山鹿 素行
His personal name was Takaoki or Takasuke, his common name Jingoemon, and his literary name Soko. His father had originally been a samurai in the domain of Kameyama in Ise, but later became a dependent of Machino Yuki- yori, a samurai of the domain of Aizu in Mutsu. Soko was born in Aizu and on 22 September 1622 accompanied his father to Edo.
In 1630 he became a student of Hayashi Razan, a celebrated Confucian scholar in the service of the Tokugawa shogunate, studying the Chu Hsi school of Neo-Confucianism under him. He also studied the Koshu school of military science under Obata
Kagenori and received a certificate indicating his mastery of its teachings. From these two teachers he also received instruction in Imbe and Ryobu Shinto.
By around 1641, he had succeeded in acquiring a wide knowledge of both Japanese and Chinese religious and philosophical teachings.
In 1652 he was invited by Asano Naganao, lord of the domain of Ako in Harima.
