Okinoerabu-jima Island was Saigo's spiritual base let him develop the idea of 'Revere heaven, Love people'; and according to a story, Saigo had about 1200 books sent from the mainland while he was there.
沖永良部島は西郷の「敬天愛人」思想の培養基であり、一説には本土から1,200冊あまりの本を取り寄せていたそうである。