Hitokiri Battōsai, one on the most famous Ishin-shishi
The Ishin-shishi (維新志士), sometimes known as Shishi (志士) was a term used to describe Japanese political activists of the late Edo period. The term shishi literally translates as "men of high purpose”, or otherwise “Imperialists”.
While it is usually applied to the anti-shogunate, pro-sonnō jōi (尊王攘夷; "Revere the Emperor, Expel the Barbarian[s]") samurai primarily from the southwestern clans of Satsuma, Chōshū, and Tosa, the term shishi is also used by some with reference to supporters of the shogunate who held similar sonnō jōi views.
History[]
There were many different varieties of ishin-shishi. Some, such as the assassins Kawakami Gensai, Nakamura Hanjirō, Okada Izō, and Tanaka Shinbei, opted for a more violent approach in asserting their views. Kawakami Gensai, in particular, is recalled as the assassin of Sakuma Shōzan, a renowned pro-Western thinker of the time. Other more radical ishin-shishi, such as Miyabe Teizō, plotted large-scale attacks with little regard for public safety. Miyabe himself was one of the ringleaders of the plot, foiled by the Shinsengumi at the Ikedaya Incident, to burn Kyōto at the height of the Gion Festival.
Some of the ishin-shishi were not necessarily in support of bringing down the shogunate. Some ishin-shishi from Mito were responsible for the death of the shogunal grand councilor Ii Naosuke, who was a signatory to treaties that favored foreign nations, and who had placed an underaged boy on the shogunal throne. Other Mito men and women arose in the Tengu-tō revolt, over the next several years. While these were definitely actions against the shōgun's government, they did not oppose the shōgun himself—indeed, the Mito ishin-shishi, who were retainers of a relative of the shōgun, believed they were only helping him.
Other ishin-shishi had more scholastic leanings. A prime example of this was the scholar Yoshida Shōin of Chōshū. He founded the Shokason-juku school, and educated many of the future government leaders of Meiji era Japan. Yoshida had connections to many prominent figures of the Bakumatsu era: Kawai Tsugunosuke, Katsu Kaishū, the aforementioned Sakuma Shōzan, and others. Due to Yoshida's execution by the Shogunate in fear of his teachings threatening the social order of the nation, it was his death that spurred Katsura Kogorō to lead his ishin-shishi against the Shogun.
The more radical ishin-shishi from Chōshū and Satsuma went on to form the core leadership of the nascent Meiji Government. Some, such as Itō Hirobumi and Yamagata Aritomo, remained prominent figures in Japanese politics and society until the early decades of the 20th century.
Plot[]
To be added
Known Members[]
- Himura Kenshin
- Yamagata Aritomo
- Ōkubo Toshimichi
- Katsura Kogorō
- Uramura
- Kawaji Toshiyoshi
- Tani Jūsanrō
- Sagara Sōzō
- Shishio Makoto
- Ujiki
Trivia[]
- Characters like Kawakami Gensai were one of the inspirations for the character of Himura Kenshin.
Gallery[]
To be added