Kenkado Kimura
A scholar, art connoisseur, and collector of the mid-Edo period (c. 1700 – 1750). Parallel to his work as a sake brewer, he was a person of varied knowledge and versatile talent, recognized for his accomplishments as a scholar of herbalism, naturalist, and collector of cultural assets and books. His school was known as a salon for interaction among intellectuals of that period.
1736-1802
A scholar, art connoisseur, and collector of the mid-Edo period (c. 1700 – 1750). His family name was Kokyo and his given name was Seishuku. He was also known under the pen name Sonsai. He inherited the family trade of sake brewing, and adopted the name Kichiemon Tsuboiya. “Kenkado” is the name of his study room. Both Chinese characters ken and ka mean “young reed,” and it is believed that he named his study Kenkado (“Hall of the Young Reed”) after the roots of the reed that grew out from the well on his estate.
A resident of Osaka, he was fond of learning and the performing arts since childhood, and studied herbalism under Keian Tsushima and Ranzan Ono, the Chinese classics under Hokkai Katayama, and seal engraving under Fuyo Ko. He took lessons in the basics of painting from Shunboku Ooka of the Kano school, and studied bird-and-flower painting under Kakutei of Nagasaki and Chinese-style landscape painting under Taiga Ikeno. Kenkado was a person of varied knowledge with versatile talents, and was particularly well-versed in the study of local products. He was also known as a collector of rare books, unique objects, and natural specimens, and engaged in diverse interactions with scholars and intellectuals. His flourishing school provided intellectuals of that period with a place to meet and exchange ideas, and among the guests listed in his scrupulously kept Kenkado Nikki (“Kenkado Diary”) are painters such as Chikuden Tanomura, Taiga Ikeno, Buson Yosa, Okyo Maruyama, Jakuchu Ito, Buncho Tani, and Kokan Shiba; and scholars such as Akinari Ueda, Shunsui Rai, Norinaga Motoori, and Genpaku Sugita. Kenkado also established a publishing company called “Kenkado-ban” (“Kenkado Publishing”), producing more than 27 books to which he took particular liking. His essay Kenkado Zatsuroku (“A Collection of Essays on a Wide Variety of Topics”) provides a glimpse of his extensive erudition.
In March 1790, Kenkado was punished for excessive alcohol production in violation of the sake brewing regulations, and as a result lost his license as a brewer, was dismissed from his position as a senior town official, and temporarily moved to Kawajiri Village in the Ise Province, but returned to Osaka in 1794. Kenkado died in 1802 at the age of 67. He was laid to rest in Daio-ji Temple in Obase (present day Esashi-machi, Tennoji Ward).
Kenkado is the author of Kenkado Nikki, and the author and editor of Kinpu (“Illustrated Catalog of Birds”), Kibaizufu (“Shells Illustrated Catalog”), Kenkado Gyofu (“Illustrated Catalog of Fish”), and the record of his dialogue with Nanpo Ota called Soyu Jushi.
Related People, Things and Events
Books
遡遊従之(そゆうじゅうし)
一角纂考(いっかくさんこう)
日本山海名産図会 巻1 造醸(さけつくり)
貝よせの記
蒹葭堂小伝
関西儒者筆跡集
誓盟状
蒹葭堂雑録
蒹葭堂雜誌
蒹葭堂琴譜
集古十種 文房2
蒹葭堂誌
禽譜(『蒹葭堂遺物』所収)
奇貝図譜(『蒹葭堂遺物』所収)
Kenshindo's edition
博物学的薬物書。大槻玄沢訳考、杉田伯元校訂。2巻。はじめ、木村蒹葭堂の『一角纂考』ともに私家版(蒹葭堂版)として刊行頒布され(天明6年序)、寛政7年(1795)に市販刊行。一角(ウニコウル)、サフラン、ニクズク、ミイラ、エブリコ(アガリスク)、人魚を六種の薬物(六物)として取り上げ、蘭書の所説に基づき考証。六物それぞれには図がつけられ、一角はヨンストン、ニクズクはドドネウスの図による。
『周易』の注釈書。漢の鄭玄(じょうげん)撰、 宋の王応麟編、清の恵棟補。 (けい とう)補 。田中鳴門輯、木村孔恭(兼葭堂)校。明和9年(1772)、伊藤長堅(蘭嵎)序。蒹葭堂蔵版。掲出本は、寛政7年(1795)刊本(林伊兵衞)。
中国明代の文人王世貞(号、弇州山人)の庭園書。木村蒹葭堂注。明和7年序。蒹葭堂蔵版。王世貞は庭園の修築にも造詣が深く、みずから修築をてがけた「弇山園」は名園として知られる。
Related Works
大坂文人合作扇面
キルヒャー 地下世界
ルンフィウス アンボイナ島珍奇物産集成
琉球図
近江国蒲生郡八幡町惣絵図
Paintings by Kenshido
木村蒹葭堂 桃花図
木村蒹葭堂 蒹葭堂煎茶図
Portrait
References
- 『日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)』(JapanKnowledge)「木村蒹葭堂」の項
- 『改訂新版 世界大百科事典』(JapanKnowledge)「木村蒹葭堂」の項
- 『国史大辞典』(JapanKnowledge)「木村蒹葭堂」の項
- 木村蒹葭堂研究資料 ―近・現代刊行物 ―大坂府立中之島図書館
- 木村蒹葭堂関連展覧会の歴史大坂府立中之島図書館
- 橋爪節也「木村蒹葭堂とその画業について」鹿島美術財団年報 (9) 1933
- 宗田一「芝江漢の西遊をめぐって」日本医史学雑誌 30(4) 1984蒹葭堂の一角纂考と六物新志の書誌に関して
- 神谷尚志,・松島政信「水産古書解題」一角纂考の解説あり
- JapanKnowledge所収コンテンツの最終アクセス日は、いずれも2023/03/01。


