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“Essays
represents much more than a history of Meiji Protestantism . . .
it takes on the status of an intellectual history of the Meiji period per
se. Squires and Ion are to be congratulated on providing more ready access
to some fascinating source material.” “A
provocative, delightfully fresh look at the Meiji years from the
perspective of that small, brilliant, wholly engaged group of
intellectuals who called themselves Christian. It is a must read for those
who want to understand the vicissitudes of the Christian church in that
tumultuous time.” Essays
on the Modern Japanese Church (Gendai Nihon kyo€kai shiron), by
Yamaji Aizan, published in 1906, was the first Japanese-language history
of Christianity in the Meiji period. A firsthand account of the role
Christianity played in the social, political, and intellectual life of
Meiji Japan, Essays describes the reintroduction of Christianity to
Japan—its development, rapid expansion, and decline. Yamaji’s overall
argument is that Christianity played a crucial role in shaping the growth
of modern Japan. Yamaji
was a strong opponent of the government-sponsored “emperor-system
ideology,” and through his historical writing he tried to show how Japan
had a tradition of tolerance and openness at a time when
government-sponsored intellectuals were arguing for greater conformity and
submissiveness to the state on the basis of Japanese “national
character.” Essays
is important not only in terms of religious history but also because it
highlights broad trends in the history of Meiji Japan. Introductory
chapters explore the significance of the work in terms of the life and
thought of its author and its influence on subsequent interpretations of
Meiji Christianity. Published by Center
for Japanese Studies, University of Michigan |
