− | Takano Chôei was a scholar of Western learning during the [[Sakoku]] of the [[Edo Period]]. He studied Western medicine under the German doctor [[Philipp von Siebold]] of the Dutch mission at [[Nagasaki]], and was interested in politics and economics as well.
| + | In [[1839]], Chôei was rounded up with many other ''rangaku'' scholars and sentenced to life in prison. While in prison he wrote a treatise on Western learning in Japan called ''Bansha Sôyaku Shôki'' (A Short Record of a Meeting with Misfortune). The book examines the history of Western knowledge entering Japan from the [[Sengoku Period]] to the 1830's. He eventually escaped prison, and hid out for a time in [[Uwajima han]], and then in the Aoyama neighborhood of [[Edo]], but when he was found again by shogunate officials, he committed suicide rather than be captured again. |
− | In [[1839]], Chôei was rounded up with many other ''[[rangaku]]'' scholars and sentenced to life in prison. While in prison he wrote a treatise on Western learning in Japan called ''Bansha Sôyaku Shôki'' (A Short Record of a Meeting with Misfortune). The book examines the history of Western knowledge entering Japan from the [[Sengoku Period]] to the 1830's. He eventually escaped prison, but committed suicide rather than live the rest of his life as a fugitive. | |