Fukuo's Autobiography - Fukuojiden

This is Fukuzawa Yukichi's autobiography, one of the masterpieces among Japanese autobiographies. It was published in 1899 (Meiji 32). It can be said to be a summary of Fukuzawa's life, but most of the description is devoted to the first half of his life up until the Meiji Restoration, and the second half is only sketched in a section titled "Half of My Life in Old Age," as if to say that Fukuzawa saw the glory of his life in that first half. The descriptions of his childhood, his training in Nagasaki, his time at Ogata Koan's school, his three trips to the West, and the Meiji Restoration era are clear and realistic, making it a highlight of autobiographical literature and a valuable historical document. The source of its appeal lies in the relaxed portrayal of the first half of his life, in which he fought for "personal independence" against the clan system.

[Masaki Hirota]

"Fukuoka's Autobiography, edited by Masafumi Tomita (Iwanami Bunko)"

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

福沢諭吉の自伝で、日本人の自伝のなかの傑作の一つ。1899年（明治32）刊。福沢の人生の総括ともいえるが、叙述の大半は維新までの前半生にあてられ、後半生は「老余の半生」の一節に素描されているだけで、彼が自分の人生の栄光をその前半生にみていたことを語るかのようである。少年時代、長崎修業時代、緒方洪庵(おがたこうあん)塾時代、三度の洋行、維新時代と、その叙述は平明でリアリティーに富んでおり、自伝文学の白眉(はくび)であるとともに歴史的な史料としても貴重である。彼が門閥制度を敵(かたき)とし「一身独立」のために闘ってきた前半生として、肩肘(かたひじ)張らずに描き出しているところに、その魅力の源泉があるといえよう。

［広田昌希］

『富田正文校訂『福翁自伝』（岩波文庫）』

出典　小学館　日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)について　情報 | 凡例