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Around the age of 21, the young Hakuseki and his father were expelled from their home [[han|domain]] as the result of some political dispute or scandal. Stripped of the support of their former lords, he then devoted himself all the more deeply to his studies, partially perhaps in the hope of attracting another lord to take him into his service.

Around the age of 21, the young Hakuseki and his father were expelled from their home [[han|domain]] as the result of some political dispute or scandal. Stripped of the support of their former lords, he then devoted himself all the more deeply to his studies, partially perhaps in the hope of attracting another lord to take him into his service.

Hakuseki entered the service of the [[Hotta clan]] in [[1682]], at the age of 26, and later married a daughter of [[Asakura Nagaharu]], another Hotta retainer. His first daughter, Shizu, was born in [[1687]], but died in infancy, possibly at birth. His second daughter, Kiyo, was born in [[1689]]. Hakuseki's first son, [[Arai Akinori]], was born in [[1691]]; Hakuseki resigned from his service to the Hotta earlier that year,<ref>Ackroyd, 283n82.</ref> and moved to a farm at Honjô, in [[Edo]], near the banks of the [[Sumidagawa]].<ref>Ackroyd, 284n86.</ref> Meanwhile, around this same time, he studied under noted Confucian scholar [[Kinoshita Jun'an]]. Beginning in [[1693]], he then served as an advisor to Tokugawa Tsunatoyo, lord of [[Kofu han|Kôfu han]], remaining his advisor as Tsunatoyo became Shogun Tokugawa Ienobu in [[1709]].

Hakuseki entered the service of the [[Hotta clan]] in [[1682]], at the age of 26, and that same year met with [[Korean embassies to Edo|envoys from Korea]], presenting them a collection of his poems, entitled ''Tôjô shishû''. Korean records show that they regarded Hakuseki as possessing "authentic [literary] talent," but that "his personality is more distinguished than his verses."<ref> Lee Jeong Mi, "Cultural Expressions of Tokugawa Japan and Choson Korea: An Analysis of the Korean Embassies in the Eighteenth Century," PhD dissertation, University of Toronto (2008), 94.</ref>

 

Hakuseki later married a daughter of [[Asakura Nagaharu]], another Hotta retainer. His first daughter, Shizu, was born in [[1687]], but died in infancy, possibly at birth. His second daughter, Kiyo, was born in [[1689]]. Hakuseki's first son, [[Arai Akinori]], was born in [[1691]]; Hakuseki resigned from his service to the Hotta earlier that year,<ref>Ackroyd, 283n82.</ref> and moved to a farm at Honjô, in [[Edo]], near the banks of the [[Sumidagawa]].<ref>Ackroyd, 284n86.</ref> Meanwhile, around this same time, he studied under noted Confucian scholar [[Kinoshita Jun'an]]. Beginning in [[1693]], he then served as an advisor to Tokugawa Tsunatoyo, lord of [[Kofu han|Kôfu han]], remaining his advisor as Tsunatoyo became Shogun Tokugawa Ienobu in [[1709]]. Hakuseki enjoyed considerable power and political influence as a result of his close relationship with Ienobu; the shogun was willing to support the implementation of many of Hakuseki's proposals, with little question or challenge. This earned Hakuseki his share of antagonism, however, from other shogunate elites, such as ''[[roju|rôjû]]'' [[Tsuchiya Masanao]], who resented Hakuseki's power, and the ease with which Hakuseki was able to have his ideas implemented.<ref>Lee Jeong Mi, 100.</ref>

Hakuseki was granted ''[[hatamoto]]'' status, a [[stipend]] of one thousand ''[[koku]]''', and the [[court rank]] of Lower Junior Fifth Rank in 1709,<ref>Kate Wildman Nakai, ''Shogunal Politics: Arai Hakuseki and the Premises of Tokugawa Rule'', Harvard East Asian Monographs (1988), 200.</ref> and was named ''Chikugo-no-kami'' in 1711. After Tokugawa Yoshimune became shogun in [[1716]], however, bringing his own circle of advisors and confidants, Hakuseki fell out of influence and prominence. He died in [[1725]] at the age of 69.

Hakuseki was granted ''[[hatamoto]]'' status, a [[stipend]] of one thousand ''[[koku]]''', and the [[court rank]] of Lower Junior Fifth Rank in 1709,<ref>Kate Wildman Nakai, ''Shogunal Politics: Arai Hakuseki and the Premises of Tokugawa Rule'', Harvard East Asian Monographs (1988), 200.</ref> and was named ''Chikugo-no-kami'' in 1711. After Tokugawa Yoshimune became shogun in [[1716]], however, bringing his own circle of advisors and confidants, Hakuseki fell out of influence and prominence. He died in [[1725]] at the age of 69.