Saigo's world view was not only that of the Mitogaku School and the Kokoku Shikan (historical perspective) of Kokugaku (study of ancient Japanese literature and culture), rather his views incorporated contraposition of East Asia and European and the North American ideals; he opened the nation and then made a prosperous country and strong army, and forged the tripartite alliance of Japan, Qing and Korea which was inspired by the ideals of Saiakira SHIMAZU.
西郷は水戸学派や国学の皇国史観に止まってはおらず、開国して富国強兵をし、日・清・韓の三国同盟をするという島津斉彬の持論の影響で、東アジアと欧米諸国の対置という形の世界観を持っていた。