expression, ichidan verb
master the secrets of; fathom the depths of
Obsolete literary expression meaning to thoroughly master the deepest, most esoteric aspects of an art, discipline, or teaching. In modern Japanese, one would more commonly use 奥義を極める or 秘伝を究める.
彼は長年の修行の末、ついに剣術の蘊奥を極めたと伝えられる。
It is said that after many years of training, he finally mastered the deepest secrets of swordsmanship.
Obsolete expression; the kanji 蘊 is not a jōyō kanji and is rare in modern writing.
Variant spelling using 究める; equally rare and obsolete.
Modern equivalent; 奥義 is a common word for 'esoteric principles' or 'secrets', while 蘊奥 is archaic and rarely used today.
The term 蘊奥 combines 蘊 (accumulated, deep) and 奥 (inner, profound), literally meaning 'deep inner recesses'. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but it has been used in classical texts to refer to the most profound secrets of an art or teaching.