薩英戰爭（さつえいせんそう），亦稱為薩摩藩與英國之間的戰爭，是1863年8月15日至17日發生在日本鹿兒島（Kagoshima）的一場戰爭。

起源於1862年9月14日發生所謂的“生麥事件”。當天，四名英國人騎馬經過薩摩藩（Satsuma）領地內的生麥村，碰到日本大名時沒有遵從當地武士的禮節下跪，其中一名商人查爾斯·理查德森（Charles Lennox Richardson）與其同行的三人被武士襲擊，理查德森當場被殺，其他兩人受傷，只有一名英國女性安然無恙。

當時英國剛結束克里米亞戰爭和第2次鴉片戰爭，連續擊退沙俄與清國，造成沙皇自盡及圓明園被燒毀。這起生麥事件引發英國的強烈不滿，要求德川幕府賠償10萬英鎊(每位受害者家屬2萬5000英鎊)並處罰兇手。幕府賠償部分金額後，表示薩摩蕃早在250年前就與豐臣家族友好，長期都沒有真正臣服中央政府，對於緝凶之事愛莫能助。

而強硬的薩摩藩拒絕賠償和交出兇手，導致英國決定採取武力行動。1863年8月15日，皇家海軍派遣七艘軍艦駛入日本西南部的鹿兒島灣，並開始對薩摩藩的首府鹿兒島進行砲擊。

英軍的砲火摧毀薩摩藩的多處設施和民居，造成嚴重的損失。他們停靠的地方剛好是薩摩藩平日練習海上靶場的位置，當時又有暴風雨來襲，因為過度晃動導致船上的重砲無法瞄準岸上目標。而薩摩藩的砲台回擊時，成功擊沉一艘英國軍艦，指揮官當場斃命。

儘管雙方交火激烈，但英國方面因其火力優勢，最終取得戰術上的勝利。8月17日，英國軍艦撤出鹿兒島灣，雙方簽訂停戰協議。英國有三艘軍艦嚴重損毀，傷亡近70人。而薩摩藩的所有砲台與兵工廠都被摧毀，死傷人數不超過20人。此戰役雖然時間短暫，但對薩摩藩及整個日本社會卻產生深遠影響。

之後薩摩藩開始研究英國的大砲，發現射程相當遠，且破壞力更強大，認定之後若英軍在氣候良好的情況下展開攻擊，並遠離海岸線，兩軍開戰恐怕會大敗。意識到西方軍事技術的強大，開始積極推動現代化改革。積極引進西方的軍事技術和武器裝備，並派遣年輕的薩摩藩士到海外學習。這些舉措加速薩摩藩的現代化進程，使其成為後來倒幕運動的重要力量之一。

對整個日本而言，薩英戰爭是幕末時期外國勢力對日本施加壓力的典型案例。這場戰爭促使日本的領導階層更加認識到現代化和自強的重要性。薩摩藩的改革成為其他藩國的榜樣，推動全國範圍內的西化和現代化進程。

此外，這場戰爭也加深日本內部的緊張局勢，尤其是對德川幕府的不滿情緒。幕府無法有效應對外國勢力的挑戰，顯示其統治的脆弱性。薩摩藩和長州藩等有力藩國逐漸聯合起來，形成推翻幕府、恢復天皇實權的強大力量，最終導致1868年的明治維新。

總結而言，薩英戰爭不僅是幕末日本與外國勢力間的一場重要衝突，也是日本內部變革的催化劑。戰爭後的現代化努力和改革，對日本迅速崛起為東亞強國，並在明治時期實現全面的社會、經濟和政治現代化，奠定堅實的基礎。

The Anglo-Satsuma War (さつえいせんそう), also known as the Anglo-Satsuma Conflict, was a war between the Satsuma Domain and the United Kingdom, which took place from August 15 to 17, 1863, in Kagoshima, Japan.

The origin of the conflict dates back to the "Namamugi Incident" on September 14, 1862. On that day, four British nationals on horseback were passing through the Namamugi village within the Satsuma Domain. They encountered a Japanese daimyo but failed to kneel as per the local samurai etiquette. One of the merchants, Charles Lennox Richardson, along with his three companions, was attacked by the samurai. Richardson was killed on the spot, two others were injured, and one British woman remained unharmed.

At that time, Britain had just concluded the Crimean War and the Second Opium War, having successfully repelled Russia and Qing China. The Namamugi Incident provoked strong dissatisfaction from the British, who demanded a compensation of £100,000 from the Tokugawa Shogunate (£25,000 for each victim's family) and the punishment of the assailants. After the Shogunate paid part of the compensation, they stated that the Satsuma Domain had been friendly with the Toyotomi family for 250 years and had never truly submitted to the central government, making it difficult to apprehend the culprits.

The stubborn Satsuma Domain refused to pay compensation or hand over the perpetrators, leading Britain to decide on a military response. On August 15, 1863, the Royal Navy dispatched seven warships into Kagoshima Bay in southwestern Japan and began bombarding the Satsuma Domain's capital, Kagoshima.

The British naval bombardment destroyed numerous facilities and homes within the Satsuma Domain, causing significant damage. The area where the British ships anchored happened to be the Satsuma Domain’s regular naval target practice range. A storm hit at that time, causing the heavy cannons on the ships to sway uncontrollably, making it difficult to aim at targets on the shore. When the Satsuma Domain's coastal batteries returned fire, they successfully sank a British warship, and the commander was killed on the spot.

Despite the fierce exchange of fire, the British, due to their superior firepower, ultimately achieved a tactical victory. On August 17, the British warships withdrew from Kagoshima Bay, and both sides signed a ceasefire agreement. The British had three warships heavily damaged and nearly 70 casualties. In contrast, all of Satsuma Domain’s coastal batteries and armories were destroyed, with fewer than 20 casualties. Although this conflict was brief, it had profound effects on both the Satsuma Domain and Japanese society as a whole.

After the war, the Satsuma Domain began studying the British cannons, discovering their long range and significant destructive power. They recognized that if the British attacked under favorable weather conditions and kept their distance from the coastline, the Satsuma forces might suffer a major defeat. Realizing the strength of Western military technology, they actively promoted modernization reforms. They introduced Western military technology and weaponry and sent young samurai overseas to study. These measures accelerated the Satsuma Domain’s modernization, making it a significant force in the later movement to overthrow the Shogunate.

For Japan as a whole, the Anglo-Satsuma War was a typical case of foreign powers exerting pressure on Japan during the late Edo period. The war prompted Japanese leaders to recognize the importance of modernization and self-strengthening. The Satsuma Domain's reforms became a model for other domains, spurring a nationwide movement towards Westernization and modernization.

Moreover, the war intensified internal tensions in Japan, especially dissatisfaction with the Tokugawa Shogunate. The Shogunate’s inability to effectively respond to foreign challenges exposed its weaknesses. Powerful domains like Satsuma and Choshu gradually united, forming a strong force to overthrow the Shogunate and restore imperial rule, ultimately leading to the Meiji Restoration in 1868.

In summary, the Anglo-Satsuma War was not only a significant conflict between late Edo Japan and foreign powers but also a catalyst for internal transformation. The post-war modernization efforts and reforms laid a solid foundation for Japan's rapid rise as a powerful nation in East Asia and its comprehensive social, economic, and political modernization during the Meiji era.

照片:DALLE3