研究ノート
日本におけるニューマンの受容
1980 年 23 巻 p. 94-105
詳細
1980 年 23 巻 p. 94-105
Since the Meiji era, when English literature was introduced to Japan, Cardinal Newman was received by a wide range of scholars, in the fields of English literature, theology, philosophy, education, music and religion.
When we review the history of Newman’s reception in Japan, from the Meiji era to the first decade of the Showa era, we find that Shoyo Tsubouchi (1859-1935), in his History of English Literature, written in 1901，was the first person to introduce Newman in this country.
Bin Ueda (1874-1916), who was a professor of Western literature at Kyoto University from 1908 to 1916, spoke of Newman in his lectures, praising the artistry and scholarship of Newman’s prose. He considered Newman as the most perfect English prose writer, and recommended his prose as a good example for imitation.
Masahisa Uemura (1857-1925), a Protestant pastor and founder of a Protestant seminary (the present Tokyo Shingaku Daigaku), translated Newman’s poem “Lead, Kindly Light” into Japanese. He should get credit for having popularized the song among Anglicans and Protestants.
Dr. Takeshi Saito (1887-) was greatly moved by Uemura’s frequent citation of Newman in his sermons. In his school days at Tokyo University, Dr. Saito’s love of Newman was further strengthened by Professor John Laurence (1850-1916). Though Dr. Saito wants Newman to be remembered as the poet of “Lead, Kindly Light” and The Dream of Gerontius, he feels that Newman’s poetry can not compare with John Keble’s The Christian Year.
Dr. Kenji Ishida (1890-1979), a student of Bin Ueda at Kyoto University, was the first seriously recognized scholar of Newman in the field of English literature in Japan. Dr. Ishida considered Newman the most classical prose writer in the nineteenth century, and saw his style and his terse and forcible expression as incomparable. Dr. Ishida felt that in the chaos and drift of modern thought, Newman should be given more attention. Finally, Professor Bunsho Jugaku considers Dr. Ishida’s Newman published in 1936, as the best critical biography of Newman in this country.
