|
1869
February
9, 1869
...More
than ten geisha from here and Shimbahshi were seated around
the table; and, as they pressed so many cups of sake on me,
I was very drunk before I realized it. I slipped out of the
party with SAito Shintaro, therefore, to return home by boat.
It was already midnight when I arrived. This evenign I had an
inspiration for a poem:
As
I prepare to make clear to all the meaning of enduring loyalty,
I wish to conquer the five continents,
How grievous that my comrades have died!
All my pleasures are accompanied by sorrow.
By Heaven's grace my own life has been spared,
So I vow to myself that I shall repay my country.
That
I should be floating about in Tokyo today is like unto a dream.
I do not know how many times I took a boat up and down the mainstream
of the Sumida River during the cherry blossom seasons, both
day and night, six or seven years ago. Of my samurai comrades
on those outings, not a single one is alive today. I alone have
enjoyed the good fortune to survive tot his time. My emotions
overwhelm me.
February
24, 1869
...
Today I met with my old friend of ten years ago -- Iwasaki Naonoshin,
an Ueda man -- and SAito Shinzo, a Matsushiro man, at the Kawanagaro.
We had an enjoyable time over drinks talking about old times.
The Kawanagaro is the place in which I often enjoyed myself
with Takasugi Yasuo (Shinsaku) seven years ago; and I do not
know how many times I drank together with Old Asada here. As
I recalled the past, the tears dreneched my sleeves in spite
of myself. Several geisha whom I had known in the old days came
in to wait on us; nearly ten geisha gathered from all around
here.
March
19, 1869
...
At 12 I went up to the council chambers where we reached a decision
on the Aomori and Aizu matters brought to our attention by the
War Department yesterday. The Aizu men who had surrendered on
17 March were destitute; they had hidden in Tokyo as a base
for suppressing their more rebellious ocuntrymen, thus to make
up in part for their own lord's treason. Harried within their
domain and outside it, they were in a destitute plight unbearable
to witness. Prompted by sympathy for their distress, I reported
their circumstances to Lords Ogimachisanjo and Higashikuze;
and we bestowed 1000 ryo on the hardpressed men. Saito came
to report the response of the grateful recipients to me; and
I passed along their appreciation to the two lords. After 3
I left the chambers, going at once to see Omura at the War Department
where I reported to him on decisions reached...
March
21, 1869
...
Shinryuin of Aizu, the former Koide Tetsunosuke (at present
a priest), came to my house. He called to offer thanks for the
gift the other day. The Aizu men are really penitent; and they
are going to a great deal of trouble to obtain redemption for
their treason against the Imperial Government. Their feelings
deserve our pity. The Imperial Government now regards everyone
in the Empire as equal to everyone else as a matter of course;
it would be highly improper to show partiality to any particular
group. Thus we shall naturally do our utmost to carry into effect
His Majesty's wishes in that regard.
I
went up to the council chamber at 11, and retired at 4. Today
I received the following order:
"Kido
Jun'ichiro:
As the War Department has been ordered to take charge of the
matter of the Aizu men who have surrendered, and inasmuch as
you have dealth with the problem from time to time, you are
hereby ordered to assume control over it, in consultation with
said department.
March 1869, Executive Office
This
evening I went to Oki's house to keep an appointment. A great
many matters requiring my attention have arisen from the discussions
over the Return of the Registers of Lands and Populations; so
I stated the purposes which I have in mind. He agreed with me
on every point. We also talked over the Aizu problem...
April
4, 1869
Today
the Fukiage Gardens were ordered open to the people of the city,
and a huge throng came to view them. I left the Palace after
3, going directly to visit Mr. Oki to discuss in detail the
problem of bringing good order to Tokyo, and the problem of
land reclamation in Koganebara and other places. He had no objection
to our plans. I hold the belief that it is essential for a government
to put people in the offices for which they are qualifiefd.
