[ 温故知新TOP ]
[温故知新]、、 武士道(新渡戸稲造)茶の本(岡倉天心)代表的日本人(内村鑑三)学問のすすめ(福沢諭吉)自助論(Smiles)慶応義塾大学 [デジタルで読む福澤諭吉]學問ノスヽメ. 初編~十七編 [ピューア] )( 福翁自傳 [ビューア]


『学問のすすめ 』(An Encouragement of Learning)
福沢諭吉(Fukuzawa Yukichi)
三編 (国は同等なること・
一身独立して一国独立すること)

天は人の上に人を造らず人の下に人を造らず
"The heaven does not create one man above or under another man"
人学ばざれば智なし、智なき者は愚人なり
"A man cannot have wisdom without learning. A man without wisdom is foolish."
初編(端書はしがき)、 二編(端書・人は同等なること)、 三編(国は同等なること・一身独立して一国独立すること)、 四編(学者の職分を論ず・付録)、 五編(明治七年一月一日の詞)、 六編(国法の貴きを論ず)、 七編(国民の職分を論ず)、 八編(わが心をもって他人の身を制すべからず)、 九編(学問の旨を二様に記して中津の旧友に贈る文)、 十編(前編のつづき、中津の旧友に贈る)、 十一編(名分をもって偽君子を生ずるの論)、 十二編(演説の法を勧むるの説・人の品行は高尚ならざるべからざるの論)、 十三編(怨望の人間に害あるを論ず)、 十四編(心事の棚卸し)、 十五編(事物を疑いて取捨を断ずること)、 十六編(手近く独立を守ること・心事と働きと相当すべきの論)、 十七編(人望論) 、、[朗読MP3] 
TOP 初編 二編 三編 四編 五編 六編 七編 八編 九編
十編 十一編 十二編 十三編 十四編 十五編 十六編 十七編 [手紙]


国は同等なること  (三編/朗読)  [朗読]  [English]  學問ノスヽメ. 三編 [ピューア] 、 ・《青空文庫全 AI朗読全》
 およそ人とさえ名あれば、富めるも貧しきも、強きも弱きも、人民も政府も、その権義において異なるなしとのことは、第二編に記せり〔二編にある権理通義の四字を略して、ここにはただ権義と記したり。いずれも英語のライト、right という字に当たる〕。今この義をおしひろめて国と国との間柄を論ぜん。国とは人の集まりたるものにて、日本国は日本人の集まりたるものなり、英国は英国人の集まりたるものなり。日本人も英国人も等しく天地の間の人なれば、互いにその権義を妨ぐるの理なし。一人が一人に向かいて害を加うるの理なくば、二人が二人に向かいて害を加うるの理もなかるべし。百万人も千万人も同様のわけにて、物事の道理は人数の多少によりて変ずべからず。今、世界中を見渡すに、文明開化とて文学も武備も盛んにして富強なる国あり、あるいは蛮野未開とて文武ともに不行届きにして貧弱なる国あり。一般にヨーロッパ・アメリカの諸国は富んで強く、アジヤ・アフリカの諸国は貧にして弱し。されどもこの貧富・強弱は国の有様なれば、もとより同じかるべからず。しかるにいま、自国の富強なる勢いをもって貧弱なる国へ無理を加えんとするは、いわゆる力士が腕の力をもって病人の腕を握り折るに異ならず、国の権義において許すべからざることなり。
 近くはわが日本国にても、今日の有様にては西洋諸国の富強に及ばざるところあれども、一国の権義においては厘毛の軽重あることなし。道理にもとりて曲をこうむるの日に至りては、世界中を敵にするも恐るるに足らず。初編第六葉にも言えるごとく、「日本国中の人民一人も残らず命を棄てて国の威光を落とさず」とはこの場合なり。しかのみならず、貧富・強弱の有様は天然の約束にあらず、人の勉と不勉とによりて移り変わるべきものにて、今日の愚人も明日は智者となるべく、昔年の富強も今世の貧弱となるべし。古今その例少なからず。わが日本国人も今より学問に志し気力をたしかにして、まず一身の独立をはかり、したがって一国の富強を致すことあらば、なんぞ西洋人の力を恐るるに足らん。道理あるものはこれに交わり、道理なきものはこれを打ち払わんのみ。一身独立して一国独立するとはこのことなり。

