# Saionji Kinmochi

> Japanese politician (1849-1940)

**Wikidata**: [Q297628](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q297628)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saionji_Kinmochi)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/saionji-kinmochi

## Summary
Saionji Kinmochi (1849–1940) was a prominent Japanese politician and diplomat who served as a key figure in the Meiji and Taishō eras of Japan. He is best known for founding Ritsumeikan University in Kyoto in 1900 and for receiving the highest honors of the Japanese state, including the Grand Cordon of the Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum. His life spanned the transformation of Japan from a feudal society to a modern constitutional monarchy, during which he held significant influence in government and education.

## Biography
- **Born**: October 23, 1849
- **Nationality**: Japanese (Citizenship: Japan)
- **Education**: Educated at the University of Paris (France) and Meiji University (Japan); also associated with Ritsumeikan University.
- **Known for**: Founding Ritsumeikan University and serving as a leading statesman and diplomat in Imperial Japan.
- **Employer(s)**: Affiliated with the Japanese government (politician/diplomat), University of Paris, Meiji University, and Ritsumeikan University (Founder).
- **Field(s)**: Politics, Diplomacy, Education.

## Contributions
Saionji Kinmochi's primary concrete contribution was the establishment of Ritsumeikan University in Kyoto in 1900, which replaced the earlier Kyoto Hosei School. As a founder, he created an academic institution that functions as both a private university and an academic publisher, fostering higher education in Japan. Additionally, his diplomatic and political career contributed to the governance of Japan during its modernization, evidenced by his receipt of numerous state orders and his involvement in the political landscape of the Boshin War era.

## FAQs
**Who founded Ritsumeikan University and when?**
Saionji Kinmochi founded Ritsumeikan University in 1900 in Kyoto, Japan. The institution was established to replace the Kyoto Hosei School and has since operated as a private university and academic publisher.

**What were Saionji Kinmochi's primary professional roles?**
He was a Japanese politician and diplomat who held significant positions within the government of the Empire of Japan. His career also extended into education as the founder of a major university.

**What international education did Saionji Kinmochi receive?**
He was educated at the University of Paris in France, which was a prominent institution during his time. This international background complemented his domestic education at Meiji University.

**Which major awards did Saionji Kinmochi receive?**
He received the Grand Cordon of the Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum, the highest civilian award in Japan. He was also honored with the Order of the Rising Sun (1st class), the Order of the Sacred Treasure, and foreign honors including the Legion of Honour from France and the Order of the Dannebrog from Denmark.

## Why They Matter
Saionji Kinmochi matters because he bridged the gap between traditional Japanese governance and modern educational and diplomatic institutions. By founding Ritsumeikan University, he ensured the continuity of legal and political education in Kyoto, creating an institution that continues to educate students of all genders and publish academic works today. His receipt of the Collar of the Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum and other high-ranking orders signifies his status as one of the most trusted and influential figures in the Meiji and Taishō periods. Without his leadership, the specific educational legacy of Ritsumeikan University and its contribution to Japanese intellectual history would not exist.

## Notable For
- Founding Ritsumeikan University in 1900, replacing the Kyoto Hosei School.
- Receiving the Grand Cordon of the Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum, Japan's highest order.
- Being awarded the Collar of the Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum.
- Receiving the Order of the Rising Sun, 1st class.
- Holding the Order of the Sacred Treasure.
- Being decorated with the Legion of Honour (Grand Cross) from France.
- Receiving the Order of the Dannebrog from Denmark.
- Being awarded the Order of the Red Eagle from Prussia.
- Receiving the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus from the Royal House of Savoy.
- Being awarded the Order of the Iron Crown from Austria.
- Receiving the Order of the Paulownia Flowers.
- Serving as a diplomat and politician during the Boshin War era.
- Being educated at the University of Paris and Meiji University.
- Living from 1849 to 1940, spanning a critical century of Japanese history.

## Body

### Early Life and Education
Saionji Kinmochi was born on October 23, 1849, in Japan. He pursued higher education both domestically and internationally, attending Meiji University in Tokyo and the University of Paris in France. His education at the University of Paris, an institution with origins dating back to c. 1150, provided him with a Western perspective that influenced his later political and diplomatic career. He also maintained an affiliation with Ritsumeikan University, the institution he would later found.

### Political and Diplomatic Career
Kinmochi served as a Japanese politician and diplomat, holding positions that placed him at the center of the nation's governance. He was active during the Boshin War (1868–1869), a civil war that marked the transition from the Tokugawa shogunate to the Meiji Restoration. His career was recognized by the state through numerous appointments and honors. He was a citizen of Japan and played a role in the political structures that defined the Empire of Japan during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

### Founding of Ritsumeikan University
In 1900, Saionji Kinmochi founded Ritsumeikan University in Kyoto, Japan. This institution replaced the Kyoto Hosei School and was named "Ritsumeikan." The university is located in the Nakagyo-ku ward of Kyoto, specifically at 1 Nishinokyo-Suzaku-cho, with coordinates 35.032579° N, 135.724041° E. It operates as a private university and an academic publisher, educating students of all genders in the Japanese language. The university's founding was a significant contribution to the educational landscape of Kyoto, distinct from the later-established Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University.

### Honors and Awards
Kinmochi received an extensive array of domestic and international decorations throughout his life. In Japan, he was awarded the Grand Cordon of the Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum and the Collar of the Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum, the latter being a prestigious order established in 1888. He also received the Order of the Rising Sun, 1st class (established 1875), the Order of the Sacred Treasure (established 1888), and the Order of the Paulownia Flowers. Internationally, he was honored by France with the Legion of Honour, specifically the Grand Cross rank. He also received the Order of the Dannebrog from Denmark, the Order of the Red Eagle from Prussia, the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus from the Royal House of Savoy, and the Order of the Iron Crown from Austria.

### Legacy and Affiliations
Saionji Kinmochi passed away on November 24, 1940. His legacy is preserved through Ritsumeikan University, which continues to operate with subsidiaries such as the Ritsumeikan University Rugby Team and the Kyoto Museum for World Peace. The university is affiliated with notable figures in computer science and engineering, including Ken Kutaragi and Masayuki Uemura, reflecting the institution's ongoing impact on technology and education. Kinmochi's life and work are documented with various identifiers, including ISNI 0000000088639909 and GRID ID grid.262576.2 for the university he founded. His contributions to the Boshin War and the modernization of Japan remain a significant part of his historical record.

## References

1. Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1969–1978)
2. BnF authorities
3. International Standard Name Identifier
4. Japan Search
5. Virtual International Authority File
6. CiNii Research
7. Find a Grave
8. Brockhaus Enzyklopädie
9. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
10. [BnF authorities](http://data.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/cb12364539k)
11. [Source](http://purl.org/pressemappe20/beaconlist/pe)