Military training school

A military training institute established by the Edo Shogunate as part of military reforms at the end of the Tokugawa period. As part of the military reforms to counter external pressure, the Shogunate established a military training center in 1855 (Ansei 2) and announced that military training, including martial arts and gunnery, would be given to hatamoto and lower-ranking officers. Later, this training center was renamed a military training center, and the following year, 1856, a military training center was completed in Teppozu, Tsukiji (later a training center was also established in Ecchujima, Fukagawa). It opened on April 13 of the same year. A memorandum of the rules for the military training center was published, entry procedures were established, and it was stated that in the future it would be open to subordinate vassals and ronin (masterless samurai). Shogun Tokugawa Iesada led the senior councilors and lower ranks in the opening, and from then on, military arts, Western-style training, gunnery, and other training became popular for the Shogunate. Later, as a naval training school was established within the grounds of Teppozu, the military training school was moved to Kanda Ogawamachi in 1860 (Man'en 1), and renamed the Army School in November 1866 (Keio 2). Selected professors were the masters of the time, including swordsman Odani Seiichiro, Iba Gunbei, Sakakibara Kenkichi, and Momoi Shunzo, spearman Takahashi Deishu, and gunnery master Shimosone Kanesaburo, Takashima Shuhan, and Katsu Kaishu.

[Akira Tanaka]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

幕末期、江戸幕府が軍制改革の一環として設置した軍事の訓練機関。外圧に対する軍制改革を進めるなかで、幕府は1855年（安政2）講武場を創設して、旗本以下の面々に武芸・砲術をはじめとする軍事訓練を行うことを布告したが、その後、この講武場を講武所と改め、翌56年、築地(つきじ)鉄砲洲(てっぽうず)に講武所を竣工(しゅんこう)させた（のち深川越中島(えっちゅうじま)にも調練場を設置）。開業は同年4月13日。講武所規則覚書を公示し、入所手続などを定め、将来は陪臣や浪人にも開放するとした。開業には将軍徳川家定(いえさだ)が老中以下を率いて臨み、以後、幕府の武芸・洋式訓練・砲術などが盛んになった。のち鉄砲洲の構内に軍艦操錬所が設けられたため、講武所は60年（万延1）神田小川町に移され、66年（慶応2）11月陸軍所と改称された。教授として、剣術の男谷(おだに)精一郎・伊庭(いば)軍兵衛・榊原鍵吉(さかきばらけんきち)・桃井(もものい)春蔵、槍術(そうじゅつ)の高橋泥舟(でいしゅう)、砲術の下曽根(しもそね)金三郎・高島秋帆(しゅうはん)・勝海舟(かいしゅう)ら当代の大家が選ばれた。

［田中　彰］

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