Talk:Boshin War

Miscellaneous topics

Could someone with solid knowledge of this period have a closer look at this? As far as I can see, there's several points which bear better examination: - By the time of the Meiji Restoration, the sonnō-jōi movement had largely fallen by the wayside; as proof of this, both sides in the war had help from foreign powers (Britain on the Satchō side, France on the Shogunate side). The trend was toward restoring power to the Emperor for practical reasons (as the Shogunate had demonstrated it no longer had the power to hold the western daimyō in check during the second attack on Chōshū, which ended in a truce). - Tokugawa Yoshinobu spontaneously restored power to the Emperor (this is known as Taisei Hōkan), so he did in fact resign his power. After the Taisei Hōkan, he had no more official power than any other daimyō. - Chōshū and Satsuma forces did not "seize" the palace, and the Shogunate forces did not attack Kyoto; rather, the Satchō army tried to force its way into Kyōto via Toba-Fushimi, leading to the battle there. - While the Shogunate forces had a numerical advantage, the Satchō army had far superior armament on average. - Yoshinobu was not "forced" to flee to Edo; he actually left Ōsaka by sea before the battle was decisively lost (actually leading to the retreat of the Shogunate forces). 221.254.245.147 08:42, 6 March 2006 (UTC)

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Also is "Boshin" correctly translated as "Year of the Dragon"? Tatsudoshi is "Year of the Dragon" - I have never seen "Boshin" associated with anything related to the zodiac, only the Boshin Sensou (Boshin War).

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The answer for Boshin, requires an understanding of the 60 year Chinese/Japanese zodiac cycle Sexagenary cycle. The first Kanji Bo (or Wu in Chinese), is one of the ten stems. Shin, the second Kanji, can also be read Ryuu, Tatsu (or Lung in Chinese). So, Boshin, Wulung, Boryuu, and Botatsu, would all also be correct readings. "Boshin" or "tsuchi-no-e tatsu" are the accepted ones.

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Shouldn't "Although the Shogunate had no intention of enforcing the order.." actually read "Although the Emperor had no intention of enforcing the order,"? It makes more sense that way and fits in with the final years of the conflict.

Wakamatsu Castle

Pointed the link of Wakamatsu Castle to Aizu-Wakamatsu, Fukushima-ken and not Wakamatsu-ku in Kitakyushu.

What is this all about?

Would it be possible for someone to summarize the Boshin War?

I mean did it lead to anything, this article seems obscure?

Well, sentence #2 says "The defeat of the shogunate led directly to the Meiji Restoration." What part of that are you having problems with? Jpatokal 03:41, 30 September 2006 (UTC)

I think the problem lies in that the article is very detailed. While there is nothing wrong with that, it is in the way it is detailed. It needs a bit of summarization. In order to fully understand this article, you have to read Sonno Joi and perhaps Meiji Restoration. It really doesn't help that the text between the first section of this article and most of the text in both Sonno Joi and Order to Expel Barbarians is copied and pasted from the same source... There needs to be a summary in this particular article of what Sonno Joi was really about and what it has to do with the Boshin War. Also, I think it needs to be put into perhaps more understandable terms. It seems to me that it is rather hard to understand unless you already know the material. Now I'm not saying it needs dumbing down, it just needs some summarization of everything else not mentioned in detail here.

Also, I don't completely understand some of the information. The picture caption says the Shogunate actively pursued modernization (as though it wanted it), yet the message I get from Sonno Joi is that the Shogunate was forced to modernize, thus it was viewed as incapable of curbing foreign actions against Japan. Did the Shogunate want modernization? -- TheSlyFox 11:03, 25 May 2007 (UTC)

Wikipedia:Featured article candidates

This is now a Wikipedia:Featured article candidates. You are invited to vote. PHG 17:27, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

Things as I find them

• Whom is Satow describing in the quotation from Diplomat in Japan?

The person described is Saigo Takamori. PHG 18:27, 25 October 2006 (UTC)

I should have asked earlier: what page is that quotation from?--Monocrat 20:42, 25 October 2006 (UTC)

• You should probably provide the original French quotation from Brunet to Napoleon III. Also, should that "she" be "you," if it refers to Napoleon?--Monocrat 17:09, 25 October 2006 (UTC)

Here's the French original: "Je dois signaler à l'Empereur la présence de nombreux officers américains et anglais, hors cadre et en congé, dans ce parti hostile aux intérêts français. La présence de ces chefs occidentaux chez nos adversaires peut m'empêcher peut-être de réussir au point de vue politique, mais nul ne pourra m'empêcher de rapporter de cette campagne des renseignements que Votre Majesté trouvera sans doute intéressants." PHG 18:27, 25 October 2006 (UTC)

