Abstract
Physicians need understand minds of patients in order to practice humane medical care. A method to understand patients internally is to read notes written by patients. In this paper I want to read essays of Shiki Masaoka and to understand his mind, attitude and worldview. There are three methods to interpret texts in Dilthey's understanding theory. Namely, "induction", "relive" and "life-category". I apply them in this paper. In the first, I try to summarize the life of Shiki (induction). Shiki was a great reformer of Japanese poems, Haiku and Waka (31-syllable Japanese poem). He had suffered from Pott's disease for a long time and died in 34 years old. Then, I try to revive his sentiments, sufferings and attitudes toward his life, exhibited in his literatures. In this process, I find several key words (life-categories) moving Shiki's life inwardly. One is "desire". Shiki showed strong desire for good foods. Falling in critical sickness means abandoning desires in patients. Other ones are "vanity" and "true needs". Shiki came to discriminate between vain attitudes and true needs in human life. He changed his attitudes towards his life.