一身独立して一国独立すること
 前条に言えるごとく、国と国とは同等なれども、国中の人民に独立の気力なきときは一国独立の権義を伸ぶることあたわず。その次第三ヵ条あり。
 第一条 独立の気力なき者は国を思うこと深切ならず。
 独立とは自分にて自分の身を支配し他によりすがる心なきを言う。みずから物事の理非を弁別して処置を誤ることなき者は、他人の智恵によらざる独立なり。みずから心身を労して私立の活計をなす者は、他人の財によらざる独立なり。人々この独立の心なくしてただ他人の力によりすがらんとのみせば、全国の人はみな、よりすがる人のみにてこれを引き受くる者はなかるべし。これをたとえば盲人の行列に手引きなきがごとし、はなはだ不都合ならずや。或る人いわく、「民はこれによらしむべしこれを知らしむべからず、世の中は目くら千人目あき千人なれば、智者上にありて諸民を支配し上の意に従わしめてなり」と。この議論は孔子様の流儀なれども、その実は大いに非なり。一国中に人を支配するほどの才徳を備うる者は千人のうち一人に過ぎず。
 仮りにここに人口百万人の国あらん。このうち千人は智者にして九十九万余の者は無智の小民ならん。智者の才徳をもってこの小民を支配し、あるいは子のごとくして愛し、あるいは羊のごとくして養い、あるいはおどしあるいはし、恩威ともに行なわれてその向かうところを示すことあらば、小民もらず知らずして上の命に従い、盗賊、人殺しの沙汰もなく、国内安穏に治まることあるべけれども、もとこの国の人民、主客の二様に分かれ、主人たる者は千人の智者にて、よきように国を支配し、その余の者は悉皆しっかい何も知らざる客分なり。すでに客分とあればもとより心配も少なく、ただ主人にのみよりすがりて身に引き受くることなきゆえ、国をうれうることも主人のごとくならざるは必然、実に水くさき有様なり。国内のことなればともかくもなれども、いったん外国と戦争などのことあらばその不都合なること思い見るべし。無智無力の小民ら、ほこさかしまにすることもなかるべけれども、われわれは客分のことなるゆえ一命を棄つるは過分なりとて逃げ走る者多かるべし。さすればこの国の人口、名は百万人なれども、国を守るの一段に至りてはその人数はなはだ少なく、とても一国の独立はかない難きなり。
 右の次第につき、外国に対してわが国を守らんには自由独立の気風を全国に充満せしめ、国中の人々、貴賤きせん上下の別なく、その国を自分の身の上に引き受け、智者も愚者も目くらも目あきも、おのおのその国人たるの分を尽くさざるべからず。英人は英国をもってわが本国と思い、日本人は日本国をもってわが本国と思い、その本国の土地は他人の土地にあらず、わが国人の土地なれば、本国のためを思うことわが家を思うがごとし。国のためには財を失うのみならず、一命をもなげうちて惜しむに足らず。これすなわち報国の大義なり。
 もとより国のまつりごとをなす者は政府にて、その支配を受くる者は人民なれども、こはただ便利のために双方の持ち場を分かちたるのみ。一国全体の面目にかかわることに至りては、人民の職分として政府のみに国を預け置き、かたわらよりこれを見物するの理あらんや。すでに日本国の誰、英国の誰と、その姓名の肩書に国の名あればその国に住居し、起居眠食、自由自在なるの権義あり。すでにその権義あればまたしたがってその職分なかるべからず。
 昔戦国の時、駿河の今川義元いまがわよしもと、数万の兵を率いて織田信長おだのぶながを攻めんとせしとき、信長の策にて桶狭間おけはざま伏勢ふせぜいを設け、今川の本陣に迫りて義元の首を取りしかば、駿河の軍勢は蜘蛛くもの子を散らすがごとく、戦いもせずして逃げ走り、当時名高き駿河の今川政府も一朝に亡びてそのあとなし。近く両三年以前、フランスとプロイセンとの戦いに、両国接戦のはじめ、フランス帝ナポレオンはプロイセンにられたれども、仏人はこれによりて望みを失わざるのみならず、ますます憤発して防ぎ戦い、骨をさらし血を流し、数月籠城ののち和睦に及びたれども、フランスは依然としてもとのフランスに異ならず。かの今川の始末に比ぶれば日を同じゅうして語るべからず。そのゆえはなんぞや。駿河の人民はただ義元一人によりすがり、その身は客分のつもりにて、駿河の国をわが本国と思う者なく、フランスには報国の士民多くして国の難を銘々の身に引き受け、人の勧めを待たずしてみずから本国のために戦う者あるゆえ、かかる相違もできしことなり。これによりて考うれば、外国へ対して自国を守るに当たり、その国人に独立の気力ある者は国を思うこと深切にして、独立の気力なき者は不深切なること推して知るべきなり。
