Eleven (4/5)

by Natsume Sōseki

"It's like hydroelectric power. Instead of resisting the power of water, we utilize it to convert it into electricity and make it useful..." said Kangugetsu, and Dokusen immediately picked up on those words. "So, in times of poverty, one is bound by poverty, and in times of wealth, one is bound by wealth. In sad times, one is bound by sadness, and in joyful times, one is bound by joy. Those with talent fall due to their talent, and those with wisdom are defeated by their wisdom. A hot-tempered person like Kusami can easily fall into the enemy's trap if they utilize that temper..."

"That's a close call," said Meitei, clapping his hands, and Kusami replied with a grin, "It's not that easy." Then everyone burst into laughter all at once.

"By the way, how does someone like Kaneda fall?"

"The wife falls due to her nose, the master falls due to his stubbornness, and the subordinate falls due to being a detective, right?"

"What about the daughter?"

"As for the daughter—since I haven't seen her, I can't say for sure, but she might either fall due to clothing, food, or perhaps become a drunkard. She probably won't fall in love, but she might end up like Sotoba Komachi and die on the road."

"That's a bit harsh," said Toufuu, who had just recited a new poem, raising an objection.

"That's why the phrase 'Responding without attachment gives rise to the mind' is an important saying. If one doesn't reach that state, life is unbearably painful," Dokusen said repeatedly, almost as if talking to himself.

"There's no need to be so arrogant. You might end up upside down in the shadows of lightning," said someone.

"Anyway, I hate living in an era where civilization continues to advance," the master began to say.

"No need to hold back; just die," Meitei declared.

"I dislike dying even more," the master stubbornly insisted, not making any sense.

"No one is born after careful consideration, but it seems everyone suffers when it comes to dying," Kangugetsu stated a distant proverb.

"It's the same as when everyone worries about repaying borrowed money," Meitei, who could respond quickly even at such times, said.

"Those who do not consider repaying borrowed money are happy, and those who do not suffer from the thought of dying are also happy," the hermit spoke with a transcendent perspective that transcended the world.

"When you say that, it means that someone thick-skinned has come to understand,"

"That's right. There is a Zen saying, 'The iron bull's face has an iron bull's heart, the bull's iron face has a bull's iron heart.'"

"So you are that specimen, huh?"

"Not exactly. However, the moment people began to suffer from the thought of dying was after the invention of the disease called neurasthenia."

"I see, you are a person from before the era of neurasthenia, no matter how you look at it."

As Meitei and the hermit engaged in their strange banter, the master was continuously expressing his grievances about civilization to Kangu and Toufu.

"The problem is how to avoid repaying borrowed money."

"There is no such problem. What is borrowed must be repaid."

"Well, that's true. It's a discussion, so just listen quietly. Just as the problem is how to avoid repaying borrowed money, the problem is how to avoid dying. No, it was a problem. This is alchemy. All alchemy has failed. It has become clear that humans must inevitably die."

"It has been clear since before alchemy."

"Well, that's true, it's a discussion, so just listen quietly. You see, when it becomes clear that one must inevitably die, a second problem arises."

"Oh?"

"If one is going to die anyway, how is it best to die? This is the second problem. The suicide club is destined to arise along with this second problem."

"I see."

“Dying is painful. However, if one cannot die, it is even more painful. For a nation suffering from nervous breakdowns, living is far more painful than death. Therefore, they are troubled by death. It is not that they are troubled because they dislike dying, but rather they worry about the best way to die. However, most people lack the wisdom to consider this, and as they leave it to nature, society bullies them into death. Yet, those with a certain habit are not satisfied with being gradually bullied to death by society. They will surely contemplate various ways to die and propose innovative ideas. Thus, the trend of the future world will likely see an increase in suicides, and those who commit suicide will surely leave this world in unique ways.”

“That sounds quite alarming.”

“Indeed, it certainly does. In a script written by someone named Arthur Jones, there is a philosopher who repeatedly advocates for suicide…”

“Is he going to commit suicide?”

“Unfortunately, he does not. However, in a thousand years, everyone will surely take action. In ten thousand years, death will be thought of as something that only exists in the form of suicide.”

“That would be quite serious.”

