index
Part 1: Early modern times
Chapter 2: Regarding literary works 1. Scholars of Japanese classical literature and Confucian thought
MOTOORI Norinaga, 1730-1801
Motoori Norinaga was a scholar of Japanese classical literature from the late Edo period. After studying Genji Monogatari (Tale of Genji), he became a pupil of Kamo Mabuchi in 1764. In addition to his most well-known work titled Kojikiden (lit. Commentaries of the Kojiki), which took him over 30 years of study, Norinaga had written numerous works in various fields, including literary theories as well as studies on Japanese mythological tales and Shinto.
14 Motoori Norinaga seishi (from Ukeigoto, vol. 2), January, 1764 [WA18-25]
This is the written oath submitted to Kamo Mabuchi by Norinaga upon his admittance to Mabuchi's tutelage.
Ukeigoto contains written oaths of 27 pupils. In principle, they had written the exact same words and used the highest quality paper, but Norinaga partially used normal quality paper.
Though the submission of a written oath upon entering school was a typical custom, words of the oaths differed according to the teachers. Comparing this with Kimura Kenkado's seimeijo (Related material 28, Chapter 3. "Eyes of science") is highly recommended.
14 Related material: Tachibana Chikage seishi (from Ukeigoto, vol. 1), March 3, 1744[WA18-25]
This is the written oath submitted by Tachibana (a.k.a. Kato) Chikage upon entering his apprenticeship to Kamo Mabuchi. Though the brushstroke differs from that of Motoori Norinaga, the words written are almost identical.
15 Motoori Norinaga shokan (from Motoori sensei shokan), (left) [February, 1798], (right) [June, 1799] [WA25-95]
The series of letter sent from Norinaga, addressed to one of his apprentices, Uematsu Arinobu, who was an engraver for woodcut printing. In these particular articles, Norinaga discusses the block copies and woodcuts of Kojikiden, which he had commissioned Arinobu to make. These are the two letters contained in the beginning of Motoori sensei shokan.
本居宣長書簡
15 Related material: Kojikiden (Norinaga's own handwriting), [1785-1788] [WA18-9]
The manuscript of Kojikiden (corresponding to vol. 1) in the possession of the National Diet Library. It is considered to be the final draft. Though the insertions are in Norinaga's handwriting, the text of the manuscript seems to be written by someone else.
UEDA Akinari, 1734-1809
Ueda Akinari is known both as a Japanese classical scholar and as the author of Ugetsu Monogatari from the late Edo period. He was also famous for his talent as a haiku and tanka poet. Though Akinari had a reputation of being an obstinate person for having a dispute with Motoori Norinaga and disparaging Kimura Kenkado, he stayed on good terms with Ota Nanpo.
16 Chasetsu, [ca. 1808] [WA18-13]
A small essay Akinari had written on tea-themed waka poetry.
Akinari pointed out that although on-yomi (pronunciation of Chinese characters based on Chinese sound) were seldom used in waka, cha (tea) can be an exception.
HIRATA Atsutane, 1776-1843
Hirata Atsutane was a scholar of Japanese classical literature who proclaimed to be the 'Posthumous apprentice of Motoori Norinaga', became his successor in the aspect of ancient ethics study, and advocated the philosophy of reverence for the Emperor's restoration. Atsutane"s thought had a significant impact on the sonno joi undo (lit. the movement to revere the Emperor and expel the barbarians) at the end of the Edo period.
17 Hirata Atsutane shukan, [ca. 1830] [WA25-12]
This is a letter sent from Atsutane to a Japanese scholar Yashiro Hirokata, answering the questions Yashiro had asked about the meaning of some waka poetry.
This letter was written in reddish brown ink. It is said that this happened because when the messenger from Yashiro came in, Atsutane was in the middle of writing something in that color, and he wrote the reply instantly without switching his brush.
17 Related material: Konin rekiunki ko (Atsutane's own handwriting), [1836] [WA18-27]
A draft of a commentary for Konin rekiunki by Atsutane. The use of reddish brown ink can be seen on the right page.
SHIBUE Chusai, 1805–1858
Chusai was a doctor, Confucian scholar, and bibliographer. He studied medicine under Izawa Ranken and served as the official doctor for the Tsugaru Domain at their estate in Edo; while working there, he also studied under Ichino Meian and Kariya Ekisai and made a name for himself as a historian and bibliographer. The work Keiseki hokoshi that he co-authored with Mori Kien is a compilation of Chinese old books preserved in Japan along with commentary. This work represents the pinnacle of Edo-period bibliography. His personal library is said to have comprised approximately 35,000 volumes.
18 Edokagamizu mokuroku, [Late Edo Period] [237-238]
An autograph manuscript. Annotations and instances of authorial self-attribution such as "noted by Chusai" are found in this catalog of bukan (a list of feudal lords, direct vassals of the Shogunate, and officials of the Shogunate) and bibliography of maps and geographical studies of Edo. The name Chusai became widely known through Mori Ogai's historical biography Shibue chusai. According to Ogai, he observed that many bukan bore the ownership stamp "library of Shibue, medical official of Hirosaki" and that manuscripts authored by Chusai housed in the former Imperial Library (a predecessor of the present National Diet Library) had the same stamp. This led him to investigate whether "Chusai" and "Mr. Shibue" were in fact the same person. The material presented here is the very manuscript that prompted Ogai, upon consulting it, to write that biography.