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Draft:Ogawa Shosen

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Ogawa Shōsen Ogawa Shōsen (小川 笙船; Ōmi, 1672 — Edo, 26th July 1760), known as Ogawa Hiromasa (小川 広正),[1] was a Japanese physician and promoter of the only charity hospital that existed during the Edo period.[2]

Born in the former Ōmi Province, now part of Shiga Prefecture . His given name was "Hiromasa" — but popularly addressed as "Shōsen",[1] and by the nickname "Doctor Redbeard".[3][4] He devoted himself to Chinese medicine and established his practice in the city of Edo.[1][4] Concerned about the situation of the most needy, he made a request to the authorities, through the shōgun's suggestion box, to open a charity hospital aimed at widows, nuns, the poor and other people without resources,[5] in the image of the Seyakuin, a medical institution that had existed in the 9th century, which had also recovered in the 13th century.[2][6] The shogun Tokugawa Yoshimune agreed to the proposal, and facilities constructed inside the Koishikawa medicinal herb garden (now Koishikawa Botanical Garden). [2][7] The foundation date of this small hospital is marked on 4th December 1722 (10th January 1723 in the Georgian calendar).[2]

The center was named Yōjōsho (sanatorium), with Ogawa appointed superintendent and in charge of the management. He had the collaboration of other doctors and a support staff formed by various men and women. [2][8] The administration of the hospital was under the supervision of a local magistrate through a commission of accountants and assistants. [2] [5]

Ogawa led a simple and comfortable life as a doctor[2] — caring for the wealthy and dedicated himself to the needy and the common good. His efforts were aimed at caring for the poor, who despite being unable to pay, contributed what they could in the form of products from their crops or with water.[9] Upon his death, the hospital came under the direction of his son Taiji, who had been its caretaker, and later his grandson, Akimichi.[1][3]

Towards the end of his life he was offered the position of official physician to the shogunate, but declined due to his advanced age.[1] He retired professionally and lived for a time in Kanazawa,[4] although he later returned to Edo, where he died in 1760.[1] His grave is located in Zōshigaya Cemetery.[4]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f "小川笙船". Kotobank (in Japanese). Asahi Shimbun. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Röhl, Wilhelm (2005). History Of Law In Japan Since 1868. BRILL. ISBN 978-90-04-13164-4.
  3. ^ a b Groemer, Gerald (2018-11-30). The Land We Saw, the Times We Knew: An Anthology of Zuihitsu Writing from Early Modern Japan. University of Hawaii Press. p. 220. ISBN 978-0-8248-7717-0.
  4. ^ a b c d "小川笙船の画像、名言、年表、子孫を徹底紹介". 江戸ガイド. Retrieved 2025-06-18.
  5. ^ a b Cybriwsky, Roman (2011-02-18). Historical Dictionary of Tokyo. Bloomsbury Publishing PLC. p. 120. ISBN 978-0-8108-7489-3.
  6. ^ Sugimoto, Masayoshi; Swain, David L. (2016-02-03). Science and Culture in Traditional Japan. Tuttle Publishing. p. 102. ISBN 978-1-4629-1813-3.
  7. ^ "History of Medical Care at Inpatient Facilities in Japan" (PDF). www.med.or.jp. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2025-06-18.
  8. ^ Mossé, Philippe; Harayama, Tetsu; Blanc, Jessica (2010). Hospitals and the nursing profession: lessons from Franco-Japanese comparisons paths to modernization. Montrouge: J. Libbey Eurotext. p. 14. ISBN 978-2-7420-0796-7.
  9. ^ Roesgaard, Marie Højlund (2016-10-04). Moral Education in Japan: Values in a global context. Taylor & Francis. pp. 90–91. ISBN 978-1-317-20995-9.
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