## Sources to read this time



This time, I will be reading the beginning of Volume 1 of Kawai Kiyumaru's Complete Works, "San-do Heikou Hen." Following the introductory materials, I will focus on the "Kawai Kiyumaru Tombstone Inscription."



In this series, we will first indicate the title, volume, chapter name, and page range. For introductory texts such as epitaphs or prefaces, we will summarize the main points after clarifying the author's position. When entering Kawai Kiyomaru's own writings, we will present them as complete translations into modern Japanese without omitting any of the theory or arguments.



The first volume of Kawai Kiyumaru's complete works does not begin with a paper. Following the cover, there are documents that appear to be written by him, calligraphy, and a portrait of Kawai Kiyumaru. These introductory materials quietly convey that the texts you are about to read represent the work of a single thinker.



Next, there is the "Kawahara Kiyomaru Tombstone Inscription." A tombstone inscription is not a text written by the person themselves to explain their own ideas. It is a text written by someone later, who reflects on the deceased's life and work in order to preserve their memory. Therefore, here we will read the description of the tombstone inscription not as a definitive modern biography, but from the perspective of how the editors of the complete collection intended to portray Kawahara Kiyomaru.



The tombstone depicts the image of a person who was born into a family, received teachings from those close to them, deepened their learning while expanding their sphere of activity. The person moved from Fushimi and Osaka to Tokyo, and is described as someone who considered society and education based on three paths: Shintoism, Confucianism, and Buddhism, wrote articles, and gathered companions.



The activities were not limited to individual works. The efforts to return what was learned to society, such as the work of Ooshima Publishing, communication through magazines, and educational initiatives for young people, are described in the tombstone inscription as a single flow. Kiyomaru is remembered not only as someone who constructed ideas within his study but also as someone who tried to convey his thoughts to the world through writing, education, and organization.



The tombstone also mentions his appearance in his later years, the works he left behind, and his family. At the end, a poem of mourning is added, and at the beginning of the complete collection, there is an inscription expressing respect for the person. This presents readers with one image of the individual before they read the main text.



Starting with this description of the person, from the next page onwards, we will move on to Kawai Kiyumaru's own writings. By reading through the preface, explanations regarding editing, and the main text of "San-do Heikou Hen," you can confirm how the "three paths" mentioned in the tombstone are actually expressed in his own words.



In this episode, we have covered the role of the frontispiece and epitaphs. From next time onwards, we will proceed to the main body of the discussion.