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FAMOUS SCHOLAR, HOKIICHI HANAWA

  A boy lost eyesight at the age of six came up to Edo from 
local town of Musashino with great hope, but he couldn't 
acquire progress in music with koto nor shamisen, not good 
at acupuncture nor massage. He despaired of life, thought to
commit suicide by jumping into Chidorigafuchi moat of 
Yotsuya. 
  His master encouraged him and said that he was allowed to 
do anything he was interested in for three years. If he 
couldn't be somebody, then he would go back home. Following 
the advice, he decided to start studying.
  Fortunately a volunteer of so called man-to man tutor 
appeared next door to his house, his good luck bloomed all 
of a sudden. He became a pupil of Kamo no Mabuchi when he
was 17, showed genius and finished 6 Japanese history books
included Nihon Shoki in short period. 
  This is the famous episode of how Hokiichi Hanawa made 
himself of a great scholar.
  2 years after promoted until kengyo through his study, he 
assisted proofreading of Dai-Nihon Shi received salary of 
10nin-buchi(amount sustainabie 10 people a year) by Mito-han
(feudal clan). On the other hand, he gave periodical open 
lecture of Genji monogatari at his home.
  There remained a senryu in those period; 
  Asked direction to the blind with opened eyes at Bancho.
  It might show how active the private school held at his 
house in Bancho of Kojimachi town. 
  He then initiated the great work of publishing Gunsho 
Ruiju.

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