Private Academies of Chinese Learning in Meiji Japan: The Decline ...

68 CASE STUDIES1864, 30. For 1865–67 the number is 152 and for 1868–71 320.After that there are no more entries in Sokken’s handwriting. Anaddition for the years 1872 to 1874 lists 88 names and for 1875–76, the names of 53 boarders are listed.One of Sokken’s students was was Tani Kanjō (1837–1911), asamurai from Edo who became a military leader and politician inthe Meiji period. He came to Edo and entered Sankei juku in1856, and his writings, with parts of his diary, record informationabout his life at juku, daily studies and errands in town. 12 At thistime Sokken had a good reputation for his scholarship. Therewere about 25 students in the juku and conditions were crowded.Lessons consisted of hyōkai, group readings at which Sokken waspresent and discussions were somewhat restrained, and naikai,group readings in which six or seven students held discussions;these were livelier than those with Sokken present. Students wereencouraged to reach their own conclusions. Questions they couldnot solve were put to Sokken. There were also lectures andspecial lectures on the Elementary Learning for the youngerpupils. Attendance at lectures was not compulsory, but studentshad to attend the group discussions. According to Tani Kanjō,Sokken was severe and the juku generally strict, and everyonestudied hard.Like many scholars, Sokken left the capital during theRestoration wars. This was not just because of the general unrestcaused by the fighting, but also because among the studentsattending Sankei juku, some supported the shogunate whileothers sided with the new government, causing conflict within thejuku. 13 After his return to the capital, Sokken reopened his juku inthe residence of the lord of Hikone, moving back to Kōjimachiafter the abolition of the domains. 1869 seems to have been apeak year, with 100 students enrolled. By 1871 the numbers weredown to 40.In 1872 Sokken submitted a report and in 1873 an applicationfor his juku to the metropolitan government, according to the newregulations. 14 The number of students is reported as 14, of which5 were aged fourteen to sixteen, 3 aged seventeen to nineteen and6 were older. Sokken stated that he was the only teacher. Feeswere due on entering and leaving and on certain dates twice ayear. Boarders paid 1 yen 25 sen plus costs for their food, daypupils paid 50 sen twice a year. The following is said aboutteaching arrangements: