I think that it is impossible to truly determine if people in Kyoto
were Pro - [insert faction] and the reason is that there was
no "polling" done in that era. Even in our modern era polling is
unreliable and manipulated to get people on a "bandwagon".
For instance, Fukuchi Genichiro was able to print some of his
arguably pro-bakufu opinions (Fukuchi later was a Meiji newspaper
editor and became pro-Meiji government due to the desire to seek
stability in Japan). We do not know if his pro-bakufu stance during
the Bakumatsu years were popular or not.
The truth is the people in Kyoto or any situation will have a hard
time expressing themselves because they will side with whichever side
can bring stability and peace---at any cost.
Perhaps the question can be answered with how people interpreted the
events of Kinmon no Hen (1864) during which many pro-bakufu domains
clashed with Choshu forces. Was this viewed as an attempt BY Choshu
to aggressively retake political power in Kyoto? OR was this viewed
by many as Aizu's attempt to suppress another domain. We must ask
Choshu experts to explain details to us.
Rekishi Dokuhon is a magazine type publication with a mixed
reputation however one can be clever and see if the information
printed can be confirmed with OTHER sources. We also have to keep in
mind that publishing in general is difficult and that some
researchers may find it easier to get things recorded in
Rekishi...than in other books. For example let's imagine a
researcher without mainstream credentials like for instance a PHd in
history with a specialization in Japan---an "amateur" researcher may
have found something VERY valuable but may have to publish in Rekishi
Dokuhon due to the simple circumstance of lack of credentials but
more likley due to the fact that it is just hard to get published. I
think that we as fans must judge on a case to case basis.
www.shinsengumihq.com for instance has had to cite Rekishi Dokuhon.
Things such as rare Shinsengumi photos have even appeared in
Rekishi.... We also have to keep in mind that many books (not just
the history magazine Rekishi...) on the shinsengumi were written in a
non-academic tone with dubious citation and the information therefore
at times is unreliable as well. So Rekishi is not the only problem.
Here is some pro-Aizu information:
[May 27,1868]
"Go in, Aidzu, say we all of us. Everyone is an Aidzu man now."
(Boyer 49)
who is "we" ???... we were Americans who were sympathetic towards the
NORTH as the editor, Barnes, noted.
---------------------
[May 29, 1868]
"The coolies all yell for Aizu---say he is No.1. The other day they
yelled as loud for Satsuma. Now Satsuma is no good; Aidzu is the
coming man." (Boyer 50)
so here we have coolies--***normal folks shifting their opinion based
on the tide of armed conflict
---------------------
[June 15, 1868]
"The latest information from the seat of war is that the tycoon has
been reinstated as Executive Officer of all Japan by the Mikado. So
much for the gallant fighting of Aidzu. I hope Aidzu will be
rewarded by the tycoon. Wonder what old Satsuma will do now. His
reign has been of short duration." (Boyer 56)
Here as the editor and as we all know is simply innaccurate
information recorded by Boyer in his diary. Perhaps the value of
this shred of detail is that he accepts the information he heard
because HE IS HIMSELF very sympathetic towards Aizu.
Thus, it is truly impossible to gauge whose side the normal folks or
peasantry sided with. As Shinsengumi fans we should note that our
boys are favored and then villified depending on the political
climate both during and after the Bakumatsu as well. During the age
of feudalism the opinion of the man of the street did not "count".
The Meiji era was no better---the state CRUSHED dissent ruthlessly
and muzzled the media effectively (literally no different from the
Tokugawa). In our present day world we value popular opinion.
Therefore to say "whose side was the people on" is a very modern view
that is hard to determine in that era.
Source:
Boyer, Dr. Samuel Pellman (edited by Elinor and James A. Barnes).
NAVAL SURGEON REVOLT IN JAPAN 1868-1869. Bloomington, Indiana
University Press, 1963.
--- In SHQ@yahoogroups.com, "Seven" wrote:
>
> It's always been my understanding that during the Bakumatsu, people
in Kyoto were
> generally pro-Choshu. I've recently gotten into an argument with
somebody who insisted
> that it wasn't the case. In order to settle it, I asked Shikisoku
for some citations (since my
> bookshelf collapsed the other day and all my history books are in
boxes
> now.)Unfortunately, that someone said Rekishi Dokuhon wasn't good
enough to be used
> as a source (not to mention website sources.) Could someone here
help me and provide
> book citations? I'd really appreciate it.
>
> ~Seven
>