Yasui Sokken

Yasui Sokken
Yasui Sokken
Born	1799 Kiyotake Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan
Died	1876
Nationality	Japan
Occupation	Teacher, His students numbered 2000 including influential people
Known for	Classical scholar of Confucianism

Yasui Sokken (安井 息軒 1799 - 1876) was a classical scholar of Confucianism from Obi Han (now Miyazaki Prefecture). He educated many personalities including Tani Tateki, Mutsu Munemitsu and Shinagawa Yajiro, not only in Obi but also in Edo.

His child name was Junsaku and later his name was Chuhei. His Art-name was Sokken.

The birthplace is located in Miyazaki City, Kiyotakecho Kano Ko 3376-1, and is one of the designated Historic Sites of Miyazaki Prefecture.

He was born in 1799 in Kiyotake, Miyazaki, as the second son of Yasui Sochu, also a scholar. Yasui Sochu went to Edo in 1804 and went back to Kiyotake and opened a private school. This school was recognized by Obi han. In 1820, Sokken went to Osaka to study under Shinosaki Kosaku. In 1822, he went back to Kiyotake.

In 1824, he went up to Edo at Shoheizaka School(昌平坂学問所). In 1826, he became a teacher of Obi Han (administrative division)han. In 1827, his father opened a school named Myokyodo at Kiyotake and he helped his father. In 1832, his father became the principal of Obi han school Shintokudo (振徳堂)at Obi and Sokken was the vice principal. In 1833, Sokken advised the prohibition of abortion. In 1834, Sokken became the teacher of the lord of Obi han. In 1837, he went to Edo to study again at Shoheizaka School and later became the principal of the school. In 1841, he opened his school of Sankeijuku(三計塾). In 1862, he became one of the scholars of the shogunate. In 1876 he died at Edo.

He was very small and had smallpox scars due to smallpox caught in childhood, and therefore, was not good looking. His wife Sayo was very beautiful and helped Sokken very much. Novelist Ogai Mori wrote a book titled the wife of Yasui and praised her.

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