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his acquaintace. It was about this time that he changed his previous name of Masafuji for that of Mabuchi, by which he is generally known.[1]
In 1733, at the age of thirty-six, he went up to Kiôto and became one of Kada’s pupils, but as Kada died in 1736, he only profited by his teacher’s lessons for a comparatively short period. Nevertheless, he made excellent use of his time, as is shown by the fact that he alone of all those who studied under Kada, surpassed his master in learning. In 1738 he removed to Yedo, where he passed the remainder of his life. Having established his reputation as a scholar, he entered the service of Tayasu Kingo in 1746, with whom he remained fourteen years, until old age compelled his retirement. He died in the end of 1769 at the age of 72, and was buried at the Buddhist monastery of Tôdaiji at Shinagawa.
Motoöri in his Tamagatsuma,[2] under the heading “Agatai[3] no ushi’s claim to be considered the founder of ancient learning” says: “The branch of study which consists of investigating the ancient language and modes of thought with a mind perfectly freed from Chinese influences was initiated by Mabuchi. Before his time the usual studies were confined to the Kokinshiu and later collections. The Manyôshiu was considered obscure and unintelligible. No one was capable of appreciating its merits or of distinguishing between the more ancient and modern poems which it contains, and no one ever attempted to acquire the language of the Manyôshiu, so as to wield it as his own. The power of acquiring this ancient language so as to employ it with perfect ease, of composing poetry in the style of the Manyôshiu and of writing prose in the ancient manner, which some have attained to in later times, is owing to the teachings of Mabuchi. The Moderns may imagine that they have made this acquisition by their own efforts, but there is not one who does not stand in debt to him. Every one
