47 pages • 1 hour read
Natsume SōsekiKokoro
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1914A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Background
Historical Context: The Meiji Restoration
The Meiji Restoration was a period of political, economic, and social change in Japan that lasted from 1868 to 1912. The period marked the end of the feudal system and the beginning of modern Japan, characterized by significant changes in all aspects of Japanese society, including the political, economic, and social structures. In 1868, the Tokugawa Shogunate was overthrown, and the Meiji Emperor was restored to power. This restoration marked the end of Japan’s feudal era and the beginning of a new era of modernization and westernization. The Meiji government adopted a policy of centralization, which helped create a strong, centralized state and modernized the country’s economic and military systems.
One of the most significant changes during the Meiji period was the adoption of a constitutional government. In 1889, the Meiji government instated a constitution that established a parliamentary system of government. This new system, which was based on the Prussian model, allowed for the separation of powers between the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government. In terms of economics, the Meiji government opted for a policy of industrialization and modernization. Japan’s economy was transformed from one based on agriculture to a modern, industrial one. The government encouraged foreign investment and imported technology to help spur economic growth.
The Meiji period also saw major social changes in Japan. The feudal system, which had dominated Japanese society for centuries, was abolished, and a new social structure was established. The status of women improved during the Meiji period, as women were given more opportunities to participate in society. Education was also reformed, with a new system established that emphasized Western-style education and science. Both education and the changing roles of women are depicted in Kokoro. The contrast between the society depicted in Sensei’s letter and the society as the narrator describes it shows that women’s roles have subtly altered, though the society remains patriarchal. However, not all changes during the Meiji period were positive. The new central government was often criticized for being authoritarian and suppressing dissent. The government also suppressed many traditional Japanese cultural practices and values, leading to a loss of traditional culture.
The death of the Meiji Emperor in 1912 marked the end of the Meiji Restoration and the beginning of a new era in Japanese history as the country entered a period of stability and economic growth. In Kokoro, news about the Emperor’s health is widely shared and reported. All Japanese people demonstrate a reverence for the Emperor and his health, as shown by the displays of public grief in the wake of his death. Shortly after the Emperor’s death, General Nogi Maresuke died by suicide, seeking to atone for perceived failures in the Russo-Japanese War and the Satsuma Rebellion. He died in a ritual suicide, and his death is held as an example of the traditional values from an earlier era of Japanese history, which echoed right through to the end of the Meiji Restoration.
Cultural Context: Ritual Suicide
Kokoro depicts several instances of ritual suicide by the characters and historical figures. Ritual suicide, also known as seppuku or harakiri, was a practice in Japan during the feudal era that continued through the beginning of the 20th century. It was a form of suicide performed by samurai, members of the warrior class, as a way of restoring their honor or as a form of protest. Seppuku originated in the 12th century as a way for samurai to regain their honor if they had been shamed by cowardice, defeat, or disgrace. The act of seppuku was seen as a way to cleanse the soul and restore the samurai’s dignity, as it showed that they were willing to face death rather than live with shame. Seppuku was also performed as a form of protest against a lord or as a way of avoiding capture or torture by an enemy.
The ritual of seppuku was formal and highly symbolic. The samurai would perform the act in front of witnesses, and he would be assisted by a second samurai, known as a kaishakunin, who would perform a swift and merciful cut to the neck after the samurai made the initial incision in his abdomen. This was done to prevent the samurai from suffering a drawn-out death and to restore honor to the family. The body would then be buried with full honors, and the samurai’s family would receive a pension from the state. One famous example of seppuku at the beginning of the 20th century was the case of Lieutenant General Yukio Mishima. In 1970, Mishima, a well-known author and playwright, staged a failed coup d’état at the headquarters of the Japan Self-Defense Forces in Tokyo. After giving a speech to the soldiers, he performed seppuku, dying instantly from the second blow. His act was seen by some as a protest against the Westernization of Japan and the decline of traditional Japanese values.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, seppuku continued to be practiced, but it became less common and was largely seen as an outdated tradition. The Meiji period (1868-1912) as depicted in Kokoro brought significant changes to Japanese society, including the modernization of the military and the decline of the samurai class. As a result, seppuku lost much of its significance and was viewed by many as a relic of a bygone era. However, the practice of seppuku continued to be used in certain circumstances. For example, military officers who were considered to have failed in their duty or betrayed their country would sometimes choose to perform seppuku as a way of atoning for their actions. This was seen as a way to restore their honor and show their loyalty to the state. A notable example of this in the novel is General Nogi, who seeks to regain the honor he lost during a failed military campaign.
