He was born in a family of a doctor of the Oka Domain, Bungo Province, and after having learned at hanko (a domain school), Yugakukan, he served the same school, starting as juin (Confucianist staff) and reaching to todori (the school chief).
豊後国岡藩の藩医の家に生まれ、藩校の由学館で学び同校の儒員から頭取まで進んだ。