Kutsuki Masatsuna (朽木昌綱)

Nobutsuna KUTSUKI was the eighth lord of the Fukuchiyama Domain in Tanba Province. The ninth head of the Kutsuki family in the Fukuchiyama Domain.

Born on March 5, 1750 as the first son of Tsunasada KUTSUKI, the sixth lord of the domain. When Nobutsuna KUTSUKI, the seventh lord of the Domain, retired on April 10, 1787, he took over as head of the family as the adopted son and became the eighth lord of the Domain.

He liked to collect ancient coins and thus was called as 'the king of the ancient coin family.'
He wrote a lot of great books including the preface of the "Rangaku Kaitei" (an introductory book of the Western science study by Masatsuna KUTSUKI), "Taisei Yochi Zusetsu" (a geography book by Masatsuna KUTSUKI), "Kokonsen Kakagami" (a numismatic book on ancient and temporary coins by Masatsuna KUTSUKI), "Shin Sensen Fusen" (a numismatic book by Masatsuka KUTSUKI) Vol. 12, and "Ryoka Bunryoko" (a numismatic book on material of coins by Masatsuna KUTSUKI). He was very interested in the study of Western sciences. He became the disciple of Ryotaku MAENO and had interactions with Dutch scholars such as Gentaku OTSUKI and the curator of Dutch trading house, the Kapitan. Also he became the disciple of Harusato MATSUDAIRA, his brother-in-law, in the field of tea ceremony; he was known as a literatus. However, he is said to have been poor as a politician.

He let his adopted son Tomotsuna KUTSUKI to take over as head of the family and retired on May 2, 1800. He died on May 18, 1802. Died at the age of 53.

[Original Japanese]