Even though members of the rebel party once committed treasonable
offenses, once they have purged themselves of their crimes,
I want them to be given important duties. The government itself
would commit an offense if it continued to regard those who
had once committed crimes as enemies, and neglected to give
each man the treatment he deserves...
April
26, 1869
...Yamagata
Kyosuke left for home today; he came with Taki and Fukubara
to bid goodbye; and he requested a farewell message from me.
I sent him off with these ten characters:
Deal
with the people with the warmth of the cherry blossoms;
Restrain oneself with the severeity of a swords of frosted steel.
July
3, 1869
Hinoki
came to visit again. Nakajima Sakutaro came to talk. Sakutoaro's
Chinese servant is said to be the one whom Sakamoto Ryoma bought
in Shanghai and brought back with him...
July
18, 1869
Recently
the council has spent a good deal of time discussing the kind
of punishment to be meted out to the rebel leaders at Hakodate;
and an official request went to the military staff there for
opinions. Most of them held that it would be a miscarriage of
justice to let our sympathies enter in. Today, therefore, it
was finally decided that we should dispose of the matter strictly
in accord with the principle of a subject's duty to the Imperial
House.
August
4, 1869
Light
rain. I stayed home all day to recuperate from my illness. Today
I purchased a short sword made by Sadamune through the agency
of Mr. Saito. (Sadamune is a name borne by two swordmakers of
the fourteenth century, one of them active in Yamato province
in 1318, the other in Sagami province in 1331. A sword by either
was valuable.)
August
15, 1869
...
I received official notice to go the Palace at 2. Yamada Ichinojo
came to talk; and we discussed some recent developments together.
I went up to the Palace after 2. His Majesty the Emperor presented
me with a sword, and I received an Imperial commendation, as
recorded below. Next, in the Musk Chamber, the Jakoma, I received
directly from the hand of Prince Sanjo the official notification
of my appointment as a Fellow in the Imperial Academy. I have
frequently requested release from my demanding position, and
I am delighted to receive it through the grace of His Majesty.
Kido, Fourth Court Rank
For
some years you have been engaged in the administration of affairs
of state, and have served in responsible positions since the
Restoration, assisting Us respectfully, and performing services
without parallel. It is Our wish, therefore, to give full recognition
to your meritorious deeds, to free you from the exhausting routine
of daily work, and to allow you to take leave from your regular
office. Your future services will be exceedingly important;
for, although we have established our political structure in
rough outline, We wish to study further the form the central
government should take. We command you to spare no effort in
assisting Us to find the ideal form of the state.
Kido,
Fourth Court Rank, Junior Grade:
Your
appointment as a Fellow of the Imperial Academy is hereby proclaimed.
15 August 1869.
In
the Imperial presence, I was given a long sword decorated with
a crest of chrysanthemums and paulownia.
October
30, 1869
...A few
days ago, Merit Awards were conferred by the Emperor; and I
was in the ranks of those commended. Hirosawa accepted the written
order and the oral command on my behalf, and he handed over
the document to me today. I am deeply moved to be so honored
by His Majesty.
I presented
my petition on the Merit Awards last year, with the hope that
room would be left for meritorious subjects to emerge in generations
to come, that the foundation of the Empire might become firmer.
When we discussed hereditary awards, I made the point that if
we limit the strength of our nation with the hereditary system,
how can we hope to confront those nations whose power is not
limited by this system? How can we maintain the prestige of
our Empire in the future? This evil practice would produce stagnation
in future generations. I argued the case relentlessly, but my
view was not put into effect; and once more today hereditary
awards are being made. The abuse which I took during my campaign
is indescribable.
The written
order and the Emperor's oral commendation to me follow:
Kido
Takayoshi, Fourth Court Rank, Junior Grade
You
have devoted yourself to the service of the Imperial House for
many years. His Majesty is grateful to you; for, having participated
in the work of the Council of State from the beginning of 1868,
the Year of the Dragon, you have applied yourself early and
late to the task of developing the plans which have allowed
His Majesty to carry to consummation the great work of the Restoration.
