Background
Heihachiro Oshio was born in 1796.
Heihachiro Oshio was born in 1796.
He was a Confucian scholar of Wang Yangming's school. He was compelled to resign because he was too strict in teaching young men.
During a famine in 1837, he filed a petition with the Shogunate government asking for a release of rice from government granaries for sufferers. It was rejected and he sold his books to distrtribute the prtribute the proceeds among destitute people. Finally he urged them to revolt against the Shogunate. The rebellion was quickly brought under control and Heihachiro set fire to the house and killed himself. Plays were made of the incident and they are still often produced.
He was a man of strict moral integrity, he was hard-workmg and efficient in his duties.