“It will happen, I’m sure of it. When that happens, the study of suicide will advance significantly and become a respectable science, and in middle schools like Rakugunkan, suicide studies will be taught as a formal subject instead of ethics.”

“That sounds interesting; I would like to attend as an observer. Professor Meitei, did you hear about Professor Kusami's brilliant theory?”

"I heard. In that era, the ethics teacher at Rakugunkan would say this: 'Gentlemen, you must not uphold the barbaric legacy of public virtue. As youths of the world, your foremost duty should be to commit suicide. Moreover, since what you desire can be bestowed upon others, it is permissible to extend suicide into homicide. Particularly, individuals like the unfortunate Mr. Kyūsō Daichinoya seem to suffer greatly while alive, so it is your duty to kill them as soon as possible. However, unlike in the past, today is an enlightened age, so you must not engage in cowardly acts such as using spears, naginata, or projectile weapons. Instead, through the noble art of sarcasm, to mockingly kill is beneficial for the individual and also enhances your honor. ...'"

"Indeed, that's an interesting lecture."

"There is still more interesting stuff. In modern times, the police prioritize protecting the lives and property of the people. However, in that era, the constables would walk around with clubs like dog killers, bludgeoning the citizens of the world..."

"Why is that?"

"Because people today value life, which is why the police protect them, but the citizens of the past found living to be painful. Therefore, the constables would mercifully kill people. Of course, the slightly intelligent ones would mostly commit suicide, so those who would be shot by the constables would be limited to those lacking courage or foolish individuals without the bravery to take their own lives, or the disabled. Hence, those who wish to be killed would put up signs in front of their houses. If they write 'Man who wishes to be killed' or 'Woman who wishes to be killed,' the constables would come at their convenience and immediately fulfill that wish. The corpses would be picked up by the constables who would come with a cart. There are still more interesting things to do..."

"Your jokes never seem to run out, do they?" Kōfū-kun remarked with admiration. Then, Dokusen-kun, as usual, began to speak slowly while fussing over his goat beard.

“It may be a joke, but it could also be a prophecy. Those who do not pursue the truth tend to be captivated by the phenomena before them and want to declare ephemeral dreams as eternal facts, so when someone says something a bit out of the ordinary, they quickly dismiss it as a joke.”

“So, it’s true that the sparrow does not know the ambitions of the great roc,” said Kangugetsu-kun with admiration, and Dokusen-kun continued speaking with a face that seemed to agree.

“Once upon a time, there was a place in Spain called Cordova…”

“It still exists, doesn’t it?”

“It might exist. Setting aside the question of past and present, there was a custom there where, when the evening bell rang at the temple, the women of the houses would all come out and swim in the river…”

“Do they do it even in winter?”

“I’m not sure about that, but regardless of status or age, everyone jumps into the river. However, no men are allowed to join. They just watch from afar. From a distance, it looks like white skin is moving vaguely in the twilight…”

“That’s poetic. It sounds like it could be a new-style poem. What kind of place is it?” said Toufuu-kun, leaning forward at the mention of nudity.

“It’s Cordova. There, local young men, regretting that they cannot swim with the women or even see them from a distance, played a little prank…”

“Oh, what kind of prank?” said Meitei-kun, reacting to the word prank with great interest.

“They bribed the bell ringer at the temple to ring the bell that signals sunset an hour early. Then, the women, being rather simple-minded, upon hearing the bell, all gathered at the riverbank and jumped into the water in their half-jackets and half-trousers. However, unlike usual, the sun did not set.”

“Isn’t it the autumn sun shining down?”

“There were many men standing on the bridge watching. It was embarrassing, but there was nothing they could do. They say the women were greatly flushed.”

“And then?”

“Therefore, humans are easily confused by the habits in front of them and tend to forget the fundamental principles, so we must be careful.”

“I see, that’s a valuable sermon. Let me share a story about being confused by the habits in front of us. The other day, I read a magazine that had a novel about a con artist. Let’s say I open an art and antique shop here. I would display the works of great masters and the tools of experts in the storefront. Of course, these wouldn’t be fakes, but genuine high-quality items.”

