Life And Battles Of Saigo Takamori History Essay

Life And Battles Of Saigo Takamori History Essay The Last Samurai: The Life and Battles of Saigo Takamori, written by Mark Ravina, chronicles Saigos life, from childhood that fashioned his courage to his own death at the Satsuma Rebellion. In pre-industrial Japan, samurai meant military nobility. This book is a biography of Saigo that explains many of the events leading up to the Restoration and the role the battle of Satsuma played in the Restoration. Saigo Takamori is revered as one of Japans most loyal and honorable samurai. Part of the legend for Saigo was the fate of his severed head. The other part of the legend is was he killed or did he commit suicide as an act of heroism. It is unclear what year Saigo was born. Some references have 1827, while others have 1828. Regardless of the year, Saigo was born into a samurai family that was very low ranked in Kagoshima. He was born into wealth or rank. He was educated at a local level. His became very educated in Chinese classics and Zen, as well as swordsmanship. His first job was as an assistant clerk in a country office. In 1854, at the age of 26, he was selected to journey the Daimyo Shimazu Nariakira to promote closer ties with the imperial court. This journey is where his political career began. Saigo went on many journeys with statesmen. In 1858, he was a part of the Ansei purge and fled with a priest. The preist and Saigo made a suicide pact. Saigo backed out of the pact, only after the priest had already committed to his end of the deal by drowning himself. Saigo survived the journey but was later exiled to Amami Oshima Islands. In 1862, he returned to political life, but was forced into exile once again. He was brought out of exile in 1864. He was called back to the main island to train a group of Satsuma warriors. Saigo was to help his lord fight for the restoration of the emperor. Saigo became one of the main leaders of the new Japan. In 1868, Saigo and his troops led a revolt to destroy and create a powerful new state. He became the leader in Meijis new government. Saigo was now an active member of the Meiji government. Although Saigo supported many of the Western-style reforms, he was torn by the sense that he was betraying his supporters. It was a desire for Saigo to die in service to his emperor. Saigo showe d great loyalty to the emperor and his followers. Unsure about the government he had helped to create, Saigo wanted to end his career with one last movement. In 1873, Saigo wanted to go to Korea and demand the Korean king recognize the Meiji emperor. He had every intention to draw his sword if he had to. Saigo never was able to move forward with his plan to have the Japanese emperor recognized. His plan was dismissed and treated as reckless. He was denied his chance to show his loyalty and courage to the emperor. He resigned from the government and returned to Satsuma, his native land Satsuma. Saigo opened up military like academy for the former samurai warriors. He trained the men in frugality, honesty, and courage. This group resented the modernization of Japan more so than Saigo. Saigo feared the impersonal, commercial and centralized nation would destroy samurai traditions of personal honor, regional loyalty, and social service. Japan in the 1870s was going through many changes of industrialization and social and political changes. This process is also known as modernization. Many people had negative views on Japan and its culture. In 1876, westerners considered the Japanese to be uncivilized people. They thought that Japan was inferior to Caucasians in culture, intelligence, and culture. Japan even paid some Westerners very well to sit on government seats. Often this visits were short lived. The views that outsiders had on Imperial Japan are one reason that Japan sought to do away traditions of the samurai. Every aspect of traditional Japan and been thrown to the side. Japan had begun to westernize itself; not to be confused with Americanize. Saigo felt as if the traditions of the past would die out. The very hurried and colossal changes to Japanese culture, dress, and society appeared to many samurai to be a treachery. In 1876, the Meiji government stripped samurais of their swords. In defining how a moder n Japan should be, members of the Meiji government decided to follow the footsteps of United Kingdom and Germany, basing the country on the concept of noblesse oblige. Samurai were not to be a political force under the new order. Saigos followers and students rose in rebellion. They had a mission to let their voice be heard with their swords. The students made Saigo their leader of this uprising. Old Japan and new Japan met in battle in 1877. Early in the uprising, the rebels seized several local armories. Many of the rebels officers were trained in modern methods. The fight initially lasted from February to September. The imperial army began its final attack around four in the morning in September. By 5:30 A.M., the imperial army had destroyed all the fortifications of the rebels. At roughly seven in the morning, Saigo and his troops descended from the hill to face the Japanese army. They knew they were outnumbered. They knew they would die. Saigo died from a bullet wound, but legend has it that he died by his own sword. This was a great samurai tradition to die with honor at the end of ones life. This tradition is known as seppuku, a samurai suicide ritual. An autopsy of Saigo later revealed that he was onl y shot in the hip and would have been in too much pain to commit suicide. The imperial governments victory was short lived. They had Saigos body, but his head was missing. His head was but off with one clean slice. If the government was unable to provide a head, then the victory is incomplete. In looking for Saigos head, the imperial army was honoring one of the oldest traditions. It is said that severed heads were to be presented and were a celebrated part of Japanese warfare. These heads were often a tribute to the lords. No one is sure exactly what happened to Saigos head immediately following his death. Some say Saigos manservant hid the head. The head was later placed with Saigos body after a government official found it. One ironic part of searching for Saigos head is that the imperial army was honoring a tradition that was officially banished by the emperor. The new Japanese army was to be based on modern nationalism, not feudal loyalty. So in a sense, the death of Saigo brought forth some old traditions that had been banished in early years. It is said that this rebellion, the War of the Southwest, was the bloodiest battle that Japan had ever seen. Saigos forces were defeated. Old Japan was defeated. Over 12,000 men on both sides were killed. This battle also nearly bankrupted the new imperial government. Financially, devastating the Satsuma Rebellion cost the government significantly, forcing Japan off the gold standard and triggering the government to print paper currency. The imperial army had to use every resource available, including shipping lines, rail transport, police forces, and volunteers. The Imperial Japanese Armies were drafted, but many samurai volunteered to be soldiers and many advanced to be trained as officers. Much of the Imperial Army officer class was of samurai origin and they were highly motivated, disciplined and exceptionally trained. The rebellion was also successfully the close of the samurai class. After this war in 1877, there were no more samurai uprisings in Japan. Twelve years after Saigos death, the imperial government, denounced Saigo as a rebel and a traitor. In 1889, the government exonerated Saigo of all his crimes, and restored him to his imperial court rank. Saigo is still a legacy today in popular culture. A modern movie that is loosely based on the history of Saigo was produced. Many people still find his actions heroic none the less. Saigo was a samurai warrior who lived and died to protect the traditions he was so fond of preserving. In life and death, Saigo exemplified all that was labeled as being admirable in the samurai. This book written by Mark Ravina gives one last look at the final days of feudal government and the exciting career of Saigo. He gave his life to keep the samurai traditions at the forefront of the Japanese government. His efforts and loyalty have had a lasting impact on Japan and the interpretations of the samurai way and tradition.

