著者

吉田 一穂

出版者

桃山学院大学

雑誌

人間文化研究 = Journal of humanities research, St. Andrew's University (ISSN:21889031)

巻号頁・発行日

no.8, pp.5-35, 2018-02

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Four Englishwomen established for themselves a well-grounded fame astravelers―Mrs. Bishop (Isabella L. Bird, 1831-1904), Miss North (MarianneNorth, 1830-90), Miss Kingsley (Mary Kingsley, 1862-1900), and MissGordon-Cumming (Constance Frederica Gordon-Cumming, 1837-1924).Each of these four ladies had her own special characteristics, literary and artistic; each in her own way showed what English Ladies could do, and pen andpencil aroused the interest and admiration of the reading pubic.Many readers have been strongly attracted by the books of travel byIsabella L. Bird, and her capacity for accurate observation, her retentive memory,and her power of vivid portrayal, have enabled multitudes to share her experiencesand adventures in those lands beyond the pale which drew her everwith magnetic force.Unbeaten Tracks in Japan (1880) shows how accurate Isabella's representationof Japan is. It represents not only daily lives of Japanese people but alsotheir confrontations with Western culture. Isabella seems to be interested especiallyin the missionary works of the Meiji Era. She ardently desired thespread of the kingdom of Christ Jesus in the world, but was not herself concernedto advocate any special rites or dogmas.Most Japanese think of Britain as a Christian country. In one sense, ofcourse, they are quite right. Historically, Britain has been Christian since atleast the 7th century, when the Church of Rome first sent missionaries to thecountry. The various churches and sects of Christianity which have developedover the country's long history, such as the Anglicans, Baptists, Quakers andMethodists, have spread out throughout the world, having a great effect oncountless lives. Moreover, England is one of very few countries in the worldto have a state church, the Church of England.Isabella was born on 15 October 1831 at Boroughbridge Hall, Yorkshire.Her father served as a curate at Boroughbridge. After that he was appointedcurate in Maidenhead. The Church of England as her background and thetrend of Christianity in England, seemed to have a great influence on her.When she visited Irimachi, Nikko, she saw those who worshippedDaikokuten, the god of wealth. She could not accept them because theyprayed God for wealth and was steeped in materialism. She could not acceptAinu people who were given to drinking as a part of worship. This reminds usthe temperance movement of Victorian England. Many Christian organizationssupported the temperance movement because drinking habits lead people tocollapse of families, crimes, and numerous absences from work.While Isabella set great hopes on the effect of Christianity, she representedthe missionary works of the Meiji Era in Unbeaten Tracks in Japan. Sheshowed that missionaries contributed to Japanese medical treatment and education,and how Japanese people were converted to Christianity. UnbeatenTracks in Japan gives her impression not only of Japanese culture and habitsbut also of the missionary works.