“Is that really the case?” the owner says, as usual, without any theatricality. Mitei-kun chuckles a little,

“Well, it’s a novel. Let’s keep it that way. So, I say, ‘The price doesn’t matter, please take it if you like it.’ The customer hesitates, saying they can’t do that. I then suggest, ‘Let’s do it in installments, small and long-term, since you’ll become a regular customer anyway—no need to hold back at all. How about ten yen a month? If you prefer, I can even say five yen a month.’ I say this casually. After a few exchanges between the customer and me, I end up selling the Kanō Hōgai Motonobu’s work for six hundred yen, but with a monthly payment of ten yen.”

“It seems you’ve seen the Times Encyclopedia.”

“The Times is reliable, but mine is extremely unreliable. Now, this is where the truly clever scam begins. Listen closely, if it’s six hundred yen at ten yen a month, how many years do you think it will take to pay it off, Kangugetsu-kun?”

“Of course, it would be five years.”

“That’s right, five years. Now, do you think five years is long or short, Dokusen-kun?”

“One thought can last a thousand years, and a thousand years can be just one thought. It can be both short and long.”

"What is that, a road song? It's a road song without common sense. So for five years, paying ten yen each month means that the other party only has to pay sixty times. However, that's where the terrifying aspect of habit comes in; after repeating the same thing sixty times every month, you inevitably feel like paying ten yen for the sixty-first time as well. You feel like paying ten yen for the sixty-second time too. As the repetitions increase to sixty-three times, you simply can't feel at ease unless you pay ten yen when the due date arrives. Humans seem smart, but they have a significant weakness of getting lost in habits and forgetting the fundamentals. Taking advantage of that weakness, I profit ten yen every month, no matter how many times."

"Hahaha, I can't believe you'd forget that much," Kangetsu-kun laughed, and the master became a bit serious,

"No, such things really do happen. I once returned my university loan without calculating it every month, and in the end, they refused to accept it from me," he publicly declared his shame as if it were the shame of all humanity.

"See, there are actually people like that here, so it's a sure thing. Therefore, those who laugh at what I just mentioned about the future of civilization as a joke are the ones who think it's justifiable to pay a proper installment for a lifetime after sixty times. Especially young people like Kangetsu-kun and Toufuu-kun, who have little experience, must listen carefully to what we say and not be deceived."

"Understood. I will ensure that the installments are limited to exactly sixty times."

"Well, it sounds like a joke, but it's actually a story worth considering, Kangetsu-kun," Dokusen-kun said to Kangetsu-kun. "For example, if now Kusami-kun or Meitei-kun advised you to apologize to a person named Kaneda because your marriage without permission is inappropriate, what would you do? Would you intend to apologize?"

"I would like to refrain from apologizing. If they apologize, I have no such desire on my part."

"What if the police ordered you to apologize?"

"Even then, I would still ask for forgiveness."

"Then what if it were a minister or a noble?"

"In that case, I would definitely ask for forgiveness."

“Look, take a look. Humans have changed that much from the past to now. In the past, it was an era where anything could be done if one had the authority of the ruler. However, now, there are more things that cannot be done even with the ruler's authority. In today's world, even for princes and ministers, it is an era where one cannot excessively impose on an individual's personality. To put it strongly, the more power the other party has, the more unpleasant the side being imposed upon feels and resists. Therefore, today's world is different from the past, and a new phenomenon has emerged where things cannot be done simply because of the ruler's authority. Things that were unimaginable from the old values are now accepted as common sense. The changes in the world are truly mysterious, and while one could say that Mitei-kun's future record is just a joke, it contains quite profound insights as an explanation of the messages within.”