 第二条 内に居て独立の地位を得ざる者は、外にありて外国人に接するときもまた独立の権義を伸ぶること能わず。
 独立の気力なき者は必ず人に依頼す、人に依頼する者は必ず人を恐る、人を恐るる者は必ず人にへつらうものなり。常に人を恐れ人に諛う者はしだいにこれに慣れ、その面の皮、鉄のごとくなりて、恥ずべきを恥じず、論ずべきを論ぜず、人をさえ見ればただ腰を屈するのみ。いわゆる「習い、性となる」とはこのことにて、慣れたることは容易に改め難きものなり。たとえば今、日本にて平民に苗字・乗馬を許し、裁判所の風も改まりて、表向きはまず士族と同等のようなれども、その習慣にわかに変ぜず、平民の根性は依然としてもとの平民に異ならず、言語もいやしく応接も賤しく、目上の人に逢えば一言半句の理屈を述ぶること能わず、立てと言えば立ち、舞えと言えば舞い、その柔順なること家に飼いたる痩せ犬のごとし。実に無気無力の鉄面皮と言うべし。
 昔鎖国の世に旧幕府のごとき窮屈なる政を行なう時代なれば、人民に気力なきもその政事に差しつかえざるのみならずかえって便利なるゆえ、ことさらにこれを無智におとしいれ、無理に柔順ならしむるをもって役人の得意となせしことなれども、今、外国と交わるの日に至りてはこれがため大なる弊害あり。譬えば田舎の商人ら、恐れながら外国の交易に志して横浜などへ来る者あれば、まず外国人の骨格たくましきを見てこれに驚き、かねの多きを見てこれに驚き、商館の洪大こうだいなるに驚き、蒸気船の速きに驚き、すでにすでに胆を落として、追い追いこの外国人に近づき取引きするに及んでは、その駆引きのするどきに驚き、あるいは無理なる理屈を言いかけらるることあればただに驚くのみならず、その威力に震いおそれて、無理と知りながら大なる損亡を受け大なる恥辱をこうむることあり。こは一人の損亡にあらず、一国の損亡なり。一人の恥辱にあらず、一国の恥辱なり。実に馬鹿らしきようなれども、先祖代々独立の気を吸わざる町人根性、武士にはくるしめられ、裁判所には叱られ、一人扶持いちにんぶち取る足軽にいてもお旦那さまとあがめし魂は腹の底まで腐れつき、一朝一夕に洗うべからず、かかる臆病神の手下どもが、かの大胆不敵なる外国人に逢いて、胆をぬかるるは無理ならぬことなり。これすなわち内に居て独立を得ざる者は外にありても独立すること能わざるの証拠なり。
 第三条 独立の気力なき者は人に依頼して悪事をなすことあり。
 旧幕府の時代に名目金みょうもくきんとて、御三家などと唱うる権威強き大名の名目を借りて金を貸し、ずいぶん無理なる取引きをなせしことあり。その所業はなはだにくむべし。自分の金を貸して返さざる者あらば、再三再四力を尽くして政府に訴うべきなり。しかるにこの政府を恐れて訴うることを知らず、きたなくも他人の名目を借り他人の暴威によりて返金をうながすとは卑怯なる挙動ならずや。今日に至りては名目金の沙汰は聞かざれども、あるいは世間に外国人の名目を借る者はあらずや。余輩いまだその確証を得ざるゆえ明らかにここに論ずること能わざれども、昔日のことを思えば今の世の中にも疑念なきを得ず。こののち万々一も外国人雑居などの場合に及び、その名目を借りてかんを働く者あらば、国のわざわい、実に言うべからざるべし。ゆえに人民に独立の気力なきはその取扱いに便利などとて油断すべからず。禍は思わぬところに起こるものなり。国民に独立の気力いよいよ少なければ、国を売るの禍もまたしたがってますます大なるべし。すなわちこの条のはじめに言える、人に依頼して悪事をなすとはこのことなり。
 右三ヵ条に言うところはみな、人民に独立の心なきより生ずる災害なり。今の世に生まれいやしくも愛国の意あらん者は、官私を問わずまず自己の独立をはかり、余力あらば他人の独立を助け成すべし。父兄は子弟に独立を教え、教師は生徒に独立を勧め、士農工商ともに独立して国を守らざるべからず。概してこれを言えば、人を束縛してひとり心配を求むるより、人を放ちてともに苦楽をともにするにかざるなり。