Thanks! That helped a lot.--Monocrat 20:42, 25 October 2006 (UTC)

• I'm starting to think that, per summary style, a lot of the "Political background" should be moved to Late Tokugawa shogunate, with a concise paragraph detailing things up to the arsons in Edo.--Monocrat 17:53, 25 October 2006 (UTC)

I would favor keeping the background as it is quite immediately relevant to the Boshin War itself, and most people will need this sort of introduction to understand the subject. Regards PHG 18:27, 25 October 2006 (UTC)

I understand, but my motivation for this is two-fold: first is the suggestions on summary style; second is the fact that "Political background" is already more detailed and better cited than Late Tokugawa shogunate. (Although that might be my fault!) The background section is more than half as long as the parts pertaining to the war. I won't press the issue, though.--Monocrat 20:42, 25 October 2006 (UTC)

• If you have them handy, could you provide authors and publication information for the cited works?--Monocrat 18:17, 25 October 2006 (UTC)

Done, I think. PHG 18:37, 25 October 2006 (UTC)

Should have asked this earlier, too: for the citations to Polak, Polak et al., Togo Association, and Evans and Peattie, would it be possible to find page numbers or chapter titles?--Monocrat 18:04, 26 October 2006 (UTC)

• I see you undid some of my changes with the images of the Hokkaido campaign. My main concern is that the image of Brunet etc. spills over into the gallery of the politicians. Perhaps it would be better to move the gallery of the Ezo leaders to Republic of Ezo and create a new gallery with the image from that page's infobox and the Brunet image. I just don't think there's enough text to give us proper space for all these images.--Monocrat 20:42, 25 October 2006 (UTC)

I added some more text on the diplomatic negociations of the Republic of Ezo. Is the image jam issue on your browser solved? Regards PHG 04:40, 26 October 2006 (UTC)

Thanks, I like the added material. I've made the pixel sizes uniform throughout the article, which helps, I think, but there still seems to be too many images in the Hokkaido section. I understand a the desire to have all the principal people shown, especially Brunet, but I just think it's too much as it is. I think my suggestion would improve the article, but this won't be something to make me oppose it.--Monocrat 18:04, 26 October 2006 (UTC)

• I cleaned up the Ezo Republic section. I also gave back some breadth to narrow image as they were not really visible anymore. There is even a map now! Regards PHG 05:34, 27 October 2006 (UTC)

(breaking indent) There needs to be a uniform size for the images, and I think keeping it below 300px would be best. I understand your concern about the longer images, but it's possible to open them in their own windows; and it just looked bad the prior way, especially the "Resistance of the Northern Coalition." I think the image size is a sticking point for me.--Monocrat 14:26, 27 October 2006 (UTC)

• Please give a page number for the speculation that the Shogunal army should have won at Toba-Fushimi. What would be better is if you can find an English-language source for that.--Monocrat 14:26, 27 October 2006 (UTC)

Done. I translated the Japanese historical source. PHG 18:30, 27 October 2006 (UTC)

• The kanji for Tsu and Fushimi aren't needed here: they're in the respective articles. Also regarding kanji: could you provide English meanings for 公議政体派 and 奥羽越列藩同盟 (and romaji for the latter)?--Monocrat 14:26, 27 October 2006 (UTC)

• I think 公議政体派 translate as Parlamentary Faction, although there may be a more exact term. 奥羽越列藩同盟 is Ouetsu Reppan Domei, and means Alliance of the Fiefs of the Northern Provinces (each province being designated by its abbreviation: 奥 is for 陸奥国 MutsuNoKuni, 羽 is for 出羽国 DewaNoKuni, 越 is for 越後国 EchigoNoKuni).PHG 16:50, 27 October 2006 (UTC)

• Who is commander-in-chief of the imperial forces at what times? Keene first says Prince Ninnajinomiya Yoshiaki was in charge nominally at least up to Fushimi-Toba, then Taruhito Arisugawa from March 1 in the Edo campaign, but this article vaciliates between Komatsumiya Akihito and Saigo. At the very least, the imperial pennants were given to the Ninnajinomiya and Arisugawa; perhaps Komatsumiya and Saigo were the operational commanders below these princes? It needs clarifying.--Monocrat 04:48, 31 October 2006 (UTC)
• It's also worthwhile mentioning Prince Rinnojinomiya in "Resistance of the Northern Coalition." I'm just not sure what's the best way to include him at the moment. If you can put something in, I can add some stuff from Keene.--Monocrat 04:53, 31 October 2006 (UTC)

first sentence

we can't say that Boshin Sensō "literally means 'War of the Year of the Dragon'", I suppose...--K.C. Tang 08:29, 3 November 2006 (UTC)

