御前講義
松陰は吉田家の当主になってからは、叔父玉木文之進をはじめ、渡辺六兵衛・林真人・石津平七・山田宇右衛門等の家学の教授代理から学び、天保十年(1839)十歳の十一月初めて藩校明倫館に出勤して家学を授けた。そして翌十一年藩主毛利敬親が文武師範を萩城内に召し、親しく学芸をためした時、十一歳の松陰は初めて『武教全書』戦法篇三戦を講義した。藩主はその見事なことに感心し、学問の先生は誰であるか尋ねた。そこで側近の者が「玉木文之進です」と答えた。以後、敬親は松陰に高い期待を寄せた。
Imperial lecture
Lecture in front of the feudal Lord Mōri Takachika After becoming the head of the Yoshida family, Shoin received instruction from various family scholars, including his uncle Tamaki Bunnoshin, Watanaebe Rokubei, Hayashi Masato, Ishizu Heishichi, Yamada Uemon, and others. He began teaching family studies at the clan school Meirinkan in November 1839 (the 10th year of Tenpo era) when he was just ten years old.
The following year, when Mōri Takachika, feudal Lord of the domain, invited scholars in both literary and martial arts to Hagi Castle for a close study of the arts and sciences, at the age of 11, Shoin lectured for the first time on the "Bukyo Zensho" military strategy section, consisting of three battles. Feudal Lord Mōri Takachika was deeply impressed by this remarkable display of knowledge and asked who the teacher was. An attendant replied, "It's Tamaki Bunnoshin." From then
on, Feudal Lord Mōri Takachika held high expectations for Shoin.