引用文献


 TOP
Every country is equal.

1
All human beings, whether they are rich or poor, strong or weak, even the people and the government, have equal rights. I said so in the second chapter. Now I'm going to extend this and apply it to the relationship between countries.

A country consists of its people. Japan consists of Japanese people and England consists of English people. Both Japanese and English people live between the same heaven and earth, so they don't have any reason to violate their rights each other. If one person must not harm another person, two people also must not harm other two people. This is the same even if the number is a million or a billion, and the reasons of things never change according to the number of people.

Now I look out over the world, some countries are civilized, strong and rich, others are uncivilized, weak and poor. In general, European and American countries are rich and strong, and Asian and African countries are poor and weak. These are only the state of countries and it is normal there are differences among countries. However, to take advantage of its strength to force weak countries is no different than that a strong sumo wrestler breaks weak ill person's arm with his arm power. This is an unforgivable violation of countries' rights.

Our Japan, is not as rich and strong as Western countries today. But it has the completely same rights as they have. If they try to force us unreasonably, we don't have to be afraid of even all countries around the world. As I said in the third paragraph of the first chapter, all Japanese people should stand up for national prestige at the risk of our lives.

Moreover, the state of wealth, poverty, strength or weakness is not given from Heaven, and we can change it by our efforts. Like the fool today can be the wise tomorrow, rich and strong countries can be poor and weak in the future. There are many examples in the history. So from now on, we Japanese have to learn eagerly, have a strong will and be independent. And we don't have to be afraid of Western countries at all. We can associate with reasonable countries and drive away unreasonable countries. This is what I say, "After each person becomes independent, a country can be independent."
After each person becomes independent, a country can be independent.

2
As I said in the previous section, every country is equal. But if its people don't have the spirit of independence, a country cannot fulfill its rights. There are three points on this matter.

Article 1 - A person who doesn't have the spirit of independence doesn't take his country to heart.

3
Independence is the state of controlling one's own body and not relying on others. A person who can judge what is good or bad by himself has the spirit of independence from others' wisdom. A person who can earn his living has the spirit of independence from others' money.

If the people don't have these spirit of independence and try to just rely on others, all the people become dependent and nobody takes responsibility. This is as if nobody led a parade of blind people and it is utterly inconvenient.

Someone said, "You can make people follow you. But it is difficult to make people understand the reason. If there are a thousand fools and a thousand wise people, the wise people should rule and control the fools." This is a Confucius' way, however, this is utterly wrong as a matter of fact.

In a thousand people, there is only one person who has ability and virtue to rule a country. If there were a country with a million people, a thousand would be wise people and the other about nine hundred and ninety thousand would be ignorant people. If the wise people ruled the ignorant people with ability and virtue, loved them as if they were children, shepherd them as if they were sheep, threatened and tamed them, and led them; the ignorant people would obey the wise people without thinking, would not commit a crime and the country might be kept in peace.

But in this way, the people would be separated into hosts and guests. The hosts were the wise people and they would rule the country as they wished. The others were the guests who knew nothing. As guests, they would rely on hosts, would not take responsibility and would not care about the country's matter as if it were none of their business.

Within the country, this might not be a problem. But If a war with a foreign country occurred, this should be a big problem. Although those ignorant people would not turn traitors, a lot of them would think guests didn't need sacrifice their lives to the country and they would run away. If so, even though the country had a million people, there were a very few people who fought for the country and it could not maintain its independence.

4
Therefore, to defend our country from foreign threats; all Japanese people, both the upper class and the lower class, the wise and the fool, the fit and the disabled, must have the spirit of independence, consider its problems as one's own problems and fulfill obligations of the people.

English people consider England as their own country and Japanese people consider Japan as their own country. Each country's territory is not foreign people's land. It is each country's people's land. So the people should consider their country as their own home and serve it at the risk of their life and property. This is how to serve the country.

It is no doubt that the government rules the country and the people are ruled by the government. However, it is only because they share their roles for the convenience of both side. So, to maintain the national honor, we must not just rely on the government and must not be bystanders.

Whether in Japan or in England, the people who have its nationality have the rights and freedom within the country. If you already have the rights, you must have obligations as well.

