Scholar of Dutch Studies MAENO Ryotaku & Japanese Southern School
of Chinese Painter TANOMURA Chikuden |
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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. |
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A Philosopher of the Enlightenment Thought FUKUZAWA Yukichi |
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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). |
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Persons of Talent in the Modern / Contemporary Period |
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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. |
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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)
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