Mushanokoji Saneatsu
Encyclopedia
was the pen name
of a Japanese
novelist, playwright, poet, artist and philosopher active during the late Taishō
and Shōwa period
s of Japan
. He was also sometimes known as Mushakōji Saneatsu, other pen-names included Musha and Futo-o.
as the 8th son of Viscount
Mushanokōji Sanezane, Saneatsu’s father died when he was age 2, and he was raised largely by his mother. Saneatsu was very frail and sickly as a youth, and unable to compete in physical activities in the Peers’ School
. To compensate, he developed his debating skills
, and began to develop an interest in literature. While at the Peers’ School, he became friends with Shiga Naoya
. His uncle introduced him to the Bible
and the works of Tolstoy
. He enrolled in the philosophy
department of Tokyo Imperial University, but left without graduating in 1907 to form a literary group with Kinoshita Rigen
, Shiga Naoya, Arishima Takeo
and Ogimachi Kinzaku called Jūkokakai (The Fortnight Club). This group evolved into the Shirakaba (White Birch) literary coterie, which first published the Shirakaba literary magazine
in 1910.
as an alternative to then-popular form of naturalism
. Mushanokōji's humanism borrowed some elements from naturalism, but in general saw humanity as controlling its own destiny through the assertion of will, whereas the naturalists tended to see the individual as powerless and desperate against forces he could not control.
With the outbreak of World War I
, Mushanokōji turned again to Tolstoy for inspiration and for further development of his humanitarianism
philosophy. During this time, he published Sono imōto (His Sister, 1915), a play involving a choice between self-love and love for mankind; Kōfukumono (A Happy Man, 1919) a novel presenting his image of the ideal human; and Yūjō (Friendship, 1920), a novel portraying the victory of the humanism over ego. His idealism appears in his autobiographical novel
Aru otoko (A Certain Man, 1923) and the play Ningen banzai (Three Cheers for Mankind, 1922).
In 1918, Mushanokōji took the next step in the development of his philosophy by moving to the mountains of Miyazaki prefecture
in Kyūshū
, and establishing a quasi-socialistic
utopia
n commune
, Atarashiki-mura
(New Village) along vaguely Tolstoyan
lines. The commune also published its own literary magazine, Atarashiki-mura. In the 1920s, while running the commune, Mushanokōji was very prolific in his literary output. Mushanokōji tired of the social experiment and left the village in 1926; a dam project forced it to relocate to Saitama Prefecture
in 1939, where it still exists.
After the Great Kanto Earthquake, Mushanokōji returned to Tokyo to run an art gallery, and started to sell his own paintings, mostly still life
depicting vegetables such as pumpkins. Publication of Shirakaba was suspended in 1923 after the Kanto Earthquake, but Mushanokōji went on to bring out the literary magazine, Fuji, with the novelist and playwright, Nagayo Yoshirō
. During this period, he turned his attention to writing historical novels or biographical novel
s, such as Ninomiya Sontoku
, about the 19th century farm technologist and agricultural philosopher, and Inoue Saikaku, about the 17th century poet.
Through the 1930s and 1940s, he faded away from the literary world. Encouraged by his older brother, who was the Japanese ambassador to Nazi Germany
, he traveled throughout Europe
in 1936.
After World War II
, due to his membership in the House of Peers in the pre-war government and due to his noticeable lack of opposition to the war, he was briefly purged from public office by the American Occupation authorities
.
Mushanokōji made a comeback to the literary world with a novel Shinri sensei (Teacher of Truth, 1949–1950). He was awarded with the Order of Culture
in 1951, and became a member of the Japan Art Academy
in 1952.
Mushanokōji died at the age of 90, and his grave is at the Chuo Reien, in Hachiōji city
, in the outskirts of Tokyo.
Pen name
A pen name, nom de plume, or literary double, is a pseudonym adopted by an author. A pen name may be used to make the author's name more distinctive, to disguise his or her gender, to distance an author from some or all of his or her works, to protect the author from retribution for his or her...
of a Japanese
Japanese people
The are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries...
novelist, playwright, poet, artist and philosopher active during the late Taishō
Taisho period
The , or Taishō era, is a period in the history of Japan dating from July 30, 1912 to December 25, 1926, coinciding with the reign of the Taishō Emperor. The health of the new emperor was weak, which prompted the shift in political power from the old oligarchic group of elder statesmen to the Diet...
and Shōwa period
Showa period
The , or Shōwa era, is the period of Japanese history corresponding to the reign of the Shōwa Emperor, Hirohito, from December 25, 1926 through January 7, 1989.The Shōwa period was longer than the reign of any previous Japanese emperor...
s of Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. He was also sometimes known as Mushakōji Saneatsu, other pen-names included Musha and Futo-o.
Early life
Born in TokyoTokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
as the 8th son of Viscount
Viscount
A viscount or viscountess is a member of the European nobility whose comital title ranks usually, as in the British peerage, above a baron, below an earl or a count .-Etymology:...
