Kamo no Mabuchi
Encyclopedia
was a Japanese
poet
and philologist of the Edo period
.
Mabuchi conducted research into the spirit of ancient Japan through his studies of the Man'yōshū and other works of ancient literature. A disciple of Kada no Azumamaro
, Mabuchi is regarded as one of the four greats of Kokugaku
.
Mabuchi’s works include commentaries on the Man'yōshū, norito (Shinto prayers), kagura
(Shinto dances), the Tale of Genji, the meaning of poems, and other ancient works and their themes.
His disciples included Motoori Norinaga
, Arakida Hisaoyu, Kato Chikage, Murata Harumi, Katori Nahiko, Hanawa Hokiichi, Uchiyama Matatsu, and Kurita Hijimaro.
in Kyoto.
At the age of 37, Mabuchi moved to Kyoto
and became a disciple of Kada no Azumamaro. Following the master’s death in 1736, Mabuchi moved to Edo
in 1738 where he taught Kokugaku.
In 1763, while Mabuchi was on his way to Ise Shrine, Motoori Norinaga sought him out and became a disciple. This single night of discussions, later known as ‘the night in Matsuzaka’, was the only occasion on which Norinaga directly received teaching from Mabuchi, although the two men later corresponded.
An explanatory marker stands at the site of Mabuchi’s residence in Edo (Hisamatsu-cho, Nihonbashi
, Chūō, Tokyo
). His grave can be found in the Tokaiji cemetery in Shinagawa
. A museum stands beside the house where he was born in Hamamatsu (Higashi-Iba, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka
).
Japanese people
The are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries...
poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
and philologist of the Edo period
Edo period
The , or , is a division of Japanese history which was ruled by the shoguns of the Tokugawa family, running from 1603 to 1868. The political entity of this period was the Tokugawa shogunate....
.
Mabuchi conducted research into the spirit of ancient Japan through his studies of the Man'yōshū and other works of ancient literature. A disciple of Kada no Azumamaro
Kada no Azumamaro
was a poet and philologist of the early Edo period, who hailed from a scholarly family that for generations had supplied Shinto priests to the Inari shrine in Fushimi...
, Mabuchi is regarded as one of the four greats of Kokugaku
Kokugaku
Kokugaku was a National revival, or, school of Japanese philology and philosophy originating during the Tokugawa period...
.
Mabuchi’s works include commentaries on the Man'yōshū, norito (Shinto prayers), kagura
Kagura
- Fictional characters :*Kagura Tsuchimiya, the protagonist of Ga-rei*Kagura, an InuYasha character*Kagura Sohma , a Fruits Basket character*Kagura, an Azumanga Daioh character*Ten'nōzu Kagura, a Speed Grapher character...
(Shinto dances), the Tale of Genji, the meaning of poems, and other ancient works and their themes.
His disciples included Motoori Norinaga
Motoori Norinaga
was a Japanese scholar of Kokugaku active during the Edo period. He is probably the best known and most prominent of all scholars in this tradition.-Life:...
, Arakida Hisaoyu, Kato Chikage, Murata Harumi, Katori Nahiko, Hanawa Hokiichi, Uchiyama Matatsu, and Kurita Hijimaro.
Life
Mabuchi was born in 1697 as the third son of the Hamamatsu Shinto priest Okabe Masanobu. The Okabe were a lower branch of Kamo ShrineKamo Shrine
is a general term for an important Shinto sanctuary complex on both banks of the Kamo River in northeast Kyoto. It is centered on two shrines. The two shrines, an upper and a lower, lie in a corner of the old capital which was known as the due to traditional geomancy beliefs that the north-east...
in Kyoto.
At the age of 37, Mabuchi moved to Kyoto
Kyoto
is a city in the central part of the island of Honshū, Japan. It has a population close to 1.5 million. Formerly the imperial capital of Japan, it is now the capital of Kyoto Prefecture, as well as a major part of the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto metropolitan area.-History:...
and became a disciple of Kada no Azumamaro. Following the master’s death in 1736, Mabuchi moved to Edo
Edo
, also romanized as Yedo or Yeddo, is the former name of the Japanese capital Tokyo, and was the seat of power for the Tokugawa shogunate which ruled Japan from 1603 to 1868...
in 1738 where he taught Kokugaku.
In 1763, while Mabuchi was on his way to Ise Shrine, Motoori Norinaga sought him out and became a disciple. This single night of discussions, later known as ‘the night in Matsuzaka’, was the only occasion on which Norinaga directly received teaching from Mabuchi, although the two men later corresponded.
An explanatory marker stands at the site of Mabuchi’s residence in Edo (Hisamatsu-cho, Nihonbashi
Nihonbashi
, or Nihombashi, is a business district of Chūō, Tokyo, Japan which grew up around the bridge of the same name which has linked two sides of the Nihonbashi River at this site since the 17th century. The first wooden bridge was completed in 1603, and the current bridge made of stone dates from 1911...
, Chūō, Tokyo
Chuo, Tokyo
is one of the 23 special wards that form the heart of Tokyo, Japan. The ward refers to itself as Chūō City in English.Its Japanese name literally means "Central Ward," and it is historically the main commercial center of Tokyo, although Shinjuku has risen to challenge it since the end of World War II...
). His grave can be found in the Tokaiji cemetery in Shinagawa
Shinagawa, Tokyo
is one of the 23 special wards of Tokyo, Japan. In English, it is called Shinagawa City. The ward is home to nine embassies.As of 2008, the ward has an estimated population of 344,461 and a density of 15,740 persons per km². The total area is 22.72 km²....
. A museum stands beside the house where he was born in Hamamatsu (Higashi-Iba, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka
Shizuoka Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region on Honshu island. The capital is the city of Shizuoka.- History :Shizuoka prefecture was formed from the former Tōtōmi, Suruga and Izu provinces.The area was the home of the first Tokugawa Shogun...
).
See also
- KokugakuKokugakuKokugaku was a National revival, or, school of Japanese philology and philosophy originating during the Tokugawa period...
- Man'yōshū
- ShintoShintoor Shintoism, also kami-no-michi, is the indigenous spirituality of Japan and the Japanese people. It is a set of practices, to be carried out diligently, to establish a connection between present day Japan and its ancient past. Shinto practices were first recorded and codified in the written...
- Kada no AzumamaroKada no Azumamarowas a poet and philologist of the early Edo period, who hailed from a scholarly family that for generations had supplied Shinto priests to the Inari shrine in Fushimi...
- Japanese nationalismJapanese nationalismencompasses a broad range of ideas and sentiments harbored by the Japanese people over the last two centuries regarding their native country, its cultural nature, political form and historical destiny...
- KeichūKeichuKeichu may refer to:* Keichu Do, a modern branch of the martial arts.* Keichū, a Japanese scholar of the Edo period....
- Motoori NorinagaMotoori Norinagawas a Japanese scholar of Kokugaku active during the Edo period. He is probably the best known and most prominent of all scholars in this tradition.-Life:...
- Ueda AkinariUeda AkinariUeda Akinari or Ueda Shūsei was a Japanese author, scholar and waka poet, and a prominent literary figure in 18th century Japan...