Shibukawa Kagesuke

A scholar of astronomy and calendars in the late Edo period. He succeeded the ninth generation of the Shibukawa family of astronomy, and played a key role in the Tenpo calendar reform. He was the second son of Takahashi Yoshitoki of the astronomy. Born in Osaka, he was first called Zensuke, and in 1808 (Bunka 5) he became the adopted son of Shibukawa Tomigoro (1771-1821) of the astronomy. The following year he inherited the family headship and became an astronomy official, and was called Sukezaemon. His pen name was Soshu. In October 1838 (Tenpo 9), he was ordered to take charge of observations, and the following year he was promoted to the rank of Gun and Chest Magistrate for his faithful and diligent work, and in 1841 he was put in charge of the Kudanzaka Astronomical Observatory and served as its director. He was a meticulous man, and made many achievements in the field of calendar science. He assisted his elder brother Takahashi Kageyasu, and after his death took over the translation of his father Toshitoki's Lalande Calendar, completing 40 volumes of the Shinko Calendar and 10 volumes of Shinshu Goseiho, which he presented to the shogunate. The former formed the basis of the Tenpo calendar reform ordered by the shogunate in 1841. He also wrote many books, either by himself or with others, including Reikenkoubou, Rekigaku Monkenroku, Seireki Monkenroku, Santo Rekikanken, Shinshu Suiseiho, Shinho Rekisho Suiri Senjutsu, Kansei Rekisho, and Dozokuroku. According to his gravestone, he died on June 20, 1855, at the age of 70, but the Tenmonkata Daiyoki states that he retired in March 1857. He is buried at Tokai-ji Temple in Shinagawa.

[Toshio Watanabe]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

江戸末期の天文暦学者。天文方渋川家9代を継ぎ、天保(てんぽう)改暦の主役をつとめた。天文方高橋至時(よしとき)の次男。大坂に生まれ、初め善助、1808年（文化5）天文方渋川富五郎（1771―1821）の養嗣子(ようしし)となり、翌年家督相続し天文方となり助左衛門と称した。号は滄洲(そうしゅう)。1838年（天保9）10月観測の掌務をとることを命ぜられ、翌年職務に忠実勤勉なるをもって御鉄砲御箪笥(おたんす)奉行格に昇進、1841年九段坂天文台を管理して台長を務めた。その性質はきちょうめんで、暦学上多くの業績を残した。兄の高橋景保(かげやす)を助けて、またその亡きあとは引き継いで、父至時の『ラランデ暦書』の訳解を遂行し、『新巧暦書』40冊、『新修五星法』10冊を完成、幕府に献上した。前者は1841年幕府の命による天保改暦の基をなすものである。『霊憲候簿』『暦学聞見録』『西暦聞見録』『三統暦管見』『新修彗星(すいせい)法』『新法暦書数理撰述(せんじゅつ)』『寛政(かんせい)暦書』『同続録』その他、自著また共著が多くある。墓碑によると安政(あんせい)3年6月20日没、享年70歳とあるが、『天文方代々記』では安政4年3月隠居したことになっている。品川東海寺に葬る。

［渡辺敏夫］

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