Private Academies of Chinese Learning in Meiji Japan: The Decline ...

74 CASE STUDIESapplication. Therefore, the foundations have to be laid byjustice and humanity and morality. This is the reason forlessons in the Confucian classics. Furthermore, it isnecessary to know the changes of the times (jisei) and thedevelopment of institutions and laws and to excel in thetalent of adapting to the changing environment. This is thereason for lessons in history. But in order to put thislearning into practice it is necessary to employ writing toexpand and cultivate learning. Also, even if one cannot putit into practice because it is not suited to the times, thatlearning can be transmitted by writing and made availablefor future generations. Therefore, since writing becomes atool to activate what has bean learnt, that is not dependenton circumstances, it must certainly be studied. This is thereason for lessons in writing. To learn them it is necessaryto employ old and new models. This is the reason for lessonsto study the sages and the collections of model writings. Toinclude poetry may not be necessary, but nevertheless thisis a part of composition, and since it has a use forexpressing one’s will, these lessons must not be dispensedwith.Thus we offer the subjects Confucian classics, history,collections of the sages and poetry, and it is our purpose toproduce people who are useful to the world, who readbooks, but do not fall into investigating texts to the smallestdetail and pick out individual phrases, who compose poetrybut do not get carried away into whittling away at everyword. Moreover, although the overabundance of Chineseworks cannot be exhausted with the few works we read inour lessons, in this age yōgaku [Western Learning] is widelypracticed, and kangaku does not extend to reach theminuteness of yōgaku’s final truths, laws, technology and soforth. At least those who want to study learning that is ofpractical use have to study Western works as well. That iswhy we make the kangaku lessons simple, and just leavespace to study Western writings. If people wish to makekangaku their sole object of study and hope from the start toread widely, that is a reason for setting up the opportunityfor questions. We hope that all who enter this school tostudy will understand this “Main Purpose” and then studythe lessons one by one and become useful in their lifetime.