Shoeki Sano

Japanese: 佐野紹益 - さのしょうえき

1607‐91 (12th year of Keicho to 4th year of Genroku)
A wealthy merchant in the early Edo period. A representative figure of the upper class townspeople of Kyoto. His given name was Shigetaka, commonly known as Saburobei. Shoeki was a pen name. His father was Sano Shoyu, and according to one theory, Hon'ami Mitsumasu. Since the Nanboku-cho period, his family business was dealing in indigo ash used as a catalyst in indigo dyeing, and he controlled the indigo ash wholesale business, hence his family name, Haiya. However, it is said that the business had already been discontinued by his father Shoyu, and only the family name remained. He was well versed in all arts, having studied waka and haiku with Karasuma Mitsuhiro and Matsunaga Teitoku, kemari with Asukai Masaaki, calligraphy with Hon'ami Koetsu, and tea ceremony with Sen Doan. He joined the group of cultural figures centered around Koetsu, and had an extremely wide circle of acquaintances, including Emperor Gomizunoo, nobles, feudal lords, samurai, artists, tea masters, and monks.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

1607‐91(慶長12‐元禄4)
江戸初期の豪商。京都上層町衆の代表的人物。名は重孝，通称は三郎兵衛。紹益は号である。父は佐野紹由，一説に本阿弥光益とも。南北朝時代以来，藍染の触媒に用いる灰を扱う紺灰屋を家業とし，紺灰問屋を支配したことから，家号を灰屋という。ただし，すでに父紹由のころより業はやめ，家号だけが存していたともいわれる。和歌，俳諧を烏丸光広，松永貞徳に，蹴鞠（けまり）を飛鳥井雅章に，書を本阿弥光悦に，茶の湯を千道安に学ぶなど，あらゆる芸能に精通し，光悦を中心とする文化人グループに加わり，後水尾上皇をはじめ公卿，大名，武士，美術家，茶人，僧侶など，その交際範囲はきわめて広かった。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

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