Tomoo (1835-1876). The members were not satisfied with halting the westernization process — they wanted to turn the clock back and eradicate every trace of it, including the wearing of western clothes, use of the Western calendar
Gregorian calendar
The Gregorian calendar, also known as the Western calendar, or Christian calendar, is the internationally accepted civil calendar. It was introduced by Pope Gregory XIII, after whom the calendar was named, by a decree signed on 24 February 1582, a papal bull known by its opening words Inter...
, and even the use of Western weapons. Members carried salt with them at all times for use in ritual purification of polluting foreign influences, such as electricity, railroads, and even Buddhist priests. They were incensed by government decrees permitting foreigners to purchase land in Japan, to allow missionaries
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
to spread the Christian religion, and to forbid the carrying of swords. A rumor that Emperor Meiji
Emperor Meiji
The or was the 122nd emperor of Japan according to the traditional order of succession, reigning from 3 February 1867 until his death...
was planning a trip overseas was the final straw.
The revolt
Kannushi
A , also called , is the person responsible for the maintenance of a Shinto shrine as well as for leading worship of a given kami. The characters for kannushi are sometimes also read jinshu with the same meaning....
, and after several attempts at divination, was given what he considered to be divine authorization to lead an uprising. As the Meiji government had called upon the Imperial Japanese Army
Imperial Japanese Army
-Foundation:During the Meiji Restoration, the military forces loyal to the Emperor were samurai drawn primarily from the loyalist feudal domains of Satsuma and Chōshū...
garrison at Kumamoto to suppress the Saga Rebellion
Saga Rebellion
The was an 1874 uprisings in Kyūshū against the new Meiji government of Japan. It was led by Etō Shimpei and Shima Yoshitake in their native domain of Hizen.-Background:...
, Kumamoto itself was only lightly defended. On October 24, after sending messages to like-minded groups in other domains, Otaguro led his 200 men in revolt. He divided his force into squads. One squad launched a surprise night attack on the barracks of the Kumamoto garrison, giving no quarter and showing no mercy even to the wounded or unarmed, spurred on by their hatred of the conscript army, many of whose members were from peasant backgrounds. Some 300 men of the garrison were slaughtered or wounded. A second squad smashed the telegraph office, although this in effect cut the rebels off from their would-be allies. A third squad attacked the offices and residences of Prefectural officials, killing the governor, commander of the Kumamoto garrison and his Chief of Staff.
Seppuku
is a form of Japanese ritual suicide by disembowelment. Seppuku was originally reserved only for samurai. Part of the samurai bushido honor code, seppuku was either used voluntarily by samurai to die with honor rather than fall into the hands of their enemies , or as a form of capital punishment...
. The battle was over by the following morning, but a state of emergency
State of emergency
A state of emergency is a governmental declaration that may suspend some normal functions of the executive, legislative and judicial powers, alert citizens to change their normal behaviours, or order government agencies to implement emergency preparedness plans. It can also be used as a rationale...
remained in effect in Kumamoto until November 3.
The graves of some 123 members of the Shinpūren are located in the grounds of Sakurayama Shrine in Kumamoto. Many of those who fell were in their teens or early twenties, indicating that their devotion to the samurai traditions was based more on a romanticism of an imaginary past ideal, rather than actual experience.
Consequences
At the time, the Shinpūren Rebellion had a ripple effect, spawning the Akizuki RebellionAkizuki Rebellion
-See also:*Hagi Rebellion*Saga Rebellion*Shinpūren Rebellion*Satsuma Rebellion...
and the Hagi Rebellion
Hagi Rebellion
The 1876 was one of a number of ex-samurai uprisings which took place in the early Meiji period against the new Meiji government of Japan-Background:...
. Although this rebellion failed completely, the fact that a small, but determined band of men could create such a state of panic and could defeat such a large force proved to be an inspiration to political secret societies until the end of the Empire of Japan
Empire of Japan
The Empire of Japan is the name of the state of Japan that existed from the Meiji Restoration on 3 January 1868 to the enactment of the post-World War II Constitution of...
in 1945.
Yukio Mishima
Yukio Mishima
was the pen name of , a Japanese author, poet, playwright, actor and film director, also remembered for his ritual suicide by seppuku after a failed coup d'état...
's Runaway Horses
Runaway Horses
is a 1969 novel by Yukio Mishima, the second in his Sea of Fertility tetralogy. Mishima did much research to prepare for this novel, including visiting locations recorded in the book and searching for information on the Shimpūren Rebellion .-Plot:Set between June 1932 and December 1933, it tells...
, the second book of the Sea of Fertility
Sea of Fertility
Sea of Fertility can refer to:* Mare Fecunditatis , a region of the Moon* The Sea of Fertility, a series of four novels by Japanese writer Yukio Mishima...
series, covers the Shinpūren Rebellion in detail.