西園寺公望の思想と立命館展（丸善・丸の内本店 4階ギャラリー） Philosophy and Idea of Kinmochi Saionji (Maruzen Gallery)

 

”最後の元老”と言われた、西園寺公望についての展覧会。

西園寺公望は、公家の一つ、徳大寺家に生まれ、2歳の時に西園寺家の養子となり、その後、西園寺家の家督を継いだ。

孝明天皇が置いた学習院で学び、岩倉具視とも親交を結んだ。

戊辰戦争にあっては、官軍として戦地にも赴き、会津戦争にあっては最前線で鉄砲隊の一員として戦った、アクティブな公家の一人だった。

明治維新後は、普仏戦争直後のフランスに留学。ソルボンヌ大学では政治学者のエミール・アラスコに学んだ。

明治の日本の基盤となった、ドイツの保守的な政治思想とは違う、自由主義的なフランスの政治思想は、その後の西園寺の政治生命に大きな影響を与えた。

帰国後は、伊藤博文の腹心として活躍。伊藤の後を継いで政友会総裁になり、総理大臣も経験。その後は、”元老”として、原敬などの後進を支えた。

そうした西園寺の生涯が、貴重な資料とともに紹介されていた。

西園寺は、井上毅が書いた教育勅語の国家主義的な内容に不満を持っており、より世界に目を向けた内容に変える構想を持っており、その草案も展示されていた。

もしその構想が実現していたら、現在の”教育勅語”を巡る論争にも、影響を与えたに違いない。

立命館大学は、西園寺公望が明治維新直後に作った立命館私塾が元になっていることは、寡聞にもこの展覧会で初めて知った。

This exhibition focuses on Saionji Kinmochi, known as the "last Genro."

Saionji Kinmochi was born into the Tokudaiji family, a noble family. He was adopted into the Saionji family at the age of two and later inherited the family's headship.

He became friends with Iwakura Tomomi at Gakushuin, a school established by Emperor Komei.

He was an active member of the nobility, serving on the battlefields of the Imperial Army during the Boshin War and fighting on the front lines as a member of the musketeers during the Aizu War.

After the Meiji Restoration, he studied in France shortly after the Franco-Prussian War. He studied under political scientist Émile Alasco at the Sorbonne.

Saionji's liberal French political thought, which differed from the conservative German political thought that formed the foundation of Meiji Japan, had a major impact on his subsequent political career.

After returning to Japan, he served as a confidant of Ito Hirobumi. He succeeded Ito as president of the Seiyukai party and also served as prime minister. After that, as a "Genro" (elder statesman), he supported successors such as Hara Takashi.

Saionji's life was introduced alongside valuable documents.

Saionji was dissatisfied with the nationalistic content of the Imperial Rescript on Education written by Inoue Tsuyoshi, and had a plan to change it to be more globally oriented, and a draft of this plan was also on display.

If this plan had been realized, it would undoubtedly have influenced the current debate surrounding the Imperial Rescript on Education.

It was only during this exhibition that I learned that Ritsumeikan University originated from the Ritsumeikan Private School founded by Saionji Kinmochi shortly after the Meiji Restoration.