Takayama Hikokuro

A loyalist of the late Edo period. He is known as one of the three eccentrics of the Kansei era, along with Gamo Kunpei and Hayashi Shihei. He was born as the second son of Sadamasa, a former local samurai from Hosoya Village, Nitta County, Kozuke Province (Ota City, Gunma Prefecture). His name was Masayuki, his pen name was Nakanawa, and Hikokuro was his nickname. When he was 13 years old, he read "Taiheiki" (Record of the Great Peace) and was moved by the aspirations of the loyal subjects of the Kenmu Restoration. As his birthplace was related to the Nitta clan, he decided to become a loyalist of the emperor. At the age of 18, he went to Kyoto to study and gained the acquaintance of many people, including nobles such as Nakayama Naruchika. He traveled around the country to visit people of loyalty, filial piety and righteousness, arriving in Edo in 1789 (Kansei 1), and the following year travelling from Mito to Matsumae via Oshu. He then travelled further to Kyushu, but on June 27, 1790, he suddenly committed seppuku at the residence of Mori Kazen in Kurume, Chikugo (Fukuoka Prefecture). It is believed that he committed suicide out of rage at the times, with the shogunate monitoring his actions, but the exact reason for his suicide is unclear. He is known for many eccentric acts, including kneeling on the Sanjo Bridge in Kyoto to bow before the Imperial Palace, and whipping the grave of Ashikaga Takauji.

[Makoto Takeuchi]

"Takayama Hikokuro Diary, 5 volumes, edited by Chiji Kazumi and Hagiwara Susumu (1978, Seihoku Publishing)" ▽ "Takayama Hikokuro - Kyoto Diary, by Noma Mitsutatsu (Japanese Travelers 7, 1974, Tankosha)"

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

江戸後期の勤王家。蒲生君平(がもうくんぺい)、林子平(しへい)とともに寛政(かんせい)の三奇人といわれる。上野(こうずけ)国新田(にった)郡細谷(ほそや)村（群馬県太田市）の旧家郷士貞正(さだまさ)の次男に生まれる。名は正之(まさゆき)、字(あざな)は仲縄、彦九郎は通称。13歳のころ『太平記』を読んで建武(けんむ)中興の忠臣の志に感動し、生地が新田氏ゆかりの地であることもあって勤王の志をたてたといわれる。18歳のとき京都に出て学問を修め、中山愛親(なるちか)らの公卿(くぎょう)や多くの有志の知遇を得た。さらに忠孝仁義の人を訪ねて諸国を遊歴、1789年（寛政1）江戸に行き、翌年には水戸から奥州を経て松前にまで足を伸ばしている。のち、さらに九州を遍歴したが、寛政5年6月27日、筑後(ちくご)（福岡県）久留米(くるめ)の森嘉膳の邸で突然切腹して死んだ。自分の行動を幕府に監視されるなど、時勢に憤激してのことと思われるが、自刃の明確な理由はつまびらかでない。京都の三条大橋にぬかずいて皇居を拝んだり、足利尊氏(あしかがたかうじ)の墓をむち打つなど、数多くの奇行が伝えられている。

［竹内　誠］

『千々和実・萩原進編『高山彦九郎日記』全五巻（1978・西北出版）』▽『野間光辰著『高山彦九郎――京都日記』（『日本の旅人7』1974・淡交社）』

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