By outdoor-nature-child.com On October 15, the Japan Hanxue Ju “Haidetang,” a precursor to Osaka University founded during the Edo period, celebrated its 300th anniversary. The event will feature a seminar with esteemed Japanese literature scholar Robert Campbell and a variety of commemorative activities.
According to a report by Japan’s Asia-Pacific Express, Haidetang was established in 1724 by a prominent Osaka merchant. The first scholar, Miyake Sekian, once remarked while teaching the Chinese classic “Mengzi”: “Those who practice benevolence and righteousness do not seek personal gain; gains will naturally come to them.”
For businesses connected to Osaka, this perspective on commercial ethics serves as a foundational principle in their operations.
Today, Haidetang not only offers reading lectures on classical Chinese texts for the public but also hosts popular spring and autumn commemorative lectures. Local resident Takashi Fujii, who attends the lectures on ancient texts, shared, “I’ve learned so much about these challenging works that are hard to grasp on my own. This knowledge has become a vital part of my intellectual nourishment.”