Ishikawa Masamochi (石川 雅望, 1754–1830) was a Japanese kokugaku scholar, kyōka poet and writer of yomihon of the late Edo period.

Biography

Ishikawa Masamochi was born Nukaya Shichihē. ^[1] According to the autobiographical Rokujuen Jihitsu Kirekiroku (六樹園自筆忌歴録), he was born on the fourteenth day of the twelfth month of Hōreki 3 according to the traditional Japanese calendar (1753/4 in the Gregorian calendar). ^[1]

He was the eighth child of the Kodenma-chō [ ja], Edo innkeeper Nukaya Shichihē, better known as the ukiyo-e master Ishikawa Toyonobu. ^[1] His mother was Toyonobu's second wife, the younger sister of his first wife. ^[1] According to Masamochi's autobiographical Towazu-gatari (とはずがたり), all of the children of his father's first wife died young. ^[1]

He died on the 24th day of the third month of Bunsei 13 (1830). ^[1] He was buried in the Kaya-dera (かや寺, official name 正覚寺 Shōkaku-ji) in Asakusa. ^[1] His grave still exists, but the grave marker was destroyed in a fire. ^[1]

Names

Masamochi's real birth name was Nukaya Shichihē (糠谷七兵衛). ^[1] In his childhood he was known by the name Kiyonosuke (清之助). ^[1] He changed his name to Ishikawa Gorobē (石川五郎兵衛) at one point. ^[1]

His courtesy name was Shisō (子相). His kyōmei (狂名, kyōka pen name) was Yadoya Meshimori (宿屋飯盛), ^[1] a reference to his family business as innkeepers (宿屋 yadoya). ^[1] He used numerous art names, including Rokujuen (六樹園), ^[1] Gorō Sannin (五老山人), ^[1] Gyakuryo Shujin (逆旅主人) ^[1] and Gajutsusai (蛾術斎). ^[1]

His posthumous dharma name is Rokuju-in Daiyo Gorō Kyoshi (六樹院台誉五老居士). ^[1]

Writings

Scholarly works

Perhaps because of his father's connections in the world of art and culture, Masamochi first began his Japanese studies under Tsumura Sōan [ ja] and Chinese studies ( kangaku) under Furuya Sekiyō (古屋昔陽). ^[1]

As a kokugaku scholar, his main research interest was The Tale of Genji, ^[1] on which he regularly lectured. ^[1] These lectures formed the basis of his commentary, Genchū Yoteki, ^[1] and his gago (雅語, "elegant language") dictionary Gagen Shūran (雅言集覧). ^[1]

Poetry

He first took up kyōka composition under Tsumuri no Hikaru [ ja], ^[1] but in 1783 became a disciple of Yomo no Akara. ^[1] The same year, his kyōka appeared in Kyōka-shi Saiken (狂歌師細見; ed. Hezutsu Tōsaku [ ja]) as those of a disciple of Fuguri Tsurikata (普栗釣方), ^[1] and in Kyōka Shittariburi (狂歌知足振) as those of a disciple of Yomo no Akara. ^[1]

References

Works cited

External links

• Media related to Ishikawa Masamochi at Wikimedia Commons