The Biography and Books of MIWA Tosaku

Abstract

MIWA Tosaku was a practitioner of “shiraku” medicine during the Edo period. It was considered that “Shiraku bunkenroku” (dictated by Tosaku, transcribed by ITO Daisuke) was the only remaining textbook by him. However, newly found Tosaku's books such as “Yamatoigo,” “Sehon yamatoigo” and “Miwashi kazohomyoyakushu” revealed his portrait and technique in greater detail. This report includes an introduction and a discussion about these three books, and presents a novel biography of Tosaku. Although it has been noted that he focused only on “shiraku” therapy, these new books show that he often prescribed Japanese original formulae of herbs, performed “shiraku” on both prevention and treatment, and used folk medicine simultaneously.