An Encouragement of LearningThe intellectual and social theorist Yukichi Fukuzawa wrote An Encouragement of Learning (1872–1876) as a series of pamphlets as he completed his critical masterpiece, An Outline of a Theory of Civilization (1875). Closely linked, the two texts illustrate the core tenets of Fukuzawa’s theoretical outlook: freedom and equality as inherent to human nature, independence as the goal of any individual and nation, and the transformation of the Japanese mind as key to moving forward in a rapidly evolving political and cultural landscape. Fukuzawa called for the adoption of Western modes of education to help Japan emerge as a modern nation. He believed human beings’ treatment of one another extended to a government’s behavior, echoing the work of John Locke, Thomas Jefferson, and other Western thinkers in a classically structured Eastern text. |
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according affairs ancient argument Asano ashigaru become Buddhism called Chinese Confucian Confucius country’s course customs daimyo deeds despotic discuss domain duty Encouragement of Learning envy equal evil example fact foreign freedom Fukuzawa Yukichi Gakumon no susume give harm human nature hundred Japan Japanese citizen Keio University Keio-gijuku Kim Ok-kyun Kira laws lives look lord loyal retainers Masashige matter means Meiji Period Meiji Restoration Mencius merchants mind modern civilization moral Nagasaki Nakatsu national independence obey Oda Nobunaga officials one’s parents peasants people’s person political practical present principle protection reason rice samurai scholars of Western Section seppuku Shinran shogunate social society Sophia University spirit of independence stupid talents teaching terakoya Theory of Civilization things Tokugawa Tokugawa shogunate translation true West Western Learning women Xuanzang