Background
Genshō Mukai was born on 7 March 1609 in Hizen in Kyushu. His father’s name was Kaneyoshi, and his own name, Kuromatsu, which he later changed to Gensho.
向井 元升
Genshō Mukai was born on 7 March 1609 in Hizen in Kyushu. His father’s name was Kaneyoshi, and his own name, Kuromatsu, which he later changed to Gensho.
At the age of seven he moved with his father to Nagasaki, where he studied astronomy, geography, and the lore of medicinal herbs. In 1630 he determined to become a physician and, after much hardship and study by himself, he mastered Chinese style medicine and began to gain a reputation for his skill.
In 1658 Mukai moved with his wife and family to Kyoto. He was called upon to treat many members of the imperial family and court and was widely known for his skill. He wrote over ten works on medicine and medicinal herbs, including the earliest work on herbs to be compiled in the Edo period, the Hochu biyo wamyo honzo.
Christovao Ferreira (1580-1650; Japanese name Sawano Chfian), a Portuguese Jesuit who was arrested for missionary activities in 1633 and who renounced his faith, was ordered by the shogunate to make a Japanese translation of a European work on astronomy. When the work appeared, Mukai Gensho wrote a refutation of it entitled Kenkon bensetsu. Mukai’s work had a great influence upon Japanese intellectual circles in later times and played a decisive role in convincing people that the earth is round.
He was an enthusiastic exponent of Confucianism and in 1647 received permission from the Nagasaki city authorities to set up a temple in honor of Confucius there.
He set up a school where he taught Confucianism and worked to improve the morals of the citizens of Nagasaki. His heirs continued in later years to preside over the temple as Confucian scholars. From 1685 on, at the request of the shogunate they also undertook the task of examining books imported from China to make certain that none pertaining to Christianity were allowed into the country.
His second son was Mukai Kyorai (1651-1704), one of the leading disciples of the haiku poet Matsuo Basho, and his third son, Mukai Rocho (1656-1727), was a noted Confucian scholar and haiku poet.