Hirose Gyokusō

Framed horizontal calligraphy ( yokogaku ) by Hirose Gyokusō: sekizen , accumulation of good deeds

Hanging scroll written and signed by Hirose Gyokusō

Hirose Gyokusō ( Japanese 広 瀬 旭 荘 ) (born June 22, 1807 in the settlement of Mameda-machi, Hita County, Bungo Province (now part of the city of Hita , Ōita Prefecture ), Japan; † September 29, 1863 in Ikeda (today the City of Ikeda near Osaka )) was a neo-Confucian scholar and poet who also made a name for himself as an educator.

Life

Gyokusō was born in the Hita domain, which was directly subordinate to the Tokugawa government, as the third son of a wealthy merchant family. Among his brothers, Hirose Tansō (1782-1856) stands out, who in 1805 had founded the neo-Confucian private academy Kangien ( 咸宜 園 ). In 1817 ten-year-old Gyokusō entered this academy, which was then still called Keirin-en (sō) ( 桂林 園 （荘） ). Three years later he helped under his brother Kyūbē ( 久 兵衛 , 1790–1871) in the family's business. On the advice of his father, however, he was adopted in 1823 by the considerably older Tansō and now devoted himself again to the classical studies, which he continued in Edo in 1825 with the neoconfucian Kamei Shōyō ( 亀 井 昭陽 , 1773-1836) . Deeply impressed by Gyokusō's profound knowledge and phenomenal memory, Kamei soon turned the school over to him. But after two years Gyokusō returned home and took over the management of the academy in place of his sick brother.

In 1828 Gyokusō founded his own school in Ukidono ( Provinz 殿 , Buzen Province ) for the first time, but gave it up again two years later to take over the management of the Kangien Academy again . In 1834 the father died. In 1836 Gyokusō went to Sakai (now in Osaka Prefecture ) to open a school there. After seven years it was closed. Another school was founded in Edo, but as a result of illness, the death of his wife and theft, enormous debts piled up. In 1846 he returned to Osaka and reopened a school there. He succeeded in paying off the mountain of debt of around 600 ryō by 1851 .

Gyokusō died in Ikeda County in 1863 at the age of 57. His grave was initially in the Shitennō Temple in Osaka, but was then moved to Hita.

Gyokusō was a sociable person who liked to travel and interacted with numerous scholars of classical studies as well as with the followers of Dutch studies ( Rangaku ). His Chinese poems are among the outstanding Japanese works of this genre. As a pedagogue, he avoided any constraint to rigid norms and placed great emphasis on the individuality of his students. In contrast to the clearly and calmly composed works of his equally gifted brother Tansō, Gyokusō's works show a strongly fluctuating emotionality paired with witty wit. His diary ( 日間 瑣事 備忘 , Nikkan saji bibō ), which he started at the age of 27 and kept until shortly before his death, is one of the most important sources of the late Edo period today .

Works (selection)

• Baiton shishō ( 梅 墩 詩鈔 )
• Kyūkei sōdō keihitsu ( 九 桂 草堂 随筆 )
• Min-shi shōhi ( 明 史 小 批 )
• Tosetsu ( 塗 説 )
• Hirose Gyokusō zenshū [Complete works by Hirose Gyokusō]. Kyōto: Shibunkaku Shuppan, 1982ff. ( 『廣 瀬 旭 荘 全集』 京都 ： 思 文 閣 出版 )

literature

• Kudō Toyohiko: Hirose Tansō, Hirose Gyokusō . Tōkyō: Meitoku Shuppan, 1978 ( 工藤 豊 彦 『広 瀬 淡 窓 ・ 広 瀬 旭 荘』 東京 ： 明 徳 出版社 )
• Ōno Shūsaku: Hirose Gyokusō. Tōkyō: Kenbun Shuppan, 1999 ( 大野 修 作 『広 瀬 旭 荘』 東京 ： 研 文 出版 )

Individual evidence

1. ↑ In the Japanese lunar calendar the 17th day of the 5th month in the 5th year of the motto Bunka .
2. ↑ In the Japanese lunar calendar the 17th day of the 8th month in the 17th year of the motto Bunkyu .
3. ↑ The name comes from a verse in the Chinese collection of poems Shijing and signals that everyone was accepted in this academy ( kotogodoku yoroshi ). In fact, the students' individuality was respected here. Aspirants of all ages and origins were also accepted.

Web links

• Academy Kangien in Hita (Japanese)
• Hirose Museum in Hita (Japanese)

See also

• Hirose Tanso

Japanese name: As is common in Japan, the family name comes before the first name in this article . Thus, Hirose is the family name, Gyokusō the first name.