| „ |
Scholar of Dutch Studies MAENO Ryotaku & Japanese
Southern School of Chinese Painter TANOMURA Chikuden |
|
 |
A scholar of Dutch studies MAENO Ryotaku (1723-1805), who began Dutch studies at the age of 47, had an opportunity to study it in Nagasaki by the support from OKUDAIRA Masaka who acknowledged the importance of Dutch studies. In Nagasaki he joined a translation project of a book of anatomy "Tafel Anatomia" with SUGITA Genpaku. While Genpaku published this book as "Kaitai Shinsho (New Human Anatomy)", Ryotaku refused to have his name recorded as one of the translators because he considered that the degree of perfection of the translation was less sufficient than he had intended. Ryotaku wrote a Dutch language text-book called "Oranda Yakusen (Dutch/Japanese Dictionary)". OKURA Nagatsune (1766-1860), a scholar of agriculture, was born in Hita and wrote "Nokaeki (Profit for Farmers)", "Nogu Benriron (Efficient Use of Agricultural Equipment)", "Koeki Kokusanko (Essay on Nation's Benefit)" etc. He quoted an illustration from "Kaitai Shinsho" in his writing of "Kan Nogyosho : Nokahi Bairon (Recommendation of Agriculture : Theory of Manure in Agriculture)" to explain biological circulation systems.
Oita takes pride in TANOMURA Chikuden (1777-1839) as the
greatest painter of the Japanese Southern school of Chinese
painting. He began to paintin his youth and had many exchanges
with men of letters and cultured persons such as RAI Sanyo.
His fame as a painter grew in the late Bunsei period (around
1820's), and most of his great works presently Important
Cultural Assets were drawn in this period, such as "Inagawa
Shuyuzu (Boating Excursion)", "Senso Shogicho
(Picture from a Boat Window)", and "Mata Mata
Ichirakucho (Little Pleasures)". Besides painting,
his talents were also fully exhibited in writing in "Bungo
Kokushi (History of Oita)" and an essay on drawing
called "Sanchujin Jozetsu (A Talkative Man)".
TAKAHASHI Sohei (1804?-1835) and HOASHI Kyou (1810-1884)
were his disciples. |
| „ |
A Philosopher of the Enlightenment Thought
FUKUZAWA Yukichi |
|
|
FUKUZAWA Yukichi
(1835-1901) had studied in Nagasaki to learn Dutch studies,
and delved much deeper into it at OGATA Koan's private
school "Tekijuku" in Osaka. At the age of 25,
he opened his private school for Dutch studies at Edo
(Tokyo) Office in the domain of Nakatsu, which was the
beginning of "Keio Gijuku". However, he soon
realized that English language and studies of Britain
would become a must in the future and changed his interest
to studying English. He broadened his horizons by taking
a trip to Europe and twice to America as one of the suites
of the Tokugawa Shogunate government delegation. His writing
of "Seiyo Jijo (Western Affairs)" became a best
seller.
After the Meiji Restoration, he turned down the invitation
to be an officer of the new government and played an active
part outside of government. His major arguments pointed
towards the importance of the independence of Japan and
egalitarianism in the international society. The ideas
were expressed in his works "Gakumon-no Susume (Recommendation
of Learning)" and "Bunmeiron-no Gairyaku (Outline
of Civilization)". Keio Gijuku school produced many
excellent scholars, politicians and businessmen of Oita
such as OBATA Tokujiro (1843-1905), YANO Fumio (Ryukei
: 1850-1931), NAKAMIGAWA Hikojiro (1854-1901), ASABUKI
Eiji (1894-1918) and SHODA Heigoro (1846-1922). |
| „ |
Persons of Talent in the Modern / Contemporary
Period |
|
|
The composer of
the famous pieces of music "Kojo-no Tsuki (The Moon
over the Ruined Castle)" and "Hana (Flower)",
TAKI Rentaro (1879-1903), studied in Germany after graduating
from Tokyo Music School. However, a serious illness brought
him back to Japan and he died at the age of 23. His schoolmates
established a stone monument with the words "Oh,
our genius musician TAKI Rentaro" beside his tomb
in Manjuji Temple. Oita also takes pride in many talented
musicians such as the excellent vocalist TACHIKAWA Sumito
(1929-1985), composer KIYOSE Yasuji (1900-1981) who was
born in Usa and improved Japanese folk music, and SONODA
Kiyohide (1903- 1935) who urged the necessity of education
of perfect pitch in early childhood. In the field of art,
Oita also has produced many fine artists such as sculptor
ASAKURA Fumio (1883-1964), Japanese-style painter FUKUDA
Heihachiro (1892-1974), Western - style painters KATADA
Tokuro (1889-1934) and UJIYAMA Teppei (1910-1986), and
bamboo craftsman SHONO Shounsai (1904-1974 ) .
In literature, Oita boasts of writer of narrating stories
for children KURUSHIMA Takehiko (1874-1960), woman writer
NOGAMI Yaeko (1885-1985), lyric writer YOSHIMARU Kazumasa
(1873- 1917), novelist HAYASHI Fusao (1903-1975) and so
on. In sports, there are the examples of 69 times consecutive
victor of Yokozuna , the grand champion of sumo wrestling,
FUTABAYAMA Sadaji (1912-1968), the great sumo wrestler
called "Arahoshi (Rough Bonze)", TANOUMI Daitaro
(1923-1987), "Fireball" baseball pitcher ARAMAKI
Atsushi (1926-1971) and soon . In the political/financial
world, OI Kentaro(1843-1922), INOUE Junnosuke (1869-1933),
SHIGEMITSU Mamoru (1887-1957), and many others are prominent.
In addition to these people, Oita has produced countless
talents in the academic field or previous arms forces,
as well as in various fields both nationally and internationally. |
|
@ |
MAENO Ryotaku
OKURA Nagatsune
((C)Oita Prefecture Ancient Sages Historical Archive)
TANOMURA Chikuden
Works by TANOMURA Chikuden
FUKUZAWA Yukichi
YANO Ryukei
((C)Oita Prefecture Ancient Sages Historical Archive)
TAKI Rentaro
ASAKURA Fumio
Oita Prefecture Ancient Sages Historical Archive (Oita Prefectural
Library)
|