"When such acquaintances emerge, I definitely want to talk about the continuation of the future chronicle. As Dokusen-kun said, trying to push through with just a few hundred bamboo spears, taking advantage of the emperor's authority in today's world, is like an outdated stubborn person trying to compete with a train while riding in a cage. Well, since they are about as clueless as Harimoto and the long-range teacher Kinkin, it's fine to just watch their techniques in silence, but my future chronicle is not about such immediate issues. It concerns the social phenomena related to the fate of humanity as a whole. Looking at the current trends of civilization and predicting the distant future, it becomes clear that marriage will become impossible. Please don't be surprised; marriage will be impossible. The reason is as follows. Today's world is an era centered on individuality. In the past, when a household was represented by the head, a district by the governor, and a nation by the lord, there was virtually no personality for anyone other than the representatives. Even if it existed, it wasn't recognized. That has completely changed, and all survivors have begun to assert their individuality, creating a trend where everyone seems to say, 'You are you, and I am I.' When two people meet on the street, if you are a human, I am also a human, and they pass each other while secretly challenging one another in their hearts. Individuals have become that strong. Because individuals have become equally strong, it also means that individuals have become equally weak. While it has certainly become difficult for people to harm themselves, in terms of being unable to interfere with others, they have clearly become weaker than before. It is delightful to become strong, but no one appreciates becoming weak, so while firmly holding onto their strong points to avoid being infringed upon even by a hair's breadth, they also want to forcibly expand their weak points just to invade others a little. When this happens, there is no space left between people, and living becomes constricted. As much as possible, they try to assert themselves." In the end, they live in agony, swollen to the point of bursting. Because it is painful, they seek various ways to create space between individuals. Thus, humans suffer from their own actions, and the first solution they devised in their desperation is the system of separate living for parents and children. Even in Japan, if you enter the mountains, you will find entire families huddled together in one house. There is no individuality to assert, and even if there is, it is not asserted, so that is how it is. However, in more advanced civilizations, even between parents and children, if they do not assert their selfishness, they will suffer losses, so naturally, to ensure the safety of both parties, they must live apart. Europe, being more advanced in civilization, has adopted this system earlier than Japan. Even in cases where parents and children happen to live together, the son borrows interest-bearing money from the father or pays rent like a stranger. It is precisely because parents recognize and respect their children's individuality that such a beautiful custom is established. This custom must soon be imported to Japan as well. The development of individuality, which is barely tolerated today as relatives are especially distant and parents and children are separated, along with the accompanying sense of respect, will continue to expand indefinitely, so it is still necessary to separate to find ease. However, today, with parents, children, and siblings already separated, there is nothing left to separate, so the final solution will be for couples to part ways. In the current mindset, people believe that being together means they are a couple. That is a significant misunderstanding. To be together, there must be enough compatibility of individuality to sustain that togetherness. In the past, there were no complaints, but it was said that although they appeared to be a couple, in reality, they were each independent. That is why it is said that they share the same grave, turning into one raccoon in the same hole even in death. It is a barbaric notion. Nowadays, it cannot be like that. A husband is always a husband, and a wife is how...Because she is a wife. That wife, wearing a lantern hakama at a girls' school, firmly develops her own personality and comes in with her hair styled in a bun, so there’s no way she will conform to her husband's wishes. Moreover, if a wife were to conform to her husband's wishes, she would be nothing more than a doll, not a wife. The smarter the wife becomes, the more her individuality develops astonishingly. The more it develops, the less compatible she becomes with her husband. If they are incompatible, they will naturally clash with each other. Therefore, as long as she is called a wise wife, she will be clashing with her husband from morning till night. It is indeed a wonderful thing, but the more one welcomes a wise wife, the greater the degree of suffering on both sides increases. There is a clear barrier between the couple, like water and oil, and it would be fine if that barrier remained calm and kept a level line, but since both sides are working against each other, the house shakes up and down like a major earthquake. Here, it gradually becomes clear to people that cohabitation between couples is detrimental to both parties.

“So, that’s why couples separate? That’s concerning,” said Kangugetsu-kun.

“They will separate. Surely, they will separate. All couples in the world will eventually separate. Until now, those who were together were considered a couple, but from now on, those who live together will be regarded by society as lacking the qualifications of a couple.”

“So, someone like me will be placed in a group without qualifications, huh?” Kangugetsu-kun said, teasingly at a delicate point.

I feel fortunate to have been born in the Meiji era. Because I can look to the future, I remain single even now. People make a fuss about it being the result of heartbreak, but such shortsighted thinking is truly shallow. Now, let’s continue talking about the future. A philosopher appeared and proclaimed an outrageous truth. According to his theory, humans are animals with individuality, and if they lose their individuality, humanity will perish. To fulfill the significance of being human, we must maintain and develop our individuality at any cost. Being forced into marriage is a barbaric act that goes against the natural tendencies of humans, and it is extremely foolish to still be trapped in such misguided thinking in this modern age of civilization, regardless of the era in which individuality does not develop.