In appreciation of your service, therefore, we shall advance
your court rank, and grant you an annual stipend of 1800 koku.
(September 1869, the Year of the Snake Council of State)
Oe
Ason Takayoshi, Fourth Court Rank, Junior Grade
Annual stipend of 1800 Koku
In recognition of your distinguished services this amount will
be bestowed upon you and your descendents.
October
1869, the Yar of othe Snake
Seal, The Council of State
Oe
Ason Takayoshi, Fourth Court
Rank, Junior Grade
We
confer upon you the Third Court Rank, as proclaimed by Minister
of the Right Fujiawara Ason Sanetomi, First Court Rank, Junior
Grade, through Fujiwara Ason Toshimasa, Third Court Rank, Junior
Grade, Chief Imperial Secretary
30
October 1869, the Year of the Snake
On
3 October 1869 officials of the rank of Imperial Councilor,
or Sangi, were called before the Throne to be served
sake and cake. As I was in Hakone at the time I could not be
present. The gold coins, habutae silk, and seal case
presented to me were accepted for me by Hirosawa, who passed
them along.
November
4, 1869
Rain.
At 9 I went up to the palace for an Imperial audience during
which I expressed my gratitude to His Majesty. I then entrusted
my letter declining the Merit Award Stipend to Hijikata to be
reported to the Throne. I withdrew from the Court at 12.
The
text of my letter follows:
I
am deeply moved to have been raised a rank at Court and to have
been granted a stipend by Your Majesty's special favor. Humbly
I express my gratitude. I could not be more fortunate -- that
a subject of little learning such as I should have received
such high honors, deeper than the oceans and higher than the
mountains, from Your Majesty's hand, for performing such minor
services.
Once,
your humble subject recalls, Your Majesty proclaimed that Choshu
was innocent of the false charges of treason brought against
our domain; and it was as if we had observed the sun emerging
after the long night. As I, with due respect, look to the past,
I note that so many men worked devotedly for the Imperial cause
after 1853, the Year of the Ox, and lost their lives during
the time of national turmoil, while I have unexpectedly had
the good fortune to survive up to the present, a time when nine
out of ten of my comrades lie dead.
I
must be thankful, therefore, that I have been able to hold Imperial
office, and to participate in the central administraiotn by
the favor of Your Majesty, whose line is coeval with Heaven
and earth. All success derives from Your Majesty's powerful
spirit, not from my own meager efforts to show loyalty. Your
Majesty's magnanimity is beyond the power of a subject to repay;
I tremble with fear when I realize how great is my debt to you.
I pray, however, that we shall be successful in establishing
the fundamental structure of state in our Divine Land on this
occassion which affords opportunity to remake our administration
and to replace outworn customs from the past with new practices.
Titles
and stipends are important instruments for nurturing men of
talent. It is most important to dismiss incompetent officials
of high birth and to select able men from obscure stations --
and to make certain that no man of talent in the land is not
in his proper office. Throughout history men brought up in a
life blessed with an abundance of material things have not known
the meaning of compassion; they are poorly informed and obstinate.
All too frequently men who possess skills and learning fial
in spite of their abilities such men fail because they have
not, after all, experienced hardships. This is the fundamental
assumption on which I present my views to you.
If
I were to accept this stipend, I would be supported in comfort
during my lifetime, of course, as would my descendants after
me and there is more than half a chance that they will not become
men suited for public service. Indeed, under the new system
even the most eminent feudal lords have lost status. As a humble
subject I am particularly awed by your orders to me; I request,
therefore, that you give instructions for another official consultation
in regard to my stipend. Further, I pray that talented men in
the Empire will receive their proper rank in the future, and
that we may today develop a clear view of the purpose of the
Restoration government, that the Imperial prestige may shine
across the world for generations to come. As your subject I
am loyal as ever.
Respectfully
and Sincerely,
Kido Takayoshi
|