Could you explain? A fuller definition is given in the footnote.--Monocrat 15:45, 3 November 2006 (UTC)

O, I didn't notice there's a note, sorry... the note says that "Boshin" exactly translates as "Year of the Yang Earth Dragon"... but "Boshin" doesn't mean dragon, nor yang, nor earth... as a Chinese, I find the statement a bit odd... but then perhaps it's the "standard way" of explaining 干支 in the West? I don't know...--K.C. Tang 00:32, 4 November 2006 (UTC)

Hi. Have you read the Sexagenary cycle article? 干支 designates the calendar as a whole, but the specific year in question is 戊辰, which does mean "Yang Earth Dragon" (specifically also read "tsuchinoe-tatsu" in Japanese as well, tsuchi being "earth", and tatsu being dragon). For the ideograms themselves, in calendars 辰 corresponds to the meaning "dragon" PHG 05:49, 4 November 2006 (UTC)

When we talk about 辰, we can say that it means "the fifth of the twelve Terrestrial Branches". We can't say it means dragon, we can only say that it is associated with dragon, it is symbolised by dragon (as a kind of memory aid). I was a bit confused to see that 戊辰 means literally the year of dragon (it'd be true if the Japanese were 竜年), but I think the note is now clear enough, and I was just being fussy... Cheers.--K.C. Tang 07:32, 4 November 2006 (UTC)

just come to think of it: why don't we then write "War of the Year of Yang Earth Dragon"? now it says "War of the Year of the Dragon", but Year of the Dragon can also be the 庚辰 year or others...--K.C. Tang 11:16, 4 November 2006 (UTC)

Boshin festivals

Aizu-Wakamatsu has a festival and parade every September in honor of the Byakko-tai warriors and Aizu's stand against the Meiji forces. It culminates in the Aizu Clan Parade, where people dressed in period costumes to represent various players in the conflict march through the city. Are there other such parades/festivals in Japan? It seems this might be something worth mention, perhaps in the "Later depictions" section. I've got photos of the parade and of Iimori Hill, the site of the Byakko-tai's ritual suicide and now a major shrine/memorial in Aizu-Wakamatsu, if such a section is added and a free image is desirable. — BrianSmithson 07:45, 4 November 2006 (UTC)

These would be great additions! I know there is also a festival in Hakodate here. PHG 08:01, 4 November 2006 (UTC)

I've uploaded my photos to Commons; the appropriate categories are Aizu Clan Parade, Byakkotai, and Iimori Hill. The Clan Parade supposedly covers all of Aizu's history, not just the Boshin War, so it may not be appropriate after all. Iimori Hill should be, though. — BrianSmithson 11:01, 4 November 2006 (UTC)

Thanks for the great images. I have created the Henry Schnell and Byakkotai stub using them. Regards. PHG 05:18, 9 November 2006 (UTC)

Cool. I hope to one day write a long piece on the Byakkotai but that will no doubt have to wait until my Japanese improves. I should be able to find some nice PD photographs of them, though; Byakkotai books and merchandise are everywhere here in Aizu. My friend the Schnell impersonator will be thrilled that he's now illustrating a Wikipedia article, by the way. At least until I can find a PD photo of the guy to replace him with. ;) -- BrianSmithson 05:32, 9 November 2006 (UTC)

Images

PHG, a few points:

1. I strongly think that images should not exceed 250px. There are a ton of images on this page (I've always been concerned about the number and the layout), and when viewed from modest machines at higher pixelations, they make the page hard to read.
2. I don't see the movie Goryokaku discussed in the "Later depictions." For copyright reasons, it needs to be mentioned if you're going to use the image. Is it perhaps the same film as When the last sword is drawn? Please fix this either by standardizing the naming, adding text, or replacing the image. How about a gallery of relevant movie posters or photos from festivals?--Monocrat 14:40, 4 November 2006 (UTC)

Hi Monocrat. Please, I don't think there are rules on Wikipedia against having images beyond 250px. The best size depends on the proportions of the image itself: a vertical image can be enormous in 250px, and a horizontal image ridiculously small in 250px. I have never really seen this kind of "250px limit" in other articles as well.

