Zoshi - Zoshi

Japan's first empirical anatomy book. Written by Yamawaki Toyo. Published in 1759 (9th year of the Horeki era). Two volumes in total. In the mid-Edo period, Yamawaki Toyo, an official physician in Kyoto who studied under Goto Konzan, a doctor of the ancient school of medicine who valued empirical evidence and sought to innovate Japanese medicine, became skeptical of the Chinese theory of the five internal organs and six bowels, and in 1754 (4th year of the Horeki era) he performed an autopsy on a executed body with the permission of the Kyoto Shoshidai in order to see the internal structure of the human body with his own eyes. This book is a compilation of the records of this dissection, and contains four hand-colored anatomical diagrams and anatomical findings, as well as several Eastern medical theories and letters from disciples and friends. Although the diagrams and findings are childish and simple, they are full of the spirit of empirical evidence based on actual observations, and are noted as a book that heralded the dawn of modern medicine in Japan. This stimulated dissections to be performed all over the country, and observations were deepened.

[Muneda Hajime]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

日本最初の実証的解剖書。著者は山脇東洋(やまわきとうよう)。1759年（宝暦9）刊。全二巻。江戸中期に、実証を重んじ日本の医学の革新を図った古方医学派の後藤艮山(こんざん)に学んだ京都の官医山脇東洋が、中国の五臓六腑(ごぞうろっぷ)説を疑い、自らの目で人体内部の構造を確かめるため、1754年（宝暦4）に京都所司代の許可を得て刑死体の解剖を行った。この記録をまとめたのが本書で、手彩色の解剖図四葉と解剖所見のほか、数編の東洋の医説や知友門弟らの手紙を収めている。図や所見は幼稚で簡粗であったが、実際に観察した実証精神にあふれており、日本の近代医学のあけぼのを告げる書として注目される。これが刺激となって各地で解剖が行われるようになり、観察が深められた。

［宗田　一］

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