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| Kan Chazan (or Sazan) was a prominent ''kangakusha'', or scholar of Chinese studies, in the mid-[[Edo period]]. | | Kan Chazan (or Sazan) was a prominent ''kangakusha'', or scholar of Chinese studies, in the mid-[[Edo period]]. |
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− | He was the eldest son of a [[sake|saké]] seller, but passed on the family business to his younger brother in [[1786]], devoting himself more exclusively to his studies. This came after some time spent studying in [[Kyoto]] and [[Osaka]] before establishing his own private academy (''juku'') in [[1781]]. | + | He was the eldest son of a [[sake|saké]] seller, but spent considerable time in [[Kyoto]] and [[Osaka]] before establishing his own private academy (''juku'') in [[1781]]. Instruction there centered chiefly on examination and interpretation of [[Confucian classics|Confucian texts]]. In [[1796]], Chazan passed on the family business to his younger brother, and donated his academy to the [[han|domain]], dedicating himself more exclusively to his teaching and studies. The domain renamed the academy Renjuku, and housed ten to thirty boarding students there at any given time; those who could not afford the fees could work for their share. Chazan supported himself chiefly from the land he owned, and from a domainal stipend. |
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| + | His personal collection is known to have included objects related to the [[Ryukyuan embassies to Edo]]. |
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− | His personal collection is known to have included objects related to the [[Ryukyuan embassies to Edo]].
| + | Following Chazan's death, his son continued to manage the school until it was forced to close in [[1872]] along with most other private academies in Japan (in conjunction with the establishment of the [[public education]] system). The Renjuku buildings were preserved, and were named a national historical site in 1953. |
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| {{stub}} | | {{stub}} |
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| ==References== | | ==References== |
| + | *Margaret Mehl, "[http://www.historytoday.com/margaret-mehl/local-heroes Local Heroes]," ''History Today'', August 2001. |
| *''Ryûkyû shisetsu, Edo e iku!'' 琉球使節、江戸へ行く! Naha: Okinawa Prefectural Museum, 2009. p38. | | *''Ryûkyû shisetsu, Edo e iku!'' 琉球使節、江戸へ行く! Naha: Okinawa Prefectural Museum, 2009. p38. |
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| [[Category:Edo Period]] | | [[Category:Edo Period]] |
| [[Category:Scholars and Philosophers]] | | [[Category:Scholars and Philosophers]] |