In [[1839]], Chôei was rounded up with many other western 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. | In [[1839]], Chôei was rounded up with many other western 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. |