Tamamatsu Misao

A pro-kingdom scholar from the end of the Edo period and the Meiji Restoration. His real surname was Yamamoto, and his given name was Masahiro. He was born in Kyoto as the second son of Yamamoto Kinhiro, a chamberlain from the descendants of the Saionji clan. He entered Daigoji Temple at an early age, and called himself Yukai, and attained the rank of Daisozu Hoin. However, he was not accepted for advocating reform of the monk code, so he returned to secular life and changed his name to Yamamoto Kiken, and later to Tamamatsu Misao. He was well versed in Japanese, Confucian, and Buddhist classics, and advocated the idea of ​​revering the emperor and expelling the barbarians. In 1867 (Keio 3), he visited Iwakura Tomomi and became acquainted with him. As his confidant, he participated in the planning of the restoration of the Imperial Rule, and even after the Restoration, he was valued as a close aide, and in 1869 (Meiji 2), he was appointed Choshi (Chief Judge of Domestic Affairs) and in 1870, he was appointed as a lecturer. It is said that the issuance of the "Great Proclamation of the Restoration of Imperial Rule" and the great policy of returning to the founding of the country by Emperor Jimmu were based on his opinions, and he played a part in the restorationist spirit at the beginning of the Restoration. However, seeing that the new government's policy was opening up the country and adopting Western learning against his will, he resigned from his post in anger in 1871, and passed away the following year in 1872 with a depressed heart.

[Sanzo Wada June 20, 2016]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

幕末・維新の勤王国学者。本姓山本、名は真弘。西園寺(さいおんじ)家の末流である侍従山本公弘(やまもときんひろ)の次男として京都に生まれる。幼時より醍醐(だいご)寺に入り、猶海(ゆうかい)と称し、大僧都(だいそうず)法印の位まで得たが、僧律改革を唱えていれられず、還俗(げんぞく)して山本毅軒(きけん)、のち玉松操と改めた。国、儒、仏の典籍に通じ、尊王攘夷(じょうい)の説を唱えた。1867年（慶応3）岩倉具視(いわくらともみ)を訪ねてその知遇を得、その腹心として王政復古の計画に参画、維新後もその側近として重用され、1869年（明治2）徴士(ちょうし)内国事務権判事(ごんのはんじ)、1870年侍講となった。「王政復古の大号令」の渙発(かんぱつ)、神武(じんむ)創業への復帰の大方針はまさに彼の意見に基づくものといわれ、維新当初の復古的精神の一翼を担った。しかし新政府の方針が自らの意に反して開国主義、洋学採用の方向をとるのをみて、1871年憤懣(ふんまん)のなかに職を辞し、翌1872年うつうつたる心を抱いたまま世を去った。

［和田三三生　2016年6月20日］

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