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Kuraoka's origins are somewhat unclear; it has been suggested that he was either the son of a [[Nagasaki]]-based Japanese family of hereditary [[Nagasaki interpreters|Chinese-language interpreters]], or the illegitimate son of a Nagasaki-based Chinese merchant. He arrived in [[Edo]] from Nagasaki in [[1698]], and eventually attracted the attention of [[Ogyu Sorai|Ogyû Sorai]], who provided him with a position within the Yanagisawa household.

Kuraoka's origins are somewhat unclear; it has been suggested that he was either the son of a [[Nagasaki]]-based Japanese family of hereditary [[Nagasaki interpreters|Chinese-language interpreters]], or the illegitimate son of a Nagasaki-based Chinese merchant. He arrived in [[Edo]] from Nagasaki in [[1698]], and eventually attracted the attention of [[Ogyu Sorai|Ogyû Sorai]], who provided him with a position within the Yanagisawa household.

Kuraoka is said to have spoken Chinese quite well, and gave lectures on the [[Confucian classics]] on at least a few known occasions, when the shogun made a formal ''[[onari]]'' visit to Yanagisawa's mansion. These lectures included discussions of the [[Great Learning]] (''Daxue'') and of the [[Doctrine of the Mean]] (''Zhongyong'').

Kuraoka is said to have spoken Chinese quite well, and gave lectures on the [[Confucian classics]] on several occasions, when the shogun made a formal ''[[onari]]'' visit to Yanagisawa's mansion. These lectures included discussions of the [[Great Learning]] (''Daxue'') and of the [[Doctrine of the Mean]] (''Zhongyong'').

The calligraphic inscription on Sorai's tombstone is said to be in Kuraoka's hand.

The calligraphic inscription on Sorai's tombstone is said to be in Kuraoka's hand.