Motoori Ōhira


Motoori Ōhira was a scholar of Kokugaku, and was the successor to Motoori Norinaga's school master. His pen name was Fuji no Kakitsu.

Life

Ōhira was born in Matsuzaka of the province of Ise. He was a son of Inagake Munetaka who was a merchant and Norinaga's pupil. Ōhira entered Norinaga's School by 13 years old, and became Norinaga's adopted son at the age of 44 years. Motoori Norinaga was serving Wakayama Domain. However, Ōhira inherited a patrimony at Motoori house after the Norinaga's death, because Norinaga's first son, Motoori Haruniwa was blinded. In 1802, Wakayama Domain gave an order to Ōhira to work. After Ōhira was moved to Wakayama in 1809, Norinaga's school branched off Haruniwa's school in Matsuzaka and Ōhira's one in Wakayama.
Ōhira's character was gentle, his seigneur was deeply trusted in him. Ōhira taught seigneur about classical Japanese literature and edited "Ise Zoku Fudoki " that was chorography. He endeavored to succeed to Norinaga's Study and to lead the school. He had at least 1,000 pupils.

Works

Ōhira mostly faithfully followed Norinaga's thoughts.