John Keats Fear That He Might Cease to Be Essay -- John Keats, poetry

During his last years, Keats ponders about what it would mean to die. He translates this into fears of what he hasn’t yet accomplished and would like to have time to do. This aspect of time is emphasised with the use of the word â€Å"when† at the start of the first three quatrains which is also used in Shakespearean Sonnets. The heading, â€Å"When I have fears that I may cease to be† demonstrates Keats’ belief, or rather, lack of belief in the idea of an afterlife. In the first quatrain of the poem Keats describes his fertile imagination, yearning to have â€Å"glean’d my teeming brain† before it is too late, the image of abundance is instilled with the words â€Å"high- piled† and â€Å"rich.† The paradox of a field of grain is used to depict Keats’ brain being ‘harvested’ of the knowledge into poems of his own creation. In this stanza, Keats reveals his want for fame through his works and his fears of be ing unable to fulfil this in his time. In the second stanza Keats demonstrates his use of nature in poetry. He describes the â€Å"night’s starr’d face† which could refer to Keats contemplating the beauty...

Kite Festival

Rino Bnao EN 101-4 Karen Millam Sep 14, 2012 Taiwanese Kite Festival Kite Festival is the event where people made different kind of kites to fly them. Few days ago I went to Delap to attend the kite festival. I really enjoyed the event and although there are many reasons why I like about the kite Festival, few major facts why I like the event the most and catches my attention. First reason why I like the event is that the Taiwanese allowed the kids to fly and played their kites. Each kid that I saw during the event was really happy.They enjoyed playing with the different kind of kites. The Taiwanese even gave the kids each a small kite that they can play with it and fly it around and enjoyed the day. Another reason why I like the event is the Kites. There are about ten to fifteen kites that flying in the air. Each kite shape like different kind of animals and that one thing that catches my attention. I even asked myself why is all the kites shape like an animal. Later on after interv iewing or talking with one of the team member, I found out that an animal is the best shape that they used.He said that the every entire kite they fly will always be an animal’s shape. Each kite has different kind of color and they look bright with their color. Finally I like the event because I learn something from it. First thing that I learn is how to make it and what materials that used to make a kite. According to them, Bamboo stick and silk is the best material to make a kite. They show us how they made it and it was really awesome seeing them making a kite for the kids.I also learn that the event is really important because they bring back the Taiwanese or Chinese history and of course bring flying sport to Marshall Island. Also learned what are the kite for and there are many things that they can use for the kite. For example they used the kite for sport and also for war. Small or big kites can be both useful for many reasons. In conclusion, I really admired the color ful kites that surrounded me. I enjoyed the event because I learn good thing about kite and how useful, colorful, awesome they are. This entire thing catches my attention. I was surprise when I saw them.

