Soon-to-be Shinsengumi Novel

I'm writting a fiction-novel that revolves around the war between the
Ishin Shishi and Shinsengumi. I have most of the characters and scenes
jotted down but I need a bit of help. I need a detailed timeline of
the battles between them, which has been hard for me to find.(I am
considering writting some of the novel, and it's sequel if I make one,
in diary form, thus the very very important need for a timeline.)

Also I need information on the 4th-9th Captains. (I've got a fairly
good idea of how I am going to write Souji, Toshizou, Sanosuke,
Shinpachi, Saitou, and Kondou.)

And last of all, I need an opinion on whether I should start the novel
in the Edo Bakufu or Bakumatsu. The novel, or novels, will last until
the beggining of the Meiji Era. Thanks for the help. If you are
intrested in reading the novel, which I hope to have finished before
Nov. 2007, then look for 'Makoto: Wolf in Maiden's Clothing' by S. C.
Faith or Serenity Christin Faith.

>I'm writting a fiction-novel that revolves around the war between the
>Ishin Shishi and Shinsengumi. I have most of the characters and scenes
>jotted down but I need a bit of help. I need a detailed timeline of
>the battles between them, which has been hard for me to find.

Masayoshi had compiled a fairly extensive timeline for the time period in question on the shinsengumihq site that compiled information from several historical sources. (Link: http://www.shinsengumihq.com/ShinsengumiBakumatsuTimeline.htm )

There also is a brief timeline in the English version of the Rurouni Kenshin Hiden (Profiles) book (Viz publications). The accuracy of the English version I can't vouch for, as I haven't sat down and validated the years against other references yet. This timeline does not include specific dates, but only years. (Incidentally, Albert Craig indicates the original Satsuma Choshu Alliance was formally agreed upon 21/1/66 although this plan did not come to fruition until late 1867.)

A few thoughts as you embark on writing your book --
The beginning of the Meiji era did not coincide with the end of fighting --instead various wars (1868) dragged into Meiji 2. This is covered in Masayoshi's timeline.

In trying to examine what you are trying to think of in terms of "Ishin Shishi" actions, do you mean to include battles post-Restoration? If so, technically speaking the forces encountered by Shinsengumi from 1868 forward would not be called "Ishin Shishi" but" Imperial forces" as the Emperor had been restored at this point.

Looking backwards -- there were clashes between loyalist/reformists and pro-bakufu forces in Kyoto that you might want to consider researching as well if you have not already researched them. These were not part of the later conflict (1868--). For example, you could potentially include and narrate the Battle at the Forbidden Gate (Hamaguri Gate) in 1863, in which joint Satsuma-Aizu forces demolished Choshu forces, who were responding to their expulsion at court and the charges levied against their daimyo with a seriously misguided attempt to 'rescue' the Emperor.

I am assuming the Shinsengumi were involved, but that may not be correct and defer to others on the list. ( The NHK taiga placed them there, but NHK also took its own liberties with history ;) ) .

Of course, the question as whether this represents a "Ishin Shishi" battle is something to consider. I haven't read enough on the war council and factions in Choshu at this time to determine whether there was a unified purpose in advancing on Kyoto and the motivations of the four sets of Choshu troops that were involved . It would seem to me that there wasn't - hence the question of whether to include or not based solely on history. However -- given the purposes of fiction, it might be interesting to throw it in -- since it does take place in Kyoto and could be argued to be an "Ishin shishi/Shinsengumi" conflict.

Also, the dates for Teradaya and Ikedaya should probably added to your list. A fellow Choshu nut kindly translated a Japanese-language site to yield some info on popular theories regarding the death of one (notorious) Choshu Ishin. (http://red-bird.org/meiji/toshimaro/ikedaya.htm)


S

red-bird.org | s-girl.deviantart.com

Thus far, as far as timelines go, the best one that I've found is at this mailing list's HQ. It pretty much has the major battles that were fought, and like it saids, it's still under constuction and there are a few errors (nothing major though):

http://www.shinsengumihq.com/ShinsengumiBakumatsuTimeline.htm

Good luck on your writing ^____^
-Bunneh

Himura Usagia <dalishika@...> wrote: I'm writting a fiction-novel that revolves around the war between the
Ishin Shishi and Shinsengumi. I have most of the characters and scenes
jotted down but I need a bit of help. I need a detailed timeline of
the battles between them, which has been hard for me to find.(I am
considering writting some of the novel, and it's sequel if I make one,
in diary form, thus the very very important need for a timeline.)

Also I need information on the 4th-9th Captains. (I've got a fairly
good idea of how I am going to write Souji, Toshizou, Sanosuke,
Shinpachi, Saitou, and Kondou.)

And last of all, I need an opinion on whether I should start the novel
in the Edo Bakufu or Bakumatsu. The novel, or novels, will last until
the beggining of the Meiji Era. Thanks for the help. If you are
intrested in reading the novel, which I hope to have finished before
Nov. 2007, then look for 'Makoto: Wolf in Maiden's Clothing' by S. C.
Faith or Serenity Christin Faith.
















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[Himura Usagia] which books have you read? There some good books on
the Ishin Shishi out there which would totally help you fill in the
gaps in terms of the timeline and help your novel.

please also get
Hillsborough, Romulus. Shinsengumi: The Shogun's Last Samurai Corps
Tuttle Publishing ISBN: 0804836272

although it contains some gems like...

"Certainly the two Shinsengumi leaders were elated. They had wielded
their propensity to kill to exercise their will to power and now
walked away victorious, domeonstrating to themselves and to the
world their extraordinary importance. Merely suppressing ronin was a
thing of the past; killing the enemies of the Tokugawa Shogunate was
now their raison detre. In their victory, they were unfazed by the
fact that they had butchered some of the finest men of their
generation." (Hillsborough 82)

and some revolutionaries didn't agree to these plans---nor would
they claim as R.H. would that these were the "finest" men on their
side... so why R.H. had to say this is beyond me...again he has
problems with "tone"

it still has a narrative which can help you with a timeline
I have not had the patience to pull info from Hillsborough's book
into the timeline at all
-------------------------------------------------------
[Bunny] please let me know about the errors you may email me offlist
at secretarytocapt(a)hotmail.com our goal is to provide accurate
info as humanly possible so your help is appreciated (and all
contributors are credited)---also if people visit the timeline you
will notice that on certain entries I noted [discrepencies] not all
authors use exact dates in their analysis---and each has to decide
whether or not to convert dates and so forth
-------------------------------------------------------
Masayoshi (Hirotada Tokugawa) did give more information on Aizu's
role and since at this point Aizu is under represented in academic
texts the SHQ will address some of these issues in time. I just
haven't had the chance to sit down and incorporate it into the
timeline yet (sec currently in fangirl mode).

I highly recommend the essays on this page
although as we know -M- is fascinated with Aizu---his 2nd essay is
VERY VERY VERY good---logical and contains info we have not yet
discussed on this list so please check it out!
http://www.shinsengumihq.com/aizubattle.htm
"Not for the Shogun: Aizu's Personal Motives in the Bakumatsu"

--- In SHQ@yahoogroups.com, Bunny ^_^ wrote:
and there are a few errors (nothing major though):
>
> http://www.shinsengumihq.com/ShinsengumiBakumatsuTimeline.htm
>
> Good luck on your writing ^____^
> -Bunneh
>
> Himura Usagia wrote: I'm writting a
fiction-novel that revolves around the war between the
> Ishin Shishi and Shinsengumi. I have most of the characters and
scenes
> jotted down but I need a bit of help. I need a detailed timeline
of
> the battles between them