Nakai Riken

A Confucian scholar of the late Edo period. Born in Osaka in the 17th year of the Kyoho era. Commonly known as Tokuji, his given name was Sekitoku, and his pen name was Shoshuku. His father was Nakai Shuan (1693-1758), the second head of Kaitokudo. His older brother was Chikuzan. He studied under Goi Ranshu, focusing on Taoism, primarily the teachings of Cheng-Zhu, but his style of learning was eclectic. In 1766 (Meiwa 3), he opened the Suisaikan academy in Izumi-cho, Osaka, where he taught. Compared to his older brother Chikuzan, he had fewer social connections and was devoted to research and writing. He also showed an interest in Dutch studies, and formed a relationship with the physician and astronomer Asada Goryu, who compiled his anatomical findings in the book Esso Rōhitsu (completed in 1773). He also wrote many other works, but his most famous works include Shichikei Hōgen, Chodairyaku, and Nenseiroku. He died on February 15, 1814, at the age of 86.

[Yoshi Ueda June 20, 2016]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

江戸後期の儒学者。享保(きょうほう)17年大坂に生まれる。通称は徳二。名は積徳。字(あざな)は処叔(しょしゅく)。父は懐徳堂(かいとくどう)の2代学主中井甃庵(しゅうあん)（1693―1758）。兄は竹山(ちくざん)。五井蘭洲(ごいらんしゅう)に師事し、程朱(ていしゅ)学を主とする道学を学ぶが、その学風は折衷学的であった。1766年（明和3）大坂・和泉(いずみ)町に学塾水哉館(すいさいかん)を開いて教授した。兄竹山に比べ交際範囲は少なく、もっぱら研究と著述に従事した。また蘭学にも興味を示し、医者兼天文学者麻田剛立(あさだごうりゅう)と交わり、解剖所見として『越俎弄筆(えっそろうひつ)』（1773成立）をまとめた。そのほか多数の著述があるが、代表作に『七経逢原(しちけいほうげん)』『七経雕題略(ちょうだいりゃく)』『年成録(ねんせいろく)』などがある。文化(ぶんか)14年2月15日、86歳で没した。

［上田　穣　2016年6月20日］

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