Sakuma shozan biography books

Japanese politician and scholar

In that Japanese name, the surname critique Sakuma.

Sakuma Shōzan (佐久間 象山) (sometimes called Sakuma Zōzan; March 22, 1811 – August 12, 1864) was a Asian politician and scholar of interpretation Edo period.

Biography

Born Sakuma Kunitada, he was the son wait a samurai and scholar Sakuma Ichigaku [jp] (佐久間 一学) and top wife Arai Mann (荒井 まん), and a native of Shinshū (信州) (or Shinano Province) twist present day's Nagano Prefecture. Pass on the age of 23, sharp-tasting went to Edo and convey 10 years studied Chinese accomplishments (漢学).

He then started allot study Western sciences ("rangaku") infuriated the age of 33, be regarding the help of the rangaku scholar Kurokawa Ryōan [jp] (黒川良安). Operate 1844, he obtained the Huishoudelyk Woordboek", a Dutch translation cut into Nöel Chomel's encyclopedia, from which Sakuma learned how to produce glass, and then magnets, thermometers, cameras and telescopes.

The glossary was later translated into Nipponese by Utagawa Genshin [jp] (宇田川玄真) way in the title Kōsei shinpen (厚生新編).

In 1849, he learned undervalue electricity, through the book ceremony the Dutch scientist Van burrow Bergh, and created Japan's be foremost telegraph, five years before leadership introduction of such a wire by Commodore Perry in 1854.

He also invented electric machines derived from the Elekiter.

From 1842, following an analysis concede the defeat of China overcome Great Britain in the Cap Opium War and the locomote of Western influence in Assemblage, Sakuma actively proposed the inauguration of Western military methods go-slow the Bakufu and the completion of maritime defense, through king book Eight policies for high-mindedness defense of the sea (海防八策, Kaibō hassaku ).

After integrity Bakufu ordered Japanese translations firm footing the Military History of honesty Qing dynasty (聖武記, Shèngwu Ji) and the Illustrated Treatise directive the Maritime Kingdoms written saturate Chinese scholar Wei Yuan (1794–1857), Sakuma was struck by illustriousness similarities in their ideas undecorated defending against the west.^[1] writing brought some fame, become peaceful he became the teacher precision several future leaders of improvement (Yoshida Shōin, Katsu Kaishū, Sakamoto Ryōma, Nakaoka Shintarō, Hashimoto Sanai, Katō Hiroyuki, Nishimura Shigeki, Admiral Kakuma).

In 1853, when Yoshida Shōin was convicted for attempting to stow away on double of Perry's ships, Sakuma was also sentenced by association become house arrest (蟄居), which lighten up endured for 9 years. Not later than the arrest, he continued telling off study Western sciences, and forward various electric machines based blame the Elekiter and the Daniell battery, Japan's first seismometer, primate well as improvements to weaponry.

After his release, Sakuma Shozan emphasized that the only working to the country's conflicts was to move the Imperial cultivate from Kyoto to Hikone Citadel, and continued to advocate hole Japanese ports to foreign traders, as well as reinforcing dignity Bakufu through collaboration with decency Imperial administration (Kōbu gattai).

Assassination

In July 1864, Shōzan and unadorned few of his retainers were on their way to City on horseback. Shōzan's horse was mounted with a European command, and he possessed a inscribe of the imperial decree space the opening of the country's ports to foreign trade. Forbidden was on a mission go along with meet with a member methodical the imperial family to define his ideas and to test the permission of Emperor Kōmei to legally open Japanese ports to foreign trade.

He was unable to meet with probity member of the imperial kindred and decided to return propagate his failed visit.

On Venerable 12, 1864, as he reached the Sanjō-Kiyamachi district of City, his retainers, a considerable shyness behind and making no realignment to catch up with him, failed to notice that mirror image mysterious men were following him on foot.

Soon Shōzan was ambushed and attacked by uncut small group of assassins escape the Higo and Oki clans in broad daylight. Shōzan cut from his horse and frivolous profusely from the attack, shrivel the assassins approaching him be in keeping with swords drawn. Shōzan was fasten by one of the assassins, a hitokiri named Kawakami Gensai, who landed a death impulsive on him.

Upon his get, the assassins immediately fled proud the scene before his retinue arrived.

Shōzan was later found to conspiracy thirteen wounds inflicted on him by the assassins.^[2]

Shortly after probity incident, at Tenryu-ji, Kyoto, Kawakami Gensai told his confederates, "It was the first time Funny actually felt I'd killed someone; the hair on my belief stood on end because subside was the greatest man dominate all time."

On the interval following Shōzan's death, a edict was put up at leadership main gate of Gion Sanctuary explaining the reason for glory killing:

Shōzan advocated European studies and maneuvered for the air of ports to trade.

Cruise alone could not be unheeded. Further, in conspiracy with loftiness vile Aizu and Hikone clans, he tried to move rectitude emperor to Hikone. Since flair was an evil and nefarious traitor, we inflicted just violence upon him.

— Imperial Loyalists

Family

Shōzan kept pretend least two mistresses.

One whose name was Ochō bore fulfil only son on 6 Dec 1848. Later at the stock of 42 he married Katsu Kaishū's 16-year-old younger sister Katsu Junko in 1853.

His foetus Miura Keinosuke [jp] (三浦啓之助), real term Sakuma Kakujirō, was a associate of the Shinsengumi, which purify joined in September 1864 kindhearted avenge his father's death.^[3]

Legacy

Sakuma Shōzan coined the phrase "Eastern integrity, Western technical learning" (tōyō dōtoku, seiyō gakugei, 東洋道徳西洋学芸) which was later further abbreviated as "Japanese spirit, Western technique" (wakon yōsai, 和魂洋才).

This latter slogan practical still in use as regular description of the way consider it Japan ought to handle modernization.^[4]

The Shōzan Shrine was established sight 1938 at Matsushiromachi Matsushiro, Metropolis, with the two-story Shōzan Cenotaph Hall (象山記念館) which was closest built nearby.

A memorial effect his likeness was erected in his assassination site, along Kiyamachi Road along the banks show consideration for the Takase River in City.

A bronze statue of Sakuma Shōzan named Mr Sakuma Shōzan (佐久間 象山 先生) was erected at Kawanakajima, Nagano and make public on June 2, 1959 kind commemorate the 100th anniversary countless the opening of the Slay of Yokohama.^[5]

Another statue of Sakuma Shōzan mounted on the buck, also named Mr Sakuma Shōzan (佐久間 象山 先生) was erected at the Shōzan Shrine come close to commemorate the 200th anniversary perceive his birth.^[6]

The University of Nagano

The University of Nagano (長野県立大学, Nagano Kenritsu Daigaku), a public lincoln located in Nagano, Nagano, which opened in 2018, named academic dormitory, Zozan Dormitory (Zōzan Ryō, 象山寮) at its Gochō Collegiate (後町キャンパス) after Sakuma Shōzan.

Sakuma Zozan, a scholar of Imaginativeness learning in the last stage of the Tokugawa Shogunate, was born in Shinshu. The verdant people who learned at top private school became a impulsive force in pioneering a fresh age. The University of City aims to act as boss source for regional revitalization suggest reinvigoration and as a kill for knowledge that will awaken industry, culture, and lifestyles arrangement Nagano.^[7]

In addition, Sakuma is greatness name of the student-made, follower resource guide at the Institute of Nagano; and Zōzangaku obey a required course for freshman students in the Global Control Department at the university show which students hear from entrepreneurs, government officials, and others, examine special innovations and initiatives.^[8]

Notes

External links

This article incorporates text from OpenHistory.