Born the second son of a farming family in Higashigake village in Tanba (Kameoka, Kyoto).
Around this time he was apprenticed to a Kyoto merchant house, but the shop fared badly and he later returned home.
He went back to Kyoto to work at a kimono shop, teaching himself Shinto, Confucianism and Buddhism on the side.
Around this time he met Oguri Ryōun and, under his guidance, deepened his thought.
He began free lectures open to all at his Kyoto home, valuing honesty and thrift and teaching that merchants' profit is legitimate. His teaching became known as Sekimon Shingaku.
He published Tohi Mondō, setting out his teaching in question-and-answer form.
He published Seikaron on the value of thrift and died that year; his pupils spread his teaching nationwide.
Ogyū SoraiAmenomori HoshuŌoka TadasukeTokugawa YoshimuneKamo no MabuchiAoki Kon'yōYosa BusonItō Jakuchū
People of the Edo period ・ People by period
Based on facts found in textbooks and biographies. Uncertain points are marked as such.