In today's era, there should be no special reason for two individualities to be intimately connected. It is a moral violation for uneducated young people to be swept away by momentary emotions and easily hold a wedding. For the sake of humanity and civilization, we must do our utmost to resist this barbaric trend to protect their individuality.

"Sir, I completely disagree with that idea," said Higashikaze-kun, boldly slapping his knee. "In my opinion, there is nothing more precious in the world than love and beauty. It is love and beauty that comfort us, complete us, and make us happy. They enrich our emotions, elevate our character, and deepen our compassion, all thanks to these two. Therefore, no matter what era we are born into, we cannot forget these two. Love manifests as the relationship between husband and wife, while beauty takes the form of poetry and music. As long as humanity exists on Earth, I believe that marriage and art will never disappear."

"If it weren't for that, it would be fine, but as the current philosophers say, in reality, it will perish, so there's nothing we can do," he gave up. "Art follows the same fate as marriage. The development of individuality means the freedom of individuality. I am I, and people are people. In that state, art cannot exist. Art flourishes because there is a harmony of individuality between the artist and the audience. No matter how new your poetry is, if no one finds it interesting, your poetry becomes meaningless. Even if you write many pieces of 'Mandarin Duck Songs,' it won't start."

"No, it's not that much."

"Even if it isn't much now, when that great philosopher advocates anti-marriage in the future, no one will read your poetry. It's not that they won't read it because it's yours, but because everyone has their own special individuality, the poetry created by people becomes uninteresting. In fact, even now in England, this tendency is prominently appearing. Looking at the works of recent English novelists that stand out for their individuality, there are works by Meredith and James, but the number of readers is very small. The reason for the small number is that those works are not interesting unless one has a special individuality. As this tendency progresses, when the era comes where marriage becomes immoral, art will completely perish as well. That's right, what you write will become incomprehensible to me, and what I write will become incomprehensible to you. If that happens, there will be nothing left between you and me, neither art nor anything else."

"That's true, but I just can't intuitively feel that way."

"If you don't intuitively feel that way, then I will think that way logically."

"It may be logical," said Dokusenkun, interrupting this time. "In any case, the more freedom of individuality we grant to humans, the more constricted their relationships will inevitably become. Nietzsche's concept of the Übermensch arose precisely because he could not escape this constriction, leading him to such a philosophy. On the surface, it may seem like his ideal, but in reality, it is an expression of discontent. In the 19th century, when individuality flourished, he could not even roll over without considering his neighbors, which is why he wrote such reckless things in a fit of despair. Reading that, one feels more pity than exhilaration. That voice is not one of brave diligence, but rather an unmistakable sound of resentment and indignation. It is no wonder, as in the past, when there was one great person, the world gathered under them, which was delightful. If such delightful facts existed, there would have been no need to express them with pen and paper like Nietzsche did. Works by Homer and Chevi Chase also depict superhuman traits, but the feeling is entirely different. They are cheerful and written in a delightful manner. Since there were delightful facts, and they were transcribed onto paper, there should be no bitterness. However, in Nietzsche's time, it was not so. No heroes emerged, and even if they did, no one would elevate them as heroes. In the past, there was only Confucius, and he wielded authority, but now there may be many Confucians. Perhaps everyone in the world could be a Confucius. Therefore, even if one boasts, "I am Confucius," there is no pressure. Because there is no pressure, discontent arises, and from that discontent, notions of the Übermensch are brandished in writings. We sought freedom and obtained it. However, as a result of gaining freedom, we feel constrained and troubled. Thus, while Western civilization may seem good at first glance, in reality, it is not. In contrast, in the East, since ancient times, the heart ofThey have emphasized training. That is the correct way. Look, as a result of the development of individuality, when everyone experiences nervous breakdowns and finds themselves in a hopeless situation, they will first understand the value of the phrase "the king's people are abundant." They will come to realize the meaning of the words "to do nothing and transform." However, by the time they understand, it is already too late. It is like becoming an alcoholic and thinking, "Ah, I wish I hadn't drunk."