The Three Eccentrics of the Kansei Era

Around the time of the Kansei era (1789-1801) in the late Edo period, Hayashi Shihei, who wrote "Kaikoku Heidan" (Military Affairs of the Sea Country), stressing the urgency of coastal defense; Takayama Hikokuro, who advocated loyalty to the emperor and traveled around the country; and Gamou Kunpei, who compiled "Sanryo-shi" (Records of Imperial Mausolea) and lamented the deterioration of the tombs of the successive emperors, were all famous for their eccentric behavior. At the end of the Edo period, these three were collectively called the Three Eccentrics or the Three Strange Men. Of course, this nickname was not just about their eccentric behavior, but also about the commonality between the three men, who anticipated and lamented the problems of the time, and who discussed national defense and respect for the emperor, which became central issues at the end of the Edo period, as early as the Kansei era.

[Makoto Takeuchi]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

江戸後期の寛政（1789～1801）のころ、海防の緊要性を説き『海国兵談』を著した林子平(しへい)、勤王を提唱し諸国を遊説した高山彦九郎(ひこくろう)、歴代天皇陵の荒廃を嘆き『山陵志(さんりょうし)』を編纂(へんさん)した蒲生君平(がもうくんぺい)の3人は、ともに奇行の多いことで有名であった。幕末には、この3人をまとめて三奇人とか三奇士と称した。もちろん単に奇行のみならず、時弊を先取りして嘆じ、また幕末に中心的な課題となる国防や尊王を、早く寛政のころに論じた3人の共通性が、この呼称の背景にあった。

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