5
In the Sengoku period, when Imagawa Yoshimoto of Suruga invaded Owari with tens of thousands of troops, Oda Nobunaga of Owari ambushed them at Okehazama, assaulted the Imagawa headquarters and killed Yoshimoto. Then Imagawa troops routed without a fight and the prosperous Imagawa government fell without a trace in a short time.

Just a few years ago, in the beginning of the Franco-Prussian War, French Emperor Napoleon III was captured by Prussian troops. But French people didn't give up, on the contrary, they roused themselves and fought at the risk of their lives. After some months siege, they concluded a peace with Prussia, but France survived as before.

Why did Imagawa and France reach different conclusions? All the people of Suruga depended on Yoshimoto, considered themselves as guests and nobody consider Suruga as their own country. On the other hand, France had a lot of patriotic people. They considered its problems as their own problems and fought for their country voluntarily. This is why they reached such different conclusions.

Therefore, when you defend your country from foreign threats, you can easily imagine that the people with the spirit of independence take their country to heart and the people without the spirit of independence don't.

Article 2 – A person who cannot obtain the position of independence domestically also cannot claim the right of independence internationally.

6
A person who doesn't have the spirit of independence certainly depends on others. A person who depends on others is certainly afraid of them. A person who is afraid of others certainly flatters them. A person who is always afraid of others and flatters them accustoms himself to do it little by little and comes to be shameless. He cannot say anything when he should say and can only bow to others. This is what is called, "Habit is second nature." And you cannot mend your habits easily.

In Japan now, the common people are allowed to have their family name and to ride on horses. The courts' treatment of them has changed and they are treated equally as samurais apparently. But their habits haven't changed drastically. The common people's nature is the same as before. Their speech and manners so humble that they cannot deliver an opinion in front of superiors. They stand up and dance as they are told. They are obedient as if they were lean house dogs. How helpless and shameless they are.

Once, while Japan was isolated and the shogunate ruled the people tightly, the obedience of the people did not cause any problems. On the contrary, it was rather convenient for the shogunate. So the officials made the people ignorant and took advantage of their obedience. But Japan trades with foreign countries now and these things cause a big problem.

For instance, when a merchant from the country went to Yokohama in order to trade with foreign countries, he would be shocked by robust physique of foreign people, their money, the size of their office and the speed of their steamship, and he would be discouraged. Then when he did business with them, he would be shocked by their sharpness. If they pressured him unreasonably, he would be not only shocked but also frightened by their pressure and would accept the big loss with knowing it was unreasonable. It would humiliate him a lot.

This is not just one person's loss, it's a national loss. It is not just one person's humiliation, it's a national humiliation. You may think this is absurd. But the common people's nature transmitted from generation to generation cannot change in a short time. Because they had been reproached by sumurais, scolded by the courts, they had been humble even to the lowest foot soldiers and their spirits have been rotten at the core. It is understandable that such coward people get frightened by bold foreign people. This is the proof that a person who cannot obtain the position of independence domestically also cannot claim the right of independence internationally.

Article 3 - A person who doesn't have the spirit of independence may do wrong by taking advantage of another person's authority.

7
While the shogunate ruled this country, some people were forcing unreasonable deals on others with the authority of powerful feudal lords, like the Three branches of the Tokugawa clan. They lent money by using another person's name. It was very hateful deed. If there is someone who doesn't pay back his debt, you should bring a lawsuit repeatedly. But they were too afraid of the shogunate to make a lawsuit. So they were forcing payback with another person's name and its power. How cowardly they were. Today I don't hear a story of such a thing. But I wonder if there is someone who uses foreign people's name. I don't have any evidence and cannot argue definitely. But when I recall the past, I cannot help suspecting.

In the future, if foreign people lived in Japan freely, someone would do wrong by taking advantage of their names. It should cause a national problem. So you should not let your guard down when the people don't have the spirit of independence even if it is convenient for you. A problem always happens unexpectedly. The less the people have the spirit of independence, the more the people flatter foreign people and sell the country. This is what I said above, "To do wrong by taking advantage of another person's authority."

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Three articles I said above are problems caused by the lack of the spirit of independence. Those who live today and love their country, whether they are public servants or not, should become independent. After that, if you have remaining power, you should help others become independent. Parents and older siblings should teach their children and younger siblings independence. Teachers should encourage their students to become independent. All people of the four categories should become independent and defend their country together. In other words, it is better to free the people and share the burden than to bind the people and shoulder the burden by yourself.

by English Translation



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江守孝三(Emori Kozo)