Date Munehiro
Encyclopedia
Date Munehiro or Chihiro（Japanese:伊達 宗広 or 千広; June 24, 1802 – May 18, 1877）was a Samurai of Kii Domain and Scholar of Kokugaku
, living during the late Edo Period
and early Meiji Era. He was father of Mutsu Munemitsu
（陸奥 宗光. His penname was Jitoku (自得)．
of Kii Domain, and promoted the reform of that Domain whereas took the lead Sonnō jōi
movement. In 1852, he was arrested by the opponent by the reason that his dangerous Sonnō jōi activity and was imprisoned for nearly 10 years in Kii Tanabe (紀伊 田辺). In 1861, he was released by the agency of Yamanouchi Yodo(山内 容堂) who was a Daimyo
of Tosa (土佐). He transferred a patrimony to his Adoptive son , Date Muneoki（伊達 宗興）and retired. But he returned to Sonnō jōi movement with Muneoki. They were arrested by Kii Domain, and were imprisoned again in 1865. After Meiji Restoration
, he was released in 1869. In his sunset of life, he lived in Fukagawa of Tokyo with his son, Mutsu Munemitsu.
（本居大平）when he was young. He despised Buddhism because he was a very active person. But When he was imprisoned in Kii Tanabe, he borrows Issai-Sūtra (一切経) from a temple in neighborhood and reads it every day. One day he had an enlightenment of the Buddhism at last.
Kokugaku
Kokugaku was a National revival, or, school of Japanese philology and philosophy originating during the Tokugawa period...
, living during the late Edo Period
Edo period
The , or , is a division of Japanese history which was ruled by the shoguns of the Tokugawa family, running from 1603 to 1868. The political entity of this period was the Tokugawa shogunate....
and early Meiji Era. He was father of Mutsu Munemitsu
Mutsu Munemitsu
Count was a statesman and diplomat in Meiji period Japan.-Early life:Mutsu Munemitsu was born in Wakayama domain, Kii Province as the sixth son of Date Munehiro, a samurai retainer of the Kii Tokugawa clan...
（陸奥 宗光. His penname was Jitoku (自得)．
Life
In 1802, he was born as a son of Usami Sukenaga (宇佐美 祐長)who was a Samurai of Kii Domain, and he became an adoptive son of his uncle, Date Moriaki(伊達 盛明). He inherits a patrimony by 12 years old, and was appointed "Kansatsu (監察)" by 18 years old. He assisted KarōKARO
KARO is a radio station licensed to serve Nyssa, Oregon, USA. The station is owned by the Educational Media Foundation.It broadcasts a Contemporary Christian music format as part of the Air 1 network.-History:...
of Kii Domain, and promoted the reform of that Domain whereas took the lead Sonnō jōi
Sonno joi
is a Japanese political philosophy and a social movement derived from Neo-Confucianism; it became a political slogan in the 1850s and 1860s in the movement to overthrow the Tokugawa bakufu, during the Bakumatsu period.-Origin:...
movement. In 1852, he was arrested by the opponent by the reason that his dangerous Sonnō jōi activity and was imprisoned for nearly 10 years in Kii Tanabe (紀伊 田辺). In 1861, he was released by the agency of Yamanouchi Yodo(山内 容堂) who was a Daimyo
Daimyo
is a generic term referring to the powerful territorial lords in pre-modern Japan who ruled most of the country from their vast, hereditary land holdings...
of Tosa (土佐). He transferred a patrimony to his Adoptive son , Date Muneoki（伊達 宗興）and retired. But he returned to Sonnō jōi movement with Muneoki. They were arrested by Kii Domain, and were imprisoned again in 1865. After Meiji Restoration
Meiji Restoration
The , also known as the Meiji Ishin, Revolution, Reform or Renewal, was a chain of events that restored imperial rule to Japan in 1868...
, he was released in 1869. In his sunset of life, he lived in Fukagawa of Tokyo with his son, Mutsu Munemitsu.
Works and books
Almost Date Munehiro's works was formed in confinement life. He learned at Motoori ŌhiraMotoori Ōhira
was a scholar of Kokugaku, and was the successor to Motoori Norinaga's school master. His pen name was Fuji no Kakitsu （藤 垣内）.- Life :Ōhira was born in Matsuzaka of the province of Ise . He was a son of Inagake Munetaka （稲懸 棟隆 or 稲掛 棟隆） who was a Merchant and Norinaga's pupil...
（本居大平）when he was young. He despised Buddhism because he was a very active person. But When he was imprisoned in Kii Tanabe, he borrows Issai-Sūtra (一切経) from a temple in neighborhood and reads it every day. One day he had an enlightenment of the Buddhism at last.
- "Taizei Santenkō" : Japanese name (大勢三転考) The essay on history
- "Waka zenwa" : Japanese name (和歌禅話)In the form of the poem, it explains Buddhism.
- "Manimani Gusa" : Japanese name (随々草)Essays on Buddhism , Waka-Poem, and Chinese-Poem.
- "Yomigaeri" : Japanese name (余身帰)Essays and memoirs
- "Zui En syū" : Japanese name (随縁集)Anthology of waka poems
- "Kareno syū" : Japanese name (枯野集)Essays on history and literature
- "Date Jitoku Ō Zen syū" : Japanese name (伊達自得翁全集)His complete Works published in 1926
See also
- Mutsu MunemitsuMutsu MunemitsuCount was a statesman and diplomat in Meiji period Japan.-Early life:Mutsu Munemitsu was born in Wakayama domain, Kii Province as the sixth son of Date Munehiro, a samurai retainer of the Kii Tokugawa clan...