ABSTRACT
On the matter of Ōshio's alleged meeting with Zhou Yunshan (later, Feng Yunshan) in Nagasaki and their trip together to China, Ishizaki Tōgoku notes: ‘The problem here is the identity of Mr. Zhou, said to be a Chinese merchant, with whom Ōshio and his son embarked on their journey. In the various works we have examined, I recall a work by Ōkura Nagatsune, entitled Kiyō ki [Account of Nagasaki], which mentions this.’ It is not clear what work this Kiyō ki refers to. I, for one, have never heard of such a work by Ōkura, and after a brief examination of his writings, no work by this title comes to the fore. Nonetheless, Ishizaki quotes from it as follows:
Recently, a talented young Cantonese by the name of Zhou Yunshan came to Nagasaki. He is well-versed in both Dutch medical science and studies of the Yi jing (Classic of Changes). I gained considerably through a meeting with him, and if he were to wish to remain permanently on Japanese soil, I would make such a recommendation to the feudal lords. Last year Yunshan formed something called the Triads. He was arrested while spreading his [religious] message locally [in China] and by dressing up as a merchant escaped certain death. He now says that he has collected is books to take long-term refuge in Japan.
