The Keio History Museum’s First Special Exhibition
July 4th, 1868 ― Fukuzawa Yukichi’s Historical Lecture Amidst the Rumble of Canon Fire
This exhibition concluded on October 9th (Saturday).
The 15th day of the 5th month in the 4th year of the Keio period—or Saturday July 4th, 1868.
On this day a fierce battle erupted on the grounds of Ueno’s Kan’eiji Temple between the forces of the former Shogunate and the new Meiji government. In the vicinity of Hongo, Armstrong canons and other artillery fired as the roar of canon fire echoed throughout Edo.
Amidst this turmoil, the morning schedule for Keio Gijuku at Shiba-Shinsenza went ahead as planned. Fukuzawa Yukichi, with a copy of Francis Wayland’s The Elements of Political Economy in hand, gave his scheduled lecture to the school’s students as though it was any ordinary day.
The events of July 4th almost brought an end to the tradition of Western Education in Japan, which had gone on uninterrupted since the introduction of Dutch Studies. In this anecdote, still told today, Keio kept alive the torch of Western Education to be passed on to future generations.
How is this story told? And what kind of meaning does it have for those who share it?
Today, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the significance of education has once more come into question. This is the perfect opportunity to once more take a deep look at Fukazawa’s Wayland Lecture, the spiritual foundation of education at Keio University.
Exhibition period: Monday July 5th – Saturday October 9th, 2021 (extended)
Opening Hours: 10:00-18:00 (Closed Sundays and Public Holidays)
Location: The Fukuzawa Yukichi Memorial Keio History Museum
Admission: Free
Location: The Fukuzawa Yukichi Memorial Keio History Museum
Admission: Free
The exhibition information can be found here.
Key Items
- Fukuzawa Yukichi Lecturing on Francis Wayland’s The Elements of Political Economy by Yasuda Yukihiko, FMC
- Francis Wayland, The Elements of Political Economy, Keio University Library
- Hand-written manuscript of Yasegaman no Setsu (Spirit of Dogged Endurance) by Fukuzawa Yukichi, FMC
The exhibited items list from the First Special Exhibition “July 4th, 1868―Fukuzawa Yukichi’s Historical Lecture Amidst the Rumble of Canon Fire” can be found here.
Explore the Exhibition in 360 Degrees!
The exhibition “July 4th, 1868――Fukuzawa Yukichi’s Historical Lecture Amidst the Rumble of Canon Fire”, which ended in October 2021, was photographed with our 360 degree camera. You can experience the exhibition once more with the virtual tour above.
The tour stars from the exhibition hall entrance. You can switch the camera using the map in the top-right corner of the image, and change the view to the exhibition rooms. By clicking the ‘i’ mark when it appears on the screen, you can read detailed information about the exhibition items. You can also click the button on the lower-left and select ‘Full Screen’ to enjoy the exhibition on a larger scale.
The catalogue for this exhibition is currently on sale. You can purchase it here.
