Changes

*''Born: [[1668]]''

*''Born: [[1668]]''

*''Died: [[1755]]''

*''Died: [[1755]]''

Amenomori Hôshû was a prominent [[Neo-Confucianism|Confucian]] advisor to the lords of [[Tsushima han]].

Amenomori Hôshû was a prominent [[Neo-Confucianism|Confucian]] advisor to the lords of [[Tsushima han]].

He studied under [[Kinoshita Jun'an]] before entering the service of Tsushima. At the age of 22, he was recommended by Jun'an to enter the service of that domain, and took up a position at the [[Tsushima Edo mansion|Tsushima mansion in Edo]]. Three years later, he was sent by the domain to [[Nagasaki]], where he was to study [[Chinese language|Chinese]]. Hôshû also later traveled to [[Pusan]] numerous times, where he studied [[Korean language|Korean]].<ref name=okayama>''Chôsen tsûshinshi to Okayama'', Okayama Prefectural Museum (2007), 58.</ref> One such sojourn in Korea took place in [[1712]], following the death of [[Shogun]] [[Tokugawa Ienobu]]. The Korean court dispatched a formal embassy expressing condolences, and Amenomori then spent ten days in Pusan as head of a mission formally expressing gratitude for those condolences; while there, he compiled a volume of notes and thoughts on the character of Korean culture, and its fundamental differences from that of Tokugawa Japan.<ref>''Tomonotsu Nakamura ke monjo mokuroku VII'', Fukuyama: Tomonoura rekishi minzoku shiryôkan (2012), 62.</ref>

Originally from [[Omi province|Ômi province]], he began studying under [[Kinoshita Jun'an]] at the age of 18 before later entering the service of Tsushima. At the age of 22, he was recommended by Jun'an to enter the service of that domain, and took up a position at the [[Tsushima Edo mansion|Tsushima mansion in Edo]]. Three years later, he was sent by the domain to [[Nagasaki]], where he was to study [[Chinese language|Chinese]]. He then traveled to Tsushima at age 26, where he was provided with a residence and a stipend of 200 ''[[koku]]'', remaining there in service to the domain for many years.<ref>Plaques on-site at former location of Hôshû's mansion, Izuhara-chô, Tsushima.[https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/52093567385/sizes/l/]</ref>

 

Hôshû also later traveled to [[Pusan]] numerous times, where he studied [[Korean language|Korean]].<ref name=okayama>''Chôsen tsûshinshi to Okayama'', Okayama Prefectural Museum (2007), 58.</ref> One such sojourn in Korea took place in [[1712]], following the death of [[Shogun]] [[Tokugawa Ienobu]]. The Korean court dispatched a formal embassy expressing condolences, and Amenomori then spent ten days in Pusan as head of a mission formally expressing gratitude for those condolences; while there, he compiled a volume of notes and thoughts on the character of Korean culture, and its fundamental differences from that of Tokugawa Japan.<ref>''Tomonotsu Nakamura ke monjo mokuroku VII'', Fukuyama: Tomonoura rekishi minzoku shiryôkan (2012), 62.</ref>

In the early years of the 18th century, shogunal advisor [[Arai Hakuseki]], a fellow student of Jun'an, sought to revise much of the protocols and practices used in diplomatic exchanges with Korea. These included abandoning the term ''[[taikun]]'' ("Great Prince") to refer to the shogun, and the adoption instead of ''Nihon kokuô'' ("King of Japan"), a term explicitly rejected by [[Hayashi Razan]] in [[1635]]. Amenomori opposed these changes, in part due to his experience (which Hakuseki lacked) in the actual practicalities of negotiation and compromise with the Korean court.<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), 87.</ref> In the end, however, his opposition was unsuccessful.<ref name=carnival>Ronald Toby, "Carnival of the Aliens," ''Monumenta Nipponica'' 41:4 (1986), 435-436.</ref>

In the early years of the 18th century, shogunal advisor [[Arai Hakuseki]], a fellow student of Jun'an, sought to revise much of the protocols and practices used in diplomatic exchanges with Korea. These included abandoning the term ''[[taikun]]'' ("Great Prince") to refer to the shogun, and the adoption instead of ''Nihon kokuô'' ("King of Japan"), a term explicitly rejected by [[Hayashi Razan]] in [[1635]]. Amenomori opposed these changes, in part due to his experience (which Hakuseki lacked) in the actual practicalities of negotiation and compromise with the Korean court.<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), 87.</ref> In the end, however, his opposition was unsuccessful.<ref name=carnival>Ronald Toby, "Carnival of the Aliens," ''Monumenta Nipponica'' 41:4 (1986), 435-436.</ref>

A memorial hall and library dedicated to him, called Hôshû Shoin, operates today in Amenomori's hometown in [[Shiga prefecture]].

A memorial hall and library dedicated to him, called Hôshû Shoin, operates today in Amenomori's hometown in [[Shiga prefecture]].

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