A Translation of “Daishinsai no Atoni (大震災の後に).” Vol.

13 of NISHIDA
KITARŌ ZENSHŪ. By Nishida KITARŌ, 128–129. Tokyo: Iwanami Shoten, 1965–6.

1
13:128 AFTER THE GREAT EARTHQUAKE
2
After experiