Norinaga recorded everyting
We know much about Norinaga's life in great detail. Although it's been more than 200 years since his passing, we can quite clearly say what he did, where, and when. This is because he was a man who always had his pen in hand, and left precise records of his own life.
Diary
This is Norinaga's diary. It begins from the day he was born until thirteen days before he passed away. At the age of 13, he began looking into questions about his own birth, and started recording his findings in a diary. On the inside front cover of the book is written an account of his father visiting the Mikumari Shrine in Nara to pray for the birth of a child, one year before Norinaga's birth.
Zaikyou Diary = Diary in Kyoto
When Norinaga was 23 years old, he studied in Kyoto in order to become a doctor. This diary recorded the five years Norinaga spent in Kyoto. Friends, learning, memories: fun things were recorded in this diary.
Sugakasa Diary
This is Norinaga's diary of his trip to Yoshino, Asuka (present-day southern Nara Prefecture). The then 43-year-old Norinaga made the journey on foot in 10 days. This trip included cherry blossom viewing in Yoshino, and a visit to Yoshino-mikumari Shrine. (Norinaga's parents bore him after praying for a child at Mikumari Shrine, so Norinaga had great faith in this shrine.) Visiting ancient Japanese sites, it seems to have been a very fruitfully academic and enjoyable trip for Norinaga.
Shoyouchou = Miscellaneous Accounts
Norinaga kept his household accounts by himself.
He believed that consistencyis important for study. Therefore, lifestyle stability is essential.
By keeping household records Norinaga hoped to live life more efficiently and eliminate wasted time. In this way, he devoted his leftover time and money to his studies.
He believed that consistencyis important for study. Therefore, lifestyle stability is essential.
By keeping household records Norinaga hoped to live life more efficiently and eliminate wasted time. In this way, he devoted his leftover time and money to his studies.
Last Will
Norinaga wrote a last will and testament for his son and family one year before passing away. He wrote in detail of how to prepare the funeral, how to determine the anniversary of his death, of what to do after his death, his tomb and about paying respects.
Portrait of Norinaga
What kind of person do you think Motoori Norinaga was?
You will get a sense for the spirit of Norinaga t his self-portrait.
You will get a sense for the spirit of Norinaga t his self-portrait.
Norinaga Age Forty-four Self-Portrait
This self-portrait was painted by Norinaga at the age of 44.
The large black kimono he is wearing is a custom-made garment named "Suzu-no-ya Goromo," which he wore when studying and giving lectures.
Mountain cherry blossoms, books, "Suzu-no-ya Goromo"... this is a work is crammed with the symbols of Norinaga's academic interests and his favorite things.
The large black kimono he is wearing is a custom-made garment named "Suzu-no-ya Goromo," which he wore when studying and giving lectures.
Mountain cherry blossoms, books, "Suzu-no-ya Goromo"... this is a work is crammed with the symbols of Norinaga's academic interests and his favorite things.
Norinaga Age Sixty-one Self-Portrait
This self-portrait was drawn by Norinaga in the fall of 1790, when he was 61 years old.
At the top of the picture you can see this well-known waka:
Shikishima no
Yamato-gokoro wo
Hito towaba
Asahi ni niou
Yamazakura-bana
Someone asked me what the Japanese spirit is.
I would say
That it is
Like beautiful colors of wild cherry blossoms shining
In the morning sun.
Truly, Norinaga's own soul has been expressed in this poem.
At the top of the picture you can see this well-known waka:
Shikishima no
Yamato-gokoro wo
Hito towaba
Asahi ni niou
Yamazakura-bana
Someone asked me what the Japanese spirit is.
I would say
That it is
Like beautiful colors of wild cherry blossoms shining
In the morning sun.
Truly, Norinaga's own soul has been expressed in this poem.
Norinaga Age Seventy-two Portrait
This portrait was drawn by Kamogawa Seitoku just before Norinaga passed away. It leaves out no details of his appearance in his declining years, from his countenance to his "Suzu-no-ya Goromo."
Perspective of Norinaga
Norinaga loved maps and genealogy! From his boyhood he drew many kinds of them.
