Health Training - Yojokun

This is a popular hygiene book published in 1713 (Shotoku 3) during the mid-Edo period, written by Kaibara Ekiken in his later years. It is four volumes. Having acquired medical knowledge from his father's guidance at an early age, Ekiken continued to study it, and at the age of 53, with the help of his senior disciple Takeda Sadanao, he selected words related to health care from ancient Chinese medical books and compiled the five volumes of the Isei Shuyo. This book is a compilation of his selections from that time and his own experiences. The gist of the book is to suppress internal desires (food, drink, sexual desire) and prevent external evils (cold and heat), and emphasizes the active effort to maintain health. Each section, including general discussion, food and drink, tea, tobacco, abstaining from sexual desires, the five senses, two bowels, bathing, refraining from illness, choosing the right doctor, taking medicines, caring for the elderly, education, acupuncture, and moxibustion, is discussed in detail and based on factual ideas. Of course, it does contain superstitious aspects based on the Yin-Yang philosophy, but it is being reevaluated as a warning against the modern age in which medicine is all-powerful, and as a book that teaches the elderly how to live their lives.

[Tadashi Inoue]

"The Complete Works of Ekiken, Volume 3" (1911, Ryubunkan)" ▽ "The Ten Precepts of Ekiken, Volume 2" (Yuhodo Bunko)" ▽ "Matsuda Michio (ed.), Japanese Masterpieces: Kaibara Ekiken (1969, Chuokoron-Shinsha)" ▽ "A New Interpretation of Ekiken's Precepts for Health Care" by Ogiwara Seisen-sui (1975, Daihorinkaku)" ▽ "Ito Tomonobu (translation), Precepts for Health Care -- Complete Modern Japanese Translation" (Kodansha Academic Library)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

江戸中期の1713年（正徳3）に出た大衆衛生書で、貝原益軒(かいばらえきけん)の晩年の著。四巻。父の指導で早くから医薬知識をもった益軒はその後も研鑽(けんさん)を続け、53歳のとき高弟竹田定直(さだなお)の助力で古来の中国医書から養生に関する語を選び、『頤生輯要(いせいしゅうよう)』五巻を編した。それからの取捨選択と、さらに自分の体験に基づきまとめたもの。要旨は、内欲（飲食、性欲）を抑え、外邪（寒熱）を防ぐことにあり、主体的な健康維持への努力を強調しており、総論、飲食、飲茶、煙草(たばこ)、慎(しん)色欲、五官、二便、洗浴、慎病、択医、用薬、養老、育英、鍼(はり)、灸(きゅう)の各項が事実に即した考えをもとに具体的に詳論される。もちろん、陰陽思想に基づく迷信的な面もあるが、薬万能の現代への警告として、また老人の生き方を説く書として再評価されている。

［井上　忠］

『『益軒全集　第三巻』（1911・隆文館）』▽『『益軒十訓　下巻』（有朋堂文庫）』▽『松田道雄編『日本の名著　貝原益軒』（1969・中央公論社）』▽『荻原井泉水著『益軒養生訓新説』（1975・大法輪閣）』▽『伊藤友信訳『養生訓――全現代語訳』（講談社学術文庫）』

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