Mushanokōji Sanezane, Saneatsu’s father died when he was age 2, and he was raised largely by his mother. Saneatsu was very frail and sickly as a youth, and unable to compete in physical activities in the Peers’ School
Gakushuin
The or Peers School is an educational institution founded in Tokyo in 1877, during the Meiji period, for the education of the children of the Japanese aristocracy, though it eventually also opened its doors to the offspring of extremely wealthy commoners...
. To compensate, he developed his debating skills
Debate
Debate or debating is a method of interactive and representational argument. Debate is a broader form of argument than logical argument, which only examines consistency from axiom, and factual argument, which only examines what is or isn't the case or rhetoric which is a technique of persuasion...
, and began to develop an interest in literature. While at the Peers’ School, he became friends with Shiga Naoya
Shiga Naoya
was a Japanese novelist and short story writer active during the Taishō and Showa periods of Japan.-Early life:Shiga was born in Ishinomaki city, Miyagi prefecture. His father, the son of a samurai, was a banker. The family moved to Tokyo when Shiga was three, to live with his grandparents, who...
. His uncle introduced him to the Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
and the works of Tolstoy
Leo Tolstoy
Lev Nikolayevich Tolstoy was a Russian writer who primarily wrote novels and short stories. Later in life, he also wrote plays and essays. His two most famous works, the novels War and Peace and Anna Karenina, are acknowledged as two of the greatest novels of all time and a pinnacle of realist...
. He enrolled in the philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
department of Tokyo Imperial University, but left without graduating in 1907 to form a literary group with Kinoshita Rigen
Kinoshita Rigen
Viscount was the pen-name of Japanese author Kinoshita Toshiharu, noted for his tanka poetry, active in Meiji period and Taishō period Japan.-Early life:...
, Shiga Naoya, Arishima Takeo
Arishima Takeo
was a Japanese novelist, short-story writer and essayist during the late Meiji and Taishō periods. His two younger brothers, and were also authors.-Early life:...
and Ogimachi Kinzaku called Jūkokakai (The Fortnight Club). This group evolved into the Shirakaba (White Birch) literary coterie, which first published the Shirakaba literary magazine
Literary magazine
A literary magazine is a periodical devoted to literature in a broad sense. Literary magazines usually publish short stories, poetry and essays along with literary criticism, book reviews, biographical profiles of authors, interviews and letters...
in 1910.
Literary career
Mushanokōji was a key member of Shirakaba, and published his work Omedetaki Hito (Good Natured Person) in its magazine in 1910. This was followed by Seken shirazu (Babe in the Woods, 1912). Through the medium of Shirakaba, Mushanokōji promoted his philosophy of humanismHumanism
Humanism is an approach in study, philosophy, world view or practice that focuses on human values and concerns. In philosophy and social science, humanism is a perspective which affirms some notion of human nature, and is contrasted with anti-humanism....
as an alternative to then-popular form of naturalism
Naturalism (literature)
Naturalism was a literary movement taking place from the 1880s to 1940s that used detailed realism to suggest that social conditions, heredity, and environment had inescapable force in shaping human character...
. Mushanokōji's humanism borrowed some elements from naturalism, but in general saw humanity as controlling its own destiny through the assertion of will, whereas the naturalists tended to see the individual as powerless and desperate against forces he could not control.
With the outbreak of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Mushanokōji turned again to Tolstoy for inspiration and for further development of his humanitarianism
Humanitarianism
In its most general form, humanitarianism is an ethic of kindness, benevolence and sympathy extended universally and impartially to all human beings. Humanitarianism has been an evolving concept historically but universality is a common element in its evolution...
philosophy. During this time, he published Sono imōto (His Sister, 1915), a play involving a choice between self-love and love for mankind; Kōfukumono (A Happy Man, 1919) a novel presenting his image of the ideal human; and Yūjō (Friendship, 1920), a novel portraying the victory of the humanism over ego. His idealism appears in his autobiographical novel
Autobiographical novel
An autobiographical novel is a form of novel using autofiction techniques, or the merging of autobiographical and fiction elements. The literary technique is distinguished from an autobiography or memoir by the stipulation of being fiction...
Aru otoko (A Certain Man, 1923) and the play Ningen banzai (Three Cheers for Mankind, 1922).
In 1918, Mushanokōji took the next step in the development of his philosophy by moving to the mountains of Miyazaki prefecture
Miyazaki Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located on the island of Kyushu. The capital is the city of Miyazaki.- History :Historically, after the Meiji Restoration, Hyūga Province was renamed Miyazaki Prefecture....
in Kyūshū
Kyushu
is the third largest island of Japan and most southwesterly of its four main islands. Its alternate ancient names include , , and . The historical regional name is referred to Kyushu and its surrounding islands....
