野山獄での獄中教育
松陰は江戸伝馬町獄より萩に送りかえされて野山獄に入った。同行の重輔は岩倉獄に入れられたが、病気のため間もなく獄死した。野山獄には在獄四十九年の老囚他九名、女囚も一名いて、新入りの松陰を加えると十二名となった。松陰はそこで猛烈な勉学を開始し、儒学と史学に全霊を打ち込んだ。彼が残した「野山獄読書記」によれば、一年二か月の在獄中、読破した書物は四百九十二冊に達している。その間に松陰は、獄中教育を自発的に始めた。それは偉大な効果を生み、松下村塾への基礎となっていった。
Education in Noyamagoku-prison
Yoshida Shoin was incarcerated in Noyamagoku prison after being returned to Hagi from Edo's Tenma-cho Prison. His companion, Shigenosuke, was placed in Iwakuragoku prison but soon succumbed to illness and passed away. In Noyamagoku prison, there were one elderly inmate with 49 years in prison, and 9 other prisoners, one female prisoner. With the addition of the newcomer Yoshida Shoin, the total number of inmates became 12.
Yoshida Shoin commenced intense self-education in there, dedicating himself wholeheartedly to Confucianism and historical studies. According to the "Noyamagoku Dokusho-ki" (Record of Readings in Noyamagoku) that he left behind, during his 1 year and 2 months of incarceration, Yoshida Shoin managed to read and complete a total of 492 books. During this time, Yoshida Shoin began voluntary education within the prison, which had a profound impact and laid the foundation for the development of the Shokasonjuku Academy.