Muro Kyūsō
Encyclopedia
or Muro Naokiyo (March 30, 1658 - September 9, 1734), was a Neo-Confucian scholar and an official of the Tokugawa shogunate
during the rule of Tokugawa Yoshimune
. Muro was responsible for the reintroduction of orthodox neo-Confucianist thought into government and societal life, attempting to reverse the growth of unorthodox views that were becoming popular during this time. He was also an author of Neo-Confucianist works, such as the Shundai Zatsuwa, although much of his work would only be known posthumously.
(modern day Tokyo
) and from an early age loved books and study. At the age of 15, he travelled to the Kaga Domain
and was able to gain employment by the daimyo
of the region. The cottage he lived in was given the name "Pigeon Nest" and from this he adopted the name Kyuso, a name he would keep until the end of his life.
From 1711 until the day of his death, Muro was a devoted member of the Tokugawa
government, receiving the highest rank the government awarded to scholars at the time. As a severe devotee to orthodox neo-Confucianism
, his authority helped him fight against critics of the doctrine.
On September 9, 1734 Muro died and was buried in Edo
at his own request.
Tokugawa shogunate
The Tokugawa shogunate, also known as the and the , was a feudal regime of Japan established by Tokugawa Ieyasu and ruled by the shoguns of the Tokugawa family. This period is known as the Edo period and gets its name from the capital city, Edo, which is now called Tokyo, after the name was...
during the rule of Tokugawa Yoshimune
Tokugawa Yoshimune
was the eighth shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan, ruling from 1716 until his abdication in 1745. He was the son of Tokugawa Mitsusada, the grandson of Tokugawa Yorinobu, and the great-grandson of Tokugawa Ieyasu.-Lineage:...
. Muro was responsible for the reintroduction of orthodox neo-Confucianist thought into government and societal life, attempting to reverse the growth of unorthodox views that were becoming popular during this time. He was also an author of Neo-Confucianist works, such as the Shundai Zatsuwa, although much of his work would only be known posthumously.
Life
Muro was born in Yanaka, Musashi ProvinceMusashi Province
was a province of Japan, which today comprises Tokyo Prefecture, most of Saitama Prefecture and part of Kanagawa Prefecture. It was sometimes called . The province encompassed Kawasaki and Yokohama...
(modern day Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
) and from an early age loved books and study. At the age of 15, he travelled to the Kaga Domain
Kaga Domain
The was a powerful feudal domain in Kaga, Noto and Etchū Provinces of Japan during the Edo period. The domain was founded by Maeda Toshiie and headed by the Maeda clan. Its income rating, over 1,000,000 koku, was the highest in the nation after the Tokugawa shogunate itself...
and was able to gain employment by the 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 the region. The cottage he lived in was given the name "Pigeon Nest" and from this he adopted the name Kyuso, a name he would keep until the end of his life.
From 1711 until the day of his death, Muro was a devoted member of the Tokugawa
Tokugawa shogunate
The Tokugawa shogunate, also known as the and the , was a feudal regime of Japan established by Tokugawa Ieyasu and ruled by the shoguns of the Tokugawa family. This period is known as the Edo period and gets its name from the capital city, Edo, which is now called Tokyo, after the name was...
government, receiving the highest rank the government awarded to scholars at the time. As a severe devotee to orthodox neo-Confucianism
Neo-Confucianism
Neo-Confucianism is an ethical and metaphysical Chinese philosophy influenced by Confucianism, that was primarily developed during the Song Dynasty and Ming Dynasty, but which can be traced back to Han Yu and Li Ao in the Tang Dynasty....
, his authority helped him fight against critics of the doctrine.
On September 9, 1734 Muro died and was buried in Edo
Edo
, also romanized as Yedo or Yeddo, is the former name of the Japanese capital Tokyo, and was the seat of power for the Tokugawa shogunate which ruled Japan from 1603 to 1868...
at his own request.