, and establishing a quasi-socialistic
Utopian socialism
Utopian socialism is a term used to define the first currents of modern socialist thought as exemplified by the work of Saint-Simon, Charles Fourier, and Robert Owen which inspired Karl Marx and other early socialists and were looked on favorably...
utopia
Utopia
Utopia is an ideal community or society possessing a perfect socio-politico-legal system. The word was imported from Greek by Sir Thomas More for his 1516 book Utopia, describing a fictional island in the Atlantic Ocean. The term has been used to describe both intentional communities that attempt...
n commune
Commune (intentional community)
A commune is an intentional community of people living together, sharing common interests, property, possessions, resources, and, in some communes, work and income. In addition to the communal economy, consensus decision-making, non-hierarchical structures and ecological living have become...
, Atarashiki-mura
Atarashiki-mura
, "New Village", is a Japanese intentional community founded by the author, artist and philosopher Saneatsu Mushanokōji.It was originally founded in 1918 in Hyūga, in the mountains of Miyazaki Prefecture in Kyūshū, but in 1939 they were warned that much of their land was about to be submerged by...
(New Village) along vaguely Tolstoyan
Tolstoyan
The Tolstoyan movement is a social movement based on the philosophical and religious views of Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy . Tolstoy's views were formed by rigorous study of the ministry of Jesus, particularly the Sermon on the Mount....
lines. The commune also published its own literary magazine, Atarashiki-mura. In the 1920s, while running the commune, Mushanokōji was very prolific in his literary output. Mushanokōji tired of the social experiment and left the village in 1926; a dam project forced it to relocate to Saitama Prefecture
Saitama Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kantō region of the island of Honshu. The capital is the city of Saitama.This prefecture is part of the Greater Tokyo Area, and most of Saitama's cities can be described as suburbs of Tokyo, to which a large amount of residents commute each day.- History...
in 1939, where it still exists.
After the Great Kanto Earthquake, Mushanokōji returned to Tokyo to run an art gallery, and started to sell his own paintings, mostly still life
Still life
A still life is a work of art depicting mostly inanimate subject matter, typically commonplace objects which may be either natural or man-made...
depicting vegetables such as pumpkins. Publication of Shirakaba was suspended in 1923 after the Kanto Earthquake, but Mushanokōji went on to bring out the literary magazine, Fuji, with the novelist and playwright, Nagayo Yoshirō
Nagayo Yoshiro
was a novelist and playwright active during the Shōwa period in Japan.-Biography:Nagayo was born in Tokyo, as the 5th son of the famous doctor, Nagayo Sensai. He attended the Gakushūin Peers' School, and went on to graduate from Tokyo Imperial University...
. During this period, he turned his attention to writing historical novels or biographical novel
Biographical novel
The biographical novel is a genre of novel which provides a fictional and usually entertaining account of a person's life. This kind of novel concentrates on the experiences a person had during his lifetime, the people he met and the incidents which occurred are detailed and sometimes...
s, such as Ninomiya Sontoku
Ninomiya Sontoku
, born Ninomiya Kinjirō , was a prominent 19th century Japanese agricultural leader, philosopher, moralist and economist.-Life:Ninomiya Sontoku was born to a poor peasant family with a name of Kinjiro in Kayama Ashigarakami-gun Sagami province. His father died when he was 14 and his mother died...
, about the 19th century farm technologist and agricultural philosopher, and Inoue Saikaku, about the 17th century poet.
Through the 1930s and 1940s, he faded away from the literary world. Encouraged by his older brother, who was the Japanese ambassador to Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
, he traveled throughout Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
in 1936.
After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, due to his membership in the House of Peers in the pre-war government and due to his noticeable lack of opposition to the war, he was briefly purged from public office by the American Occupation authorities
Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers
Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers was the title held by General Douglas MacArthur during the Occupation of Japan following World War II...
.
Mushanokōji made a comeback to the literary world with a novel Shinri sensei (Teacher of Truth, 1949–1950). He was awarded with the Order of Culture
Order of Culture
The is a Japanese order, established on February 11, 1937. The order has one class only, and may be awarded to men and women for contributions to Japan's art, literature or culture; recipients of the order also receive an annuity for life...
in 1951, and became a member of the Japan Art Academy
Japan Art Academy
is the highest ranking artistic organization in Japan. The Academy discusses art-related issues, advises the Minister of Education on art-related issues, and promotes art is the highest ranking artistic organization in Japan. The Academy discusses art-related issues, advises the Minister of...
in 1952.
Mushanokōji died at the age of 90, and his grave is at the Chuo Reien, in Hachiōji city
Hachioji, Tokyo
is a city located in Tokyo, Japan, about 40 kilometers west of the center of the special wards of Tokyo.As of January 1, 2010, the city has an estimated population of 551,901 and a population density of 2,962.27/km². The total area is 186.31 km². It is the eighth largest city in the...
, in the outskirts of Tokyo.
See also
- Japanese literatureJapanese literatureEarly works of Japanese literature were heavily influenced by cultural contact with China and Chinese literature, often written in Classical Chinese. Indian literature also had an influence through the diffusion of Buddhism in Japan...
- List of Japanese authors