Minakata Kumagusu

Biologist and folklorist. Born in Wakayama Prefecture. Known for his erudition, internationality and passion, he is counted among Japan's leading figures. He dropped out of the University Preparatory School (the predecessor to the liberal arts course at the University of Tokyo) and travelled to the US and the UK, where he studied botany and fauna almost entirely on his own. In the UK, he studied archaeology, anthropology and religious studies at the British Museum, while working as an editor of the museum's book catalogue. After returning to Japan in 1900 (Meiji 33), he lived in Tanabe-cho (now Tanabe City) in Wakayama Prefecture, where he collected and researched slime molds (myxomycetes), but also became interested in folklore, contributing numerous essays to magazines such as "Taiyo," "Anthropology Journal," "Local Studies," "Folklore," and "Travel and Legends." He also had a close relationship with and influenced Kunio Yanagita during the early days of folklore. A well-known collected work is "Thoughts on the Twelve Zodiacs."

The slime molds that Minakata devoted his research to are small organisms that live in forests, but he was concerned that the forests guarding small villages would be destroyed by the shrine enshrinement initiative promoted by the Meiji government, and for several years from 1907 he launched an intense campaign against the shrine enshrinement initiative. This has been reevaluated as the beginning of the nature conservation movement that followed. In 1929 (Showa 4), he welcomed the Emperor to Kamishima Island in Tanabe Bay, where he gave a lecture and presented specimens. After Minakata's death in 1962 (Showa 37), during their Imperial visit to Nanki, the Emperor overlooked Kamishima and composed a poem in memory of him: "Looking at Kamishima shrouded in rain, I think of Minakata Kumagusu, who was born in Kii Province." The Minakata Kumagusu Memorial Museum is located in Shirahama Town, Wakayama Prefecture.

[Shoji Inoguchi February 18, 2019]

"The Complete Works of Minakata Kumagusu, 10 volumes and 2 supplementary volumes (1971-1975, Heibonsha)" ▽ "The Diaries of Minakata Kumagusu, 4 volumes (1987-1989, Yasaka Shobo)" ▽ "Minakata Kumagusu by Kasai Kiyoshi (1967/New edition, 1985, Yoshikawa Kobunkan)" ▽ "Talking about my father, Minakata Kumagusu, by Minakata Fumie and edited by Tanigawa Kenichi et al. (1981, Japan Editors School Publishing Division)" ▽ "Minakata Kumagusu by Tsurumi Kazuko (Kodansha Academic Library)"

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

生物学者、民俗学者。和歌山県に生まれる。博覧強記、国際人、情熱の人として、日本を代表する人物の一人に数えられる。大学予備門（東京大学教養課程の前身）を中途退学してアメリカ、イギリスに渡り、ほとんど独学で動植物学を研究。イギリスでは大英博物館で考古学、人類学、宗教学を自学しながら、同館の図書目録編集などの職につく。1900年（明治33）に帰国後は和歌山県田辺(たなべ)町（現、田辺市）に住み、粘菌(ねんきん)類（変形菌類）などの採集・研究を進める一方、民俗学にも興味を抱き、『太陽』『人類学雑誌』『郷土研究』『民俗学』『旅と伝説』などの雑誌に数多くの論考を寄稿し、民俗学の草創期に柳田国男(やなぎたくにお)とも深く交流して影響を与えた。まとまったものとしては『十二支考』などが著名。

　南方が心血を注いで研究した粘菌類は森林の中に生息する小生物であるが、明治政府の進めた神社合祀(ごうし)によって小集落の鎮守(ちんじゅ)の森が破壊されることを憂い、1907年から数年間にわたって激しい神社合祀反対運動を起こす。これが後の自然保護運動のはしりとして再評価されている。1929年（昭和4）には田辺湾内の神島(かしま)に天皇を迎え、御進講や標本の進献などを行う。南方没後の1962年（昭和37）両陛下南紀行幸啓の際、神島を望見した天皇は「雨にけぶる神島を見て紀伊の国の生みし南方熊楠を思ふ」という御製を詠んで追懐した。和歌山県白浜町には南方熊楠記念館がある。

［井之口章次　2019年2月18日］

『『南方熊楠全集』10巻・別巻2（1971～1975・平凡社）』▽『『南方熊楠日記』全4巻（1987～1989・八坂書房）』▽『笠井清著『南方熊楠』（1967／新装版・1985・吉川弘文館）』▽『南方文枝著、谷川健一他編『父南方熊楠を語る』（1981・日本エディタースクール出版部）』▽『鶴見和子著『南方熊楠』（講談社学術文庫）』

出典　小学館　日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)について　情報 | 凡例