# Saigō Takamori

> samurai of the Satsuma domain, supreme commander of Japanese army, one of the three great nobles who led the Meiji Restoration (1828-1877)

**Wikidata**: [Q310462](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q310462)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saigō_Takamori)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/saigo-takamori

## Summary
Saigō Takamori was a Japanese samurai, politician, and military leader from the Satsuma domain who lived from 1828 to 1877. He is best known for serving as the supreme commander of the Japanese army and for being one of the "Three Great Nobles" who led the Meiji Restoration in 1868, an event widely regarded as the foundation of modern Japan.

## Biography
*   **Born:** January 23, 1828
*   **Died:** September 24, 1877
*   **Nationality:** Japan
*   **Known for:** Leading the Meiji Restoration; serving as supreme commander of the Japanese army; participating in the Satsuma Rebellion.
*   **Employer(s):** Satsuma Domain
*   **Field(s):** Military and Politics

## Contributions
Saigō Takamori played a pivotal role in the transition of Japan from a feudal state to a modern nation. His contributions include:
*   **Leadership in the Meiji Restoration (1868):** Acted as one of the "Three Great Nobles," a group of outstanding heroes regarded as the founders of modern Japan for their role in overthrowing the Tokugawa shogunate.
*   **Military Command:** Served as the supreme commander of the Imperial Japanese Army during its inception, helping to organize the new imperial military force.
*   **Engagement in Key Historical Conflicts:** Participated in the Kinmon Incident (1864), a rebellion against the Tokugawa shogunate, and the Boshin War (1868–1869), a civil war that led to the restoration of imperial rule.
*   **The Satsuma Rebellion:** Led a revolt of disaffected samurai against the new imperial government in the Satsuma Rebellion, occurring nine years into the Meiji Era.

## FAQs

**Who was Saigō Takamori?**
Saigō Takamori was a samurai of the Satsuma domain, a politician, and a military commander who served as the supreme commander of the Japanese army. He is most famous for being one of the three great nobles who led the Meiji Restoration in 1868.

**What was Saigō Takamori's role in the Meiji Restoration?**
He was one of the "Three Great Nobles," a group recognized as the outstanding heroes and founders of modern Japan. He utilized his military leadership to help restore imperial rule, ending the Tokugawa shogunate's power during the Boshin War.

**What conflicts was Saigō Takamori involved in?**
Takamori participated in several major conflicts, including the Kinmon Incident (1864), the Boshin War (1868–1869), and the Satsuma Rebellion. The Satsuma Rebellion was a revolt he led against the very imperial government he helped establish, driven by the disaffection of the samurai class.

**What are some of Saigō Takamori's other names?**
He was known by numerous names and aliases, including Saigo Takamori, Saigou Takamori, Takanaga, Nanshū, Saigō don, Sego don, 西郷三助 (Saigō Sansuke), 菊池源吾 (Kikuchi Gengo), 善兵衛 (Zenbee), 大西郷 (Great Saigo), and 南洲翁.

**Are there famous monuments dedicated to him?**
Yes, there are famous statues of Saigō Takamori located in Kagoshima and Ueno, Tokyo, as well as a well-known portrait painted by Ishikawa Shizumasa.

## Why They Matter
Saigō Takamori matters because he was instrumental in the birth of modern Japan. As a leader of the Meiji Restoration, he helped dismantle the feudal military government (shogunate) and restore power to the emperor, initiating Japan's rapid industrialization and modernization. However, his legacy is complex; he ultimately turned against the government he helped create to defend the interests and honor of the samurai class during the Satsuma Rebellion. His life encapsulates the violent and transformative shift in Japanese society during the 19th century, bridging the gap between the era of the samurai and the modern imperial state.

## Notable For
*   Being one of the "Three Great Nobles" who led the Meiji Restoration.
*   Serving as the Supreme Commander of the Imperial Japanese Army.
*   Being a samurai of the Satsuma Domain.
*   Leadership in the Boshin War and the Satsuma Rebellion.
*   Being immortalized in famous statues in Ueno (Tokyo) and Kagoshima.
*   Being known by nicknames such as "Saigō don" and "Great Saigo" (大西郷).

## Body

### Identity and Origins
Saigō Takamori (born January 23, 1828; died September 24, 1877) was a Japanese human, samurai, bushi (warrior), politician, and military personnel. He held citizenship in Japan. Throughout his life, he was known by a variety of aliases, pseudonyms, and nicknames, reflecting his status and the era's naming conventions. His recorded names include Saigo Takamori, Saigou Takamori, Takanaga, Nanshū (南洲), Saigō don, Sego don, 隆永, 西郷三助 (Saigō Sansuke), 菊池源吾 (Kikuchi Gengo), and 善兵衛 (Zenbee). He was popularly referred to as 大西郷 (Great Saigo), 南洲翁, and 西郷どん.

### Career and Affiliations
Takamori was affiliated with the **Satsuma Domain**, a historical estate in Japan that was established in 1602. His primary occupation categories were military personnel and politician. He eventually rose to become the supreme commander of the **Imperial Japanese Army**, the ground-based armed forces of Japan established in 1868. Specific records indicate a defined work period within the army structure between 1872 and 1873.

### The Meiji Restoration
Takamori is most famous for his role as one of the **Three Great Nobles**. This group is historically recognized as containing the three outstanding heroes of the Meiji Restoration in 1868. They are credited with overthrowing the Tokugawa shogunate and establishing the foundation of the modern Japanese state.

### Conflicts and Rebellion
Takamori's life was defined by military conflict. He participated in the **Kinmon Incident** in 1864, which was a rebellion against the Tokugawa shogunate. Following the shogunate's fall, he fought in the **Boshin War** (1868–1869), a civil war in Japan that solidified imperial rule.

Despite his role in creating the new government, Takamori later led the **Satsuma Rebellion**. This was a revolt of disaffected samurai against the new imperial government, occurring nine years into the Meiji Era. The rebellion marked the end of his life, as he died on September 24, 1877.

### Legacy and Representation
Saigō Takamori has been the subject of significant cultural memorialization. He is depicted in a notable portrait by Ishikawa Shizumasa and is commemorated with famous statues located in Kagoshima and Ueno, Tokyo. His gravesite is also a recorded historical location. His legacy is documented extensively under various identifiers in library and academic systems, including VIAF (33284849), LCCN (n79135153), and the National Diet Library of Japan.

## References

1. [Source](http://www.mus-his.city.osaka.jp/eng/exhibitions/special/2018/segodon/segodon_item.html)
2. International Standard Name Identifier
3. Japan Search
4. CiNii Research
5. Virtual International Authority File
6. [Source](https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-asian-studies/article/abs/apocryphal-suicide-of-saigo-takamori-samurai-seppuku-and-the-politics-of-legend/BAE3E88596476FD16F5AB6B8A68B609F)
7. Encyclopædia Britannica Online
8. Find a Grave
9. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
10. CONOR.SI
11. Treccani's Enciclopedia on line
12. Quora
13. Enciclopedia Treccani
14. Dizionario di Storia
15. Bibliography of the History of the Czech Lands