Banzan Kumazawa (熊沢 蕃山 1619–1691)
An Early Edo Era Confuciucian Scholar
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Banzan learned Confucianism with Touju Nakae, served the Okayama Clan and gave great contributions to fight against erosion, floods and famine. After retiring Banzan moved to Kyoto, then Yamato-Kouriyama and became then quite acquainted with many refined members of the nobility, shogunate retainers, princes and other scholars. While he was staying in Koga the shogunate blamed him for the writing of “Daigaku Wakumon”(or 『大学或問』：“Academic Interrogations”) and had him confined in Koga Castle until his death. Several remains of flood and erosion control facilities, supposedly made through Banzan’s guidance, can be found on the former Koga Clan grounds.
Japanese version of this article available here
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