Sugita Seikei - The past

A Dutch scholar in the late Edo period. Son of Sugita Ryukei. Given name Shin, pen name Umesato, and nickname Seikei. In 1836 (Tenpo 7), he became the apprentice of Dutch physician Tsuboi Shindo and studied medicine and Dutch studies. In 1840, he was appointed as a translator at the Observatory and worked on translating Dutch books. In 1845 (Koka 2), he succeeded the family and became doctor to Lord Sakai of Obama Domain. In 1853 (Kaei 6), when American and Russian ships arrived, he received them and examined documents together with Mitsukuri Genpo. In 1854 (Ansei 1), he left his position as a translator at the Observatory and devoted himself full-time to translating Western gunnery books. In 1856, he was appointed professor at the Bansho Shirabesho (Institute for the Investigation of Foreign Documents). He was a prolific translator, and in 1843, at the Observatory, he translated JN Calten's "Complete Book of Maritime Gunnery" together with Udagawa Yoan and Mitsukuri Genpo, at the order of the shogunate. In 1849, he published three volumes of "Saisei Sanpo," "Ikai" and "Shinketsu," and also translated one volume of "Ryakusetsu on Coastal Security" at the order of the shogunate. In 1850, he translated "Saisei Biko," and in 1852, together with Genpo, he translated 17 volumes of "Kasenkou" at the order of the shogunate. In 1853, he revised "Complete Book of Maritime Gunnery" at the order of the shogunate. In 1856, he published 12 volumes of "Kunmou" (Gunnery Training). His Dutch-style "Tamagawa Kikou" is known as a masterpiece.

[Kazuo Katagiri]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

江戸末期の蘭学者(らんがくしゃ)。杉田立卿(すぎたりゅうけい)の子。名は信、号は梅里、成卿は通称。1836年（天保7）蘭方医坪井信道(しんどう)に入門、医学・蘭学を学ぶ。1840年天文台訳員に任ぜられ、蘭書の翻訳に従事、1845年（弘化2）家を継ぎ、小浜(おばま)藩酒井侯侍医となった。1853年（嘉永6）アメリカ船・ロシア船来航のおりは箕作阮甫(みつくりげんぽ)とともに応接、文書取調べにあたった。1854年（安政1）天文台訳員の職を辞し、西洋砲術書の訳述に専従。1856年蕃書調所(ばんしょしらべしょ)教授職に補せられた。訳著の業績多く、1843年、天文台で宇田川榕菴(ようあん)、箕作阮甫とともに幕命によりカルテンJ. N. Caltenの『海上砲術全書』の翻訳にあたった。1849年には『済生三方』3巻、『医戒』、『治痘真訣(しんけつ)』を刊行、また幕命で『沿海警備略説』1巻を訳す。1850年『済生備考』、1852年幕命により阮甫と『軍用火箭考(かせんこう)』17巻を訳出。1853年幕命により『海上砲術全書』を校訂。1856年には『砲術訓蒙(くんもう)』12巻を刊行した。また蘭文の『玉川紀行』は名文として知られている。

［片桐一男］

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