Just Before The Dawn: The Life And Work Of Ninomiya Sontoku

JUST BEFORE THE DAWN THE LIFE AND WORK OF NINOMIYA SONTOKU - KOBE, JAPAN - This book describes the conditions in Japan just before the dawn of the Meiji Era, the age of enlightenment. The awakening that took place ilz Japan has since beew spread- ing over the whole Fast. -- 1911, -- FOREWORD THE work here presented to the public is, in my estimation, one of the most important hitherto coming from the field of Canadian Missions. Christian Missions in Japan, China, and India have to deal with problems very different from those presented in Missions to the native tribes of our own country or of Africa. These nations have an intellectual, moral, and religious history which cannot be ignored by those engaged in the work of Christian Missions among them. The more thoroughly we understand their moral and intellectual attitude, character, and ideas, and sym- pathize with their needs as well as appreciate that which they hold of truth, the more likely are we to do them good and to help them to more excel- lent things. Rut the utility of such studies, as are here pre- sented, is not confined to the missionary and his work. The scientific student who is interested in the study of man, especially in his moral and religious development, will find most important material for his purpose in this work of Mr. Arm- strong. Here we have almost within our own times one of those moral movements which have at various times so profoundly influenced the hu- vii man race. Perhaps some day we may have a comparative study of such movements, embracing various races and civilizations, but this will only be possible when the separate materials have been collected for the use of the scientific student and, as here, brought within his reach. A characteristic of this particular movement, and one which marks it in common with other similar movements in the East, is its practical character. In this respect it resembles the work of Confucius. He grappled with the task of gov- ernment and obedience to law, the Farmer Sage with that of economics and simple, yet sufficient, and healthful life the older Mosaic system touched both. Both laid good foundations for a higher spiritual life, which is always more permanent when built upon a simple, yet sufficient, temporal life. But to the ordinary Canadian reader this book will also have its interest. It will give us a better understanding of a people who will always be near neighbors, and who must influence our future history under the higher law and mission of com- merce. It will serve to remove many misappre- hensions and give us a fellow-feeling for those who have the same wants and perplexities and sins in their human life as have we ourselves. VICTORIA COLLEGE, November 7, 1911. viii N. BURWASH. CONTENTS INTRODUCTION OUTLINE OF EARLY REFORMS AND ETHICAL THOUGHT IN JAPAN CHAPTER I. BEGINNINGS 11. a BUDDHISM IN OUTLINE . 111. LATER DEVELOPMENT IN CONFUCIANISM IV. TAOISM IN OUTLINE . V. REVIVAL OF SHINTOISI VI. LAND TENURE . VII. MORAL AND ECONOMIC COKDITIOKS OF NINO- MIYAS TIME . VIII. ATTEMPTS TO IMPROVE THE CONDITION OF THE PEOPLE IX. FOREIGN INTERCOURSE X. SOME OPINIONS OF NINOIIYA BY JAPANESE SCHOLARS . XI. POSSIBLE DUTCH INFLUENCE ON NINOMIYA . . PART I THE LIFE OF NINOMIYA SONTOKU I. THE EARLY YEARS OF NINOMIYA SONTOKU . 11. NINOMIYAS FIRST GREAT WORK. 111. NINOMIYA BEGINS THE WORK AT SAKURAMACHI IV. SOME OF NINOMIYAS METHODS . V. NINOMIYAS INTO HUMANINSIGHT VI. NINOMIYA AND YENNO THE PRIEST . k . NATURE . PAGE 1 6 16 26 29 38 CONTENTS CHAPTER PACE VII. NINOMIYAS ATTITUDE TOWARD THE SPIRIT OF REVENGE . . 118 VIII...