Daidouji Yuzan

A military strategist of the early Edo period. His name was Shigehiro, he was called Magokuro, he was called Chisokuan, and later Yuzan. He lost his father at the age of three, and experienced hardships from an early age. As he grew older, he aspired to study, and went from Murakami, Echigo (Niigata Prefecture) to Edo, where he studied Koshu-ryu military tactics under Obata Kagenori and Hojo Ujinaga. He then became a disciple of Yamaga Soko, and is said to have mastered the profound depths of the Koyo Kihen.

He also studied Confucianism, mastering the way of Shusai and Jihei, and formed friendships with Toyama Nobukage and Ohara Toku. He was well versed in historical events, and actively campaigned among feudal lords, becoming a guest of the Asano and Aizu Matsudaira families. For some time, he lived in seclusion in Iwabuchi, Bushu, but in his later years, he accepted an invitation from Lord Matsudaira of Echizen and was treated well by him. As a person, he valued integrity, honesty, and loyalty, and is said to have been able to embrace the people, and is famous for his three-volume "Budo Shoshinshu," which explains the mindset of a novice samurai. He also wrote many other works, including "Iwabuchi Yawa," "Ochiboshu," "Oshinron," "Raimeiron," and "Taishoden."

[Ichiro Watanabe]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

江戸前期の兵法家。名は重祐(しげひろ)、孫九郎と称し、知足庵(ちそくあん)、のち友山と号した。3歳のとき父を失い、早くから世の辛酸をなめ、長ずるに及んで学問に志し、越後(えちご)（新潟県）村上から江戸に出て、小幡景憲(おばたかげのり)、北条氏長(うじなが)について甲州流の兵法を学んだ。その後、さらに山鹿素行(やまがそこう)の門に入って、甲陽機変(こうようきへん)の蘊奥(うんのう)を究めたという。

　あわせて儒学に精進して、修斉治平の道を修め、遠山信景(のぶかげ)、大原徳らと親交を結び、故事に精通して、盛んに諸侯の間に遊説し、浅野家や会津松平家の寄客となった。ゆえあって一時、武州岩淵(いわぶち)に屏居(へいきょ)したが、晩年、越前(えちぜん)松平侯の招きに応じ、その厚遇を受けた。人となり清節、剛直、忠信を重んじ、よく衆を海容したといい、初心武士の心得を説いた『武道初心集』三巻が有名。そのほか『岩淵夜話(やわ)』『落穂集(おちぼしゅう)』『王臣論』『雷鳴論』『大将伝』など、多数の遺著がある。

［渡邉一郎］

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