raised him to the unique position of influence which he held.
His works, inclusive of state papers and reports to his Government, number over three hundred. In addition to those already mentioned, there may be named Yezodan Hikki (in MS.), which treats of the productions of Yezo, the Yezo language, and the Aino revolt of 1669; Nantōshi, a geographical work on Loochoo; Keizai Tenkei, or "Principles of Finance"; Kwahei Kō, a work on the currency; Gunki Kō, on arms; Kishin Ron, a book on the nature of the gods; Gwakō Benran, a work on painting; Ketsugoku Kō, on knotty points of criminal law; Dōbun Tsūkō, on the various forms of script used in Japan; Shuko Dzusetsu, an antiquarian work; Tōga, a dictionary of Japanese words in twenty books; and Sairan Igen, an expansion of the historical and geographical part of the Seiyō Kibun.
Muro Kiusō was born at Yanaka, in the province of Musashi (not far from Yedo), in 1658. He was distinguished from his earliest years by a love of learning. When only thirteen he was taken into the service of the Daimio of Kaga, who was so much struck by his precocious talent that he sent him to Kiōto to study under the famous Kinoshita Junan.
In 1711, on the recommendation of his friend and fellow-pupil Hakuseki, Kiusō received a Government appointment in Yedo as Professor of Chinese. In 1713 he took up his residence in a house at Surugadai, a lofty platform which overlooks Yedo from the north, near the spot where a Christian church now stands, conspicuous to the whole city. Here he spent the remainder of his days. When Hakuseki retired from public life, Kiusō to some
