October 05

Kaibara Ekken was born in Kyoto in 1630 and became a leading figure in Edo-period scholarship. He authored the Honzō Tsūkan, a comprehensive botanical compendium that integrated empirical observation with traditional medicine. Deeply influenced by Neo-Confucianism and Chinese learning, he emphasized moral cultivation alongside scientific inquiry. His works bridged Eastern and Western knowledge, introducing rigorous classification methods to Japanese botany. Ekken's synthesis of natural science and ethical philosophy had a lasting impact on Japanese intellectual history.

Grace Lee Boggs (1915–2015) was a pioneering Chinese-American philosopher, writer, and community organizer whose work spanned civil rights, labor, and feminist movements. After earning her doctorate in philosophy, she settled in Detroit, partnering with fellow activist James Boggs to advocate for racial and economic justice. Boggs authored influential books on social change, technology, and revolution, urging grassroots empowerment and creative community building. Over seven decades, she founded and guided numerous organizations that addressed urban decline, environmental justice, and youth empowerment. Known for her concept of 'revolutionary love,' she inspired activists worldwide to envision transformative change. Well into her nineties, Boggs continued lecturing, mentoring, and writing, leaving a lasting legacy of intellectual rigor and compassionate activism.