Asada Sohaku

The last great figure in traditional Chinese medicine in the late Edo and Meiji periods. Born on May 13, 1819, in Kuribayashi Village, Chikuma County, Shinano Province (Shimadachi, Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture). His childhood name was Naotami, later he changed it to Koretsune, his pen name was Shikishi, his pen name was Ritsuen, and his nickname was Sohaku. At the age of 15, he became a disciple of Nakamura Chuso (1778-1851), and at the age of 18, he traveled to Kyoto to study at the private school of Nakanishi Yozan (1772-1827). He also frequented various homes in Yoshimasu, Kawagoe, and Fukui, and studied Buddhist scriptures under Igai Keisho and history under Rai Sanyo. He went to Edo in 1836 (Tenpo 7) and became acquainted with the Shogunate physician Motoyasu Soen (?-1852), and formed friendships with Taki Genken, Kojima Gakko (1797-1849), and Kitamura Kousou (1805-1876), and in 1861 (Bunkyu 1) he became a court physician for the Shogunate, treating Princess Kazunomiya, Tenshoin (wife of the 13th Shogun Tokugawa Iesada), the 14th Shogun Tokugawa Iemochi, and others. In 1865, he treated the incurable illness of the French envoy to Edo, and his fame spread both inside and outside the country. During the Meiji Restoration, he also worked hard for state affairs, negotiating with Katsu Kaishu and Saigo Takamori, and saving Edo from the flames of war. In 1879 (Meiji 12), he was appointed as the court physician to Crown Prince Harunomiya (Emperor Taisho), who he treated and saved from a critical illness. He also wrote many books, totalling 80 volumes and 200 volumes, including "Shanghanronshiki," "Zappyoronshiki," "Kisso Shoei," and "Senzensuiwa."

[Michiaki Yakazu]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

幕末・明治時代の漢方医学最後の巨頭。文化12年5月13日、信濃(しなの)国筑摩(ちくま)郡栗林(くりばやし)村（長野県松本市島立(しまだち)）に生まれる。幼名を直民(なおたみ)、のちに惟常(これつね)と改め、字(あざな)を識此(しきし)、号を栗園(りつえん)、宗伯は通称。15歳のとき中村仲倧(ちゅうそう)（1778―1851）の門に入り、18歳で京都に遊学、中西鷹山(なかにしようざん)（1772―1827）の塾で学んだ。また、吉益(よします)、川越、福井の諸家に出入りし、経書を猪飼敬所(いがいけいしょ)に、史学を頼山陽に学んだ。1836年（天保7）江戸に出て、幕府医官本康宗円(もとやすそうえん)（？―1852）の知遇を得、多紀元堅(たきげんけん)、小島学古(がっこ)（1797―1849）、喜多村栲窓(きたむらこうそう)（1805―1876）らと親交を結び、1861年（文久1）幕府の侍医となり、和宮(かずのみや)、天璋院(てんしょういん)（第13代将軍徳川家定夫人）、第14代将軍徳川家茂(いえもち)などの診治にあたった。1865年フランス公使ロッシュの難病を治療して、その名声は国の内外に響き、また明治維新の際、国事に奔走し、勝海舟や西郷隆盛と折衝して江戸を戦火より救った。1879年（明治12）東宮明宮(はるのみや)（大正天皇）の侍医を拝命、治療にあたり、その危急を救った。著書も多く『傷寒論識』『雑病論識』『橘窓書影(きっそうしょえい)』『先哲医話』など80部200巻に及んだ。

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