First Japanese Civil War (Cherry, Plum, and Chrysanthemum)

The First Japanese Civil War (Japanese: ダイイチジ ワナイセン Daiichiji Wanaisen; Kanji: 第一次和内戰) was a civil war in Japan fought from 1868 to 1869 between the forces of those who loyal to the isolationist stance of ruling Council of State and those seeking the opening and modernization of Japan. The war is also known as the Boshin War (Japanese: ボシン センソ ウ Boshin Sensō; Kanji: 戊辰戰爭) because it started in 1868, the year of wùchén, the Yang Earth Dragon stem-branch ("Boshin" in Japanese) in the traditional sexagenary cycle of the Chinese calendar.

The war found its origins in dissatisfaction among many merchants and warrior-nobles with the policy of Council of State (Japanese: ダイジョウカン Daijō-kan) that severely limited Japan exchange with foreign nations. Increasing Western influence in the economy led to a decline similar to other Asian countries at the time. Realizing Japan can not resists the growing Western imperialism in Asia without modernizing its army, economy, and political system, the merchants of Edo allied with the feudal landlords, particularly from the northern provinces of Japan to wage a war against the ruling Council.