Maki Izumi

Maki Izumi (formal name Maki Yasuomi) was a Sonnō-jōi activist born into a family of Shinto priests at the Suitengū shrine in Kurume, Chikugo Province. He was born on 7 March 1813 by the old calendar (Bunka 10), and died on 21 July 1864 by the old calendar (Genji 1; 22 August 1864 in the Gregorian calendar), at the age of 52. His father, Maki Senshin, was the 21st chief priest of Suitengū. Izumi succeeded to the priesthood in 1823 (Bunsei 6) and was appointed Izumi no kami in 1832 (Tenpō 3).

Study and confinement

After studying National Learning and waka, he turned to the Mito school. In 1844 he studied under Aizawa Seishisai in Mito, and in 1847 he witnessed the Daijōe ceremony of Emperor Kōmei, which strengthened his reverence for the Emperor. In 1852 he presented the domain lord with a proposal for reform, for which he was punished, and he was confined for about ten years in Mizuta village, Shimotsuma District. Works from this period include the Taimuki and Gigo Sansaku.

Activity in the late Edo period

In 1862 he went to Kyoto, where he took part in the movement to expel the barbarians and overthrow the shogunate. He was briefly imprisoned in connection with the Teradaya Incident. He then moved closer to the Chōshū domain and, after the Coup of 18 August 1863, fled with the Seven Courtiers to Chōshū.

The Kinmon Incident and suicide

In 1864 he joined the hardline faction at the Kinmon Incident, lost, and barricaded himself on Mount Tennō. He took his own life while being pursued by Aizu forces and the Shinsengumi. Seventeen men including Maki are said to have died with him. A grave of the Seventeen Martyrs stands in Ōyamazaki, Kyoto Prefecture.