Thank you for the comment on Goryokaku, I will add a line. regards. PHG 04:29, 9 November 2006 (UTC)

PHG, you're right, of course. There's no limit, really. Another discussion had gotten me rilled up, and I'm sorry I vented a bit here. Nevertheless, I'm concerned about how things appear on a modest but decent machine or for people with poor eyesight. (I have to count myself in both categories to some extent.) There has to be a compromise between the number of images and their dimensions and layout. And at 19 images outside the infobox, I felt 250px or suited most of the images best given seemingly reasonable constraints. Perhaps I've been too demanding. Anyway, any thoughts on how to clarify the issue of army leadership and Prince Rinnnojinomiya?--Monocrat 22:12, 9 November 2006 (UTC)

Hi Monocrat. I don't have much information on the exact army leadership and Prince Rinnnojinomiya. I thought (and had read) that Saigo Takamori was in effect Commander-in-Chief, but to your point others may actually have held the title. Please feel free to add a few lines, should you have more information. Regards PHG 20:42, 10 November 2006 (UTC)

(Break Indent) I can add a bit about Rinnojinomiya, as Keene labels him a "serious contender" for Meiji's throne. (I don't know about that!) I'll try to sort out the leadership issue.--Monocrat 19:29, 11 November 2006 (UTC)

Queries

Could you provide citations for the following?

1. Saigo's having troops outside of the council (Keene only notes that Saigo "was outside of the room, ...[but that] his words reached Iwakura's ears and inspired new resolve.")
2. The red and white pennant being a forgery (Keene is unclear on the matter but I read a suggestion that Meiji himself gave the pennant and sword to Yoshiaki, in which case the pennant would be legitimate, right?)
3. The escape of 300 Satsuma provocateurs

I removed the part about Arisugawa being made chief minister because I couldn't find a citation for it, and it didn't seem to fit well with the material under discussion.

Anyway, I'm preparing to work on Meiji Restoration, and it seems like a lot of the material in Boshin War#Political background would fit better there. Do you think a summary of the current text would do this article justice?--Monocrat 15:29, 28 April 2007 (UTC)

Hi Monocrat,

1) is from a Japanese book "Saigo Takamori and Okubo Toshimichi"

2) idem

3) is from the Wikipedia Japanese page for Kaiyo Maru: [1].

I kind of like the longish intro because the Boshin War is so little known and the material so scarce that quite a lot of background seems necessary. Looking forward to your book! Best regards. PHG 21:04, 29 April 2007 (UTC)

Hmm. If you could provide page numbers for nos. 1 and 2, I'd be obliged. The specificity of the claims makes me a little nervous, and it might be nice to make a note about conflicting sources. Especially since Keene is so specific and detailed in general, I'd rather we downplay those claims. In the absence of an independent source (Wikipedia can't rely on itself as a source), I've removed the sentence about the provocateurs. I have to think more about what would go best where: since the Restoration and the War essentially mirror each other (one is political, one military), it's a tough balancing act.--Monocrat 01:25, 2 May 2007 (UTC)

Work in progress

The French military advisers and their Japanese allies in Hokkaido - use a cursor to investigate

Use a cursor to investigate this modified image .... interested ? Victuallers (talk) 22:38, 3 January 2008 (UTC)

Whoa! This is great stuff! Let's incorporate it in the article asap. PHG (talk) 18:37, 4 January 2008 (UTC)

Pleased you like it. Tomorrow's featured article uses the same idea but with image pop-ups instead. If the missing people who are not linked had (non-trivial) stubs then it would work even better. But its not important. Sadly there is a known bug which prevents hotspots in the caption text too. Victuallers (talk) 18:52, 4 January 2008 (UTC)

A bloodless revolution

Some parts in the article say that the Meiji Restoration is viewed as a "bloodless revolution", but is it true? I have lived in Japan for decades and never heard of it. It's often said the surrender of Edo was "bloodless", so possibly aren't these two confused? --222.7.12.79 (talk) 03:59, 11 January 2008 (UTC)

Bit of formatting needed?

Under the latest version of Firefox with a 1600x1200 resolution, there's a section of the page that looks like this:

That's an awful lot of whitespace (about 800px}. I'd normally go ahead and do something about it, but in this case, I figured I'd check to see if I'm the only one experiencing the problem - My screen resolution isn't the most common, so it may just be a bit of random weirdness. If I'm the only one seeing something like this, then so be it, nothing needs changing. Otherwise, a bit of image swiching may be required. So, before any changes are suggested, anyone else experiencing the same issue on different monitors? GeeJo ^(t)⁄_(c) • 09:23, 11 January 2008 (UTC)