Gyōyū Tokiwai

Tokiwa I Gyōyū (born April 22, 1872 – January 27, 1951) was a Japanese monk, Sanskrit scholar, and the head priest of the Shinshu Takada sect. He was active across the Meiji and Showa periods.

Life and Career

He was born on March 15, 1872, as the third son of Tadao Konoe. Detailed information about his birthplace is not documented. After completing elementary school, he traveled to Germany for studies. During his time in Japan, he studied under Max Müller at the University of Strasbourg and apprenticed for 17 years. His specialties were philosophy and Sanskrit literature, and he traveled across various European countries.

After returning to Japan, he enrolled at the Faculty of Letters at Kyoto Imperial University and taught Sanskrit as a professor. In 1913 (Taisho 2), he became the head priest of the Shinshu Takada sect, succeeding his adoptive father Yōkō (who was also his uncle). In conjunction with this, he was ennobled as a baron in 1919 (Taisho 8).

Other activities include being one of the founders of the Imperial Oriental Studies Society, and he continued to research Sanskrit literature throughout his life. His notable achievements include the publication of the "Sanskrit Dictionary" (11 volumes).

Family Relations

His father was Tadao Konoe, and his mother was Mitsuko Shimazu (adopted daughter of Shimazu Nariakira and daughter of Shimazu Hisamitsu). His adoptive father was Tokiwa Yōki (younger brother of Tadao Konoe). He married multiple women; his wife was Fumiko (daughter of Kōzō Otani), and he also had Nagako (daughter of Hirokatsu Kuze) and Makki Kanamaru (mistress).

His eldest son was Gyōki, and his eldest daughter was Noriko (wife of Senichi Sawa). He had illegitimate children including Reiko, Shizuko, and Ranjū.

Achievements and Writings

Tokiwa I Gyōyū conducted research on Sanskrit literature both domestically and internationally, publishing numerous papers, translations, and dictionaries. Among his works, the "Sanskrit Dictionary" is particularly well-known as one of his major contributions.

References and Sources

- Kotobank: "Tokiwa I Gyōyū"

- Reichsarchiv: "Tokiwa family (Shinshu Takada sect)"

For further details or in-depth materials, please refer to related documents.

【Note】This article is a neutral, fact-based Japanese biographical introduction created based on the provided information.