Abstract
I have investigated “the significance of ‘living’ ” proposed by Yoshida shoin and his ideal
death. The investigation shows that “the significance of ‘living’ ” of shoin means “the practice
of ‘justice’ ”, which he learned from ancient Chinese historical books, especially from The
Discourses of Mencius.
While the “death” awaiting shoin has been thought to be “the death of calmness,” by putting
“justice” into practice, the investigation clarified that he got to “the death of patriotic
lamentation.”
I have shown that shoin considered “the death of calmness” to be “the afflicting death” and
“the death of patriotic lamentation” to be “the gratifying death,” and so on.
