Tamura Ransui

A herbalist of the mid-Edo period. Born in Kanda, Edo. Commonly known as Motoo, his given name was Noboru, and his pen name was Ransui. He studied herbalism under Abe Shoo, and travelled around the country to collect herbal medicines and engage in cultivation. At the shogunate's command, he attempted to domesticate ginseng, working to cultivate it by seed and succeeding in transplanting it to various regions. At the age of 20, he wrote Ninjinfu, describing the method. At the age of 30, he wrote Ninjin Kousakuki, describing the cultivation and preparation methods. At the age of 36, he became a professor at the Shogunate Medical School and lectured on herbalism. In 1757 (7th year of the Horeki era), he held the first product fair in Yushima, Hongo, where he exhibited the animals, plants, and minerals he had collected from all over the country over the years. At a time when travel was difficult, the project of gathering products from all over the country in one place facilitated mutual research among herbalists and was well received by the public. His disciples include Hiraga Gennai, Otsuki Gentaku, and Mori Tatsuyuki.

[Nemoto Soyoko]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

江戸中期の本草(ほんぞう)学者。江戸神田の生まれ。通称元雄、名は登、藍水は号。阿部将翁(あべしょうおう)に本草を学び、諸国を採薬して、その栽培に従事した。幕命でチョウセンニンジンの国産化を図り、種子栽培に努め、各地への移植に成功した。20歳でその方法を記述した『人参譜(にんじんふ)』を著す。30歳のときの著『人参耕作記』では栽培・調製法を記述した。36歳のとき幕府医学館教授となり本草を講じる。1757年（宝暦7）本郷(ほんごう)湯島で第1回物産会を催し、多年諸国から採集した動植鉱物類を陳列公開した。旅の不自由な当時、諸国の物産を一堂に集めた企画は、本草家相互の研究に便宜を与え、一般の好評を博した。門人に平賀源内、大槻玄沢(おおつきげんたく)、森立之(もりたつゆき)らがいる。

［根本曽代子］

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