Western National Conditions

About This Novel

This translation is based on the version published by Keio University Press. This version was compiled by Marion Saucier and Shunsaku Nishikawa based on the final version of "The Complete Works of Fukuzawa" written by Yukichi Fukuzawa during his lifetime, and with reference to various versions such as the reprint of "State of the West (Part 1)", the first edition of "The State of the West Part 2", and the first edition of "The State of the West Part 2". The first chapter first introduces the customs, social structure and technology of Western countries, such as politics, taxation laws, national debts, banknotes, merchant associations, foreign diplomacy, military systems, literature and technology, schools, newsprint, libraries, hospitals, poor homes, dumb homes, blind homes, lunatic homes, orphan homes, museums, exhibitions, steam engines, steam ships, steam trains, telephones, and gas lamps. The outer chapter and the second chapter provide a detailed and easy-to-understand summary of the history, politics, technology, military, economy, education, social systems, etc. Of Western countries. This knowledge was refreshing to the Japanese at that time. What is even more worth mentioning is that in the process of translating and introducing foreign books, Fukuzawa Yukichi painstakingly created many "Japanese Chinese characters". For example, he translated the word "Freedom" in the American Declaration of Independence as "freedom" and annotated it as "autonomous and arbitrary", which was his first creation.

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