Space Disasters essays

Space Disasters essays Even with the numerous technological improvements these disasters seem to be inevitable. The cause of the accidents may not be the fault of the technology though. The Columbia crash, for example, should be blamed on the ignorance of the upper-level managers and NASA scientist. They had considered hundreds of problems, literally, that might threaten the crafts safety, but they decided to launch it anyway. There were also many previous damages that the Columbia obtained in its twenty-two years of use, such as snapped pins and broken foam. Individuals within NASA felt that if it caused no problem the first time it must be safe. On January 28, 1986, the space shuttle Challenger exploded seventy-three seconds into its flight, killing the seven members aboard, including a teacher. This accident was believed to be caused by, believe it or not, the temperature that day. Due to the cooler temperatures than experienced on previous launches the O-rings, which seal two field joints together, were changed. Scientist said that the two different O-rings were not significantly different. So if NASA would have been patient and delayed the launch of the Challenger to a warmer day the lives of the astronauts, and one very unlucky teacher would not have been needlessly lost. Besides the two more commonly known accidents of the space shuttles Challenger and Columbia, there have been a number of other accidents around the world that have claimed many lives. On March 18, 1980, a Russian spacecraft exploded on the launch pad while being refueled killing fifty. None of the astronauts were killed only the unexpecting engineers and mechanics. Another accident occurred June 1971. This disaster was very mysterious at the time when three astronauts were found dead in the Soyuz II after an automatic landing. Further investigation suggested that the cause of death was loss of pressurization in the shuttle during re-entry into the Earths atmospher ...

United States Postal Service Essay Example

United States Postal Service Essay Example United States Postal Service Essay United States Postal Service Essay The U. S. Postal Service It is important for the U. S. Postal Service to have a high volume of mail to process in order to follow the mission statement. An organization mission is its reason for existence and is expressed in the mission statement (Stevenson 42). Mission of the Postal Service: The Postal Service shall have as its basic function the obligation to provide postal services to bind the Nation together through the personal, educational, literary, and business correspondence of the people. It shall provide prompt, reliable, and efficient services to patrons in all areas and shall render postal services to all communities (USPS 1998). For the Postal Service to â€Å"bind the Nation together†¦Ã¢â‚¬  they would need a high volume of mail from across the country to process on a daily basic. The more mail means a more successful business. Productivity improved at the Postal Service due to the increased use of automation and introduction and later expansion of zip codes. The technological advancements allowed for postal rates to remain low and maintain rapid delivery. Technology is not enough for productivity to increase. There needs to be proper planning or else technology can reduce productivity (Stevenson 58). Competition from delivery companies such as, FedEx and UPS put pressure on the United States Postal Service to increase productivity to keep rates low and maintain rapid delivery. Operations Management makes point that pricing is very important to consumers in the selection process and that there is a trade-off between price and quality (Stevenson 40). Having lower prices and/or rapid delivery will determine whether someone will choose to mail their package with the Postal Service or the competition. The United States Postal Service took several steps to remain competitive, first starting with customer service. The Postal Service began working to better identify their customer’s needs; this included adding customer service managers, expanding retail hours, and measuring customer satisfaction. The text explains that â€Å"Identifying consumer wants and/or needs is a basic input in an organization’s decision making process† (Stevenson 40). The Postal Service also underwent a reorganization where management positions were eliminated and divisions were consolidated to reduce overhead. These measures all lead to increased production and speedier delivery to remain competitive. The results of the Postal Service’s changes were very successful. The reduced bureaucracy and overhead lead to improved service, customer satisfaction and reduced the need to increase postage rates. The reorganization eliminated some programs, cut cost, attracted new business, and reduced the Postal Service’s projected deficit. The Postal Service employed a quality-based strategy to accomplish these goals. They focused on improving the quality of its organization, as quality is maintains and attracts new customers (Stevenson 50). The increased use of e-mail has an inverse effect on the Postal Service’s production. The more mail that is sent electronically means less mail is being processed by the Postal Service. The less mail being processed equals decreased productivity (Stevenson 53).

