Takahashi Kageyasu

Astronomical and calendar scholar of the late Edo period. Born in Osaka as the eldest son of the astronomical official Takahashi Yoshitoki. His childhood name was Sakusuke, and he inherited the family name and was commonly known as Sakuzaemon. His pen names were Shisho, Bambu, and Kanso. He was also called Globius. He was gifted from an early age, and learned calendar science from his father and became well versed in it. He was also fluent in Dutch. At the age of 20, he succeeded his father as an astronomical official, and with the help of Hazama Shigetomi, he led the Asakusa Astronomical Observatory, and fulfilled his position with his outstanding talent and knowledge. When Ino Tadataka was ordered to be his assistant, he supervised Tadataka's surveying work, and did his best to negotiate with the shogunate authorities and handle administrative matters, allowing him to devote himself to carrying out the work. In 1807 (Bunka 4), he was ordered by the shogunate to create a map of the world, and published the Shin-tei Bankoku Zenzu (New Edition of the World Map) in 1810. The following year, he succeeded in establishing the Bansho Wagegoyo (Office for the Reconciliation of Foreign Books) within the Calendar Bureau, and presided over the translation of Dutch books. He also had a good knowledge of the Manchu language, and wrote many books on the language, including the Manbun Shuin (Augmented Edition of Manchu Language). Kageyasu was a scholar, but he also possessed excellent political skills. Otsuki Genkan (1785-1838) commented that "This man lacked academic talent, but he excelled in worldly affairs, was in good contact with ordinary officials, and had wise men under his wing to handle official matters, so it is as if he achieved great success in this field." His political skills may have backfired, as he was arrested in 1828 (Bunsei 11) as the main culprit in the Siebold Incident, and died in prison the following year at the young age of 45. If he had lived, he would have been sentenced to death. A monument to him can be found at Asakusa Genkuji Temple (Ueno 7-chome, Taito Ward, Tokyo).

[Toshio Watanabe]

"A Study of Takahashi Kageyasu" by Uehara Hisashi (1977, Kodansha)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

江戸後期の天文暦学者。天文方高橋至時(よしとき)の長男として大坂に生まれる。幼名を作助、家を嗣(つ)いで通称を作左衛門、字(あざな)は子昌(ししょう)、蛮蕪(ばんぶ)または観巣(かんそう)と号す。別にGlobiusとも号す。幼時より才気に富み、暦学を父に学んで通暁し、オランダ語にも通じた。20歳で父の後を継いで天文方となり、間重富(はざましげとみ)の助けを受けて浅草の天文台を統率、優れた才能と学識でその地位を全うした。伊能忠敬(いのうただたか)が彼の手附手伝(てつきてつだい)を命ぜられると、忠敬の測量事業を監督し、幕府当局と交渉および事務上のことについて力を尽くし、その事業遂行に専心させた。1807年（文化4）万国地図製作の幕命を受け、1810年『新訂万国全図』を刊行した。翌年には暦局内に蕃書和解御用(ばんしょわげごよう)を設けることに成功し、蘭書(らんしょ)の翻訳事業を主宰した。満州語についても学識を有し、『増訂満文輯韻(まんぶんしゅういん)』ほか満州語に関する多くの著述がある。景保は学者でもあったが、むしろ優れた政治的手腕の所有者で、「此(この)人学才は乏しけれども世事に長じて俗吏とよく相接し敏達の人を手に属して公用を弁ぜしが故に此学の大功あるに似たり」と大槻玄幹(おおつきげんかん)（1785―1838）は評している。この政治的手腕がかえって災いしてか、1828年（文政11）シーボルト事件の主犯者として逮捕され、翌年45歳の若さで牢死(ろうし)した。存命ならば死罪となるところであった。碑は浅草源空寺（東京都台東(たいとう)区上野七丁目）にある。

［渡辺敏夫］

『上原久著『高橋景保の研究』（1977・講談社）』

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