By drawing maps and genealogies, Norinaga was able to see the flow and expansion of time and space. This was the viewpoint of Norinaga the scholar.
By drawing maps and genealogies, Norinaga was able to see the flow and expansion of time and space. This was the viewpoint of Norinaga the scholar.
Dainihon Tenka Shikaigazu (The Map of Japan)
Norinaga drew this map of Japan at the age of 17. The size of this map is 120 centimeters high and 200 centimeters wide.
Maps around his time were so full of mistakes that he decided to draw a correct map. It was completed over about a month.
Maps around his time were so full of mistakes that he decided to draw a correct map. It was completed over about a month.
Rakugaisasizu (Map of the Kyoto Environs)
Norinaga drew this map of Kyoto at the age of 17. At the time he had a strong yearning to live in Kyoto.
Hashihara-shi Joukaezu (Drawing of Hashihara-shi's Castle Town)
Norinaga drew this imaginary town map at the age of 19.
It seems that he saw drawing out his imagination on a map as a sort of game. Basically, this omposition is in the shape of the capital city of Kyoto.
Turning this figure 90 degrees clockwise reveals the reference to Kyoto. You can see just how much Norinaga longed to live in Kyoto. He also wrote the family tree of the imaginary man Hashihara-shi who lives in this town.
It seems that he saw drawing out his imagination on a map as a sort of game. Basically, this omposition is in the shape of the capital city of Kyoto.
Turning this figure 90 degrees clockwise reveals the reference to Kyoto. You can see just how much Norinaga longed to live in Kyoto. He also wrote the family tree of the imaginary man Hashihara-shi who lives in this town.
Hashiharashi-keizu (Hashihara-shi Family Tree)
This is a fictional genealogy of Hasihara-shi.
Its members lived in the capital of Norinaga's imaginary "Drawing of Hashihara-shi's Castle Town. "The name of the era and the people are fictional, but there are no contradictions in any of the information itself.
Its members lived in the capital of Norinaga's imaginary "Drawing of Hashihara-shi's Castle Town. "The name of the era and the people are fictional, but there are no contradictions in any of the information itself.
The Chart of Kyoto
Norinaga drew this map of Kyoto at the age of 23.
He studied in Kyoto for five years from age 23, but he drew this map before moving there.
When you turn this map 90 degrees clockwise and compare it with the map of the Hashihara-shi's Castle Town, you can see that he was referring to the map of Kyoto.
He studied in Kyoto for five years from age 23, but he drew this map before moving there.
When you turn this map 90 degrees clockwise and compare it with the map of the Hashihara-shi's Castle Town, you can see that he was referring to the map of Kyoto.
Norinaga as a Doctor
Norinaga's regular occupation was a doctor. He worked as a doctor in the daytime and devoted himself to his studies at night. When he was 23 years old, he went to Kyoto to study medical science. At age 28 Norinaga returned to Matsusaka and opened his own medical practice at home.
Medicine Case
This is Norinaga's medicine case. In this case, he kept his medicine-making tools, components, and the medicines he prepared. On the paper covering the medicine case, in Norinaga's own hand-writing, is written he word "kusuribako" (medicine case). In the Edo period, it was common for doctors to visit their patients, so Norinaga would bring this case when he made house calls.
Medicine Spoon and Mortar
Norinaga practiced Chinese herbal medicine. He prepared medicines by himself. This is a complete set of tools Norinaga used for making medicine. The medicine spoon is used for scooping medicine, and the mortar is a bowl used for grinding medicine.
Advertisement for Amegusuri (Candies Made with Medicine for Children)
Norinaga even developed new medicines on his own. This is an advertisement made by Norinaga for his new medicine "amegusuri." By wrapping the medicine in sweet hard candies, it was made possible to give medicine to children who detested bitter medicines. This medicine was very well-received. You can see how much of a lover he was of "thinking"!
Saiseiroku (Medical Record)
This is Norinaga's patient medical record. On it is written the names of the patients he visited that day, and the number of medicines he mixed.
Patients with a circle written above their names were first-time patients.
Patients with a circle written above their names were first-time patients.