AN EXTENSIVE ANALYSIS OF BELOVED, BY TONI MORRISON Essay

AN EXTENSIVE ANALYSIS OF BELOVED, BY TONI MORRISON - Essay Example But before we can relegate the statement to this easy explanation, we must consider the answers to what is ‘it’ referring to; an answer that can change depending upon the way in which it is read. By understanding the general plot line of the story and the reasons why Morrison might have built this deliberately ambiguous statement into the novel, it becomes possible to understand how the various approaches might interpret the story differently in such a way that most of them reach the same final conclusion – that here is a story that absolutely must be told. The story follows the fictional character Sethe, who lives in a small â€Å"gray and white house on Bluestone Road† (Morrison, 1988, p. 1) with her daughter Denver. Throughout the story, we learn these two women have not always lived alone, nor will they remain alone as the story progresses. As the story opens, we learn that Sethe and Denver once lived with Sethe’s two sons, Howard and Bugler, who have both run away as a result of strange, ghostly activities happening at the house. They also once lived with Baby Suggs, Sethe’s mother-in-law and the woman who taught Sethe how to live again after escaping slavery. Very quickly, we are also introduced to Paul D, who was one of the men Sethe had worked with on Sweet Home, the Kentucky plantation where she, her husband and several others had been cruelly treated as slaves. Upon her escape from slavery, an event that happened many years prior to the opening of the story, Sethe murdered her youngest child, a girl, as p art of a desperate attempt to keep her precious daughter from experiencing the type of degradation and abuse Sethe experienced at the hands of Schoolteacher. It is this child who returns to haunt her mother and family in later years, manifesting itself in the bodily form of Beloved, who feeds off of this desperation to eventually bring about a final resolution. It is through

Development of Dubai International Airport (DXBOMDB) (Dubai) Essay

Development of Dubai International Airport (DXBOMDB) (Dubai) - Essay Example d.). In order to ensure continuous growth, continuous development and improvement need to be taken place. Different development projects are carried out on the Airport Development which boosts the growth of the Airport. The Dubai International Airport was constructed under the supervision and order of the then ruler Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum in the year 1959. This is considered as the first Airport in the country. In the beginning there were no much facilities in the Airport and the runway was limited. The Airport is situated four kilometers way from the city (Dubai International Airport, n. d.). The growth rate of the Dubai International Airport is high compared to other Airports in the Middle East. The Dubai International Airport holds highest position in the ratings by authorities like International Air Transport Association (IATA) (Home, n. d.). The Dubai International Airport is owned by the government of United Arab Emirates (Profile, n. d.). The Transportation facility ki nd of the infrastructure of a country has to be developed continuously. The development of Dubai International Airport is essential for the development of the country and for making one among the top countries of the world. If the International Airport at Dubai is developed at a higher phase it can attract many foreigners including tourists and investors. The investors would be investing in country only after a detailed study of the infrastructure of that particular country including the international transportation. This fact forced the government of the United Arab Emirates, to think about the development of existing international airport by way of expansion programs. The phase II expansion plan was an initiative to such a development. By this Phase II expansion what the government is aimed is overall development of the different facilities of the Airport. The main aim was this expansion program was to increase the traffic facility as number of airlines and passengers is goes on increasing. In order to accommodate these increased airlines, the existing traffic facilities need to be improved. The globalization and other development in the world has increased the number of passengers and coming to and going from the country. The new development plan includes the construction of buildings, new landing facilities an other modifications. As new buildings and facilities are going to be created in the airport, the infrastructure facility inside the airport will also have to be subjected for modification and improvement (Dubai Airport Terminal, n. d.). The cargo mega terminal creation is another major part of the Airport development. This terminal is cons tructed in such a way that it can deal millions of freight. Both the projects that is the phase II expansion and construction of cargo terminal creation has been started in the year 2002 and the expected completion time of the Phase II expansion is 2007 and that of cargo mega terminal is 2018 (Dubai International Airport, n. d.). The development plan is a systematically designed one. This is designed in such a way that it can create much customer value by way of providing the customers the required service at ease. The organizational chart for this development plan is designed keeping in mind the change in technology. The main person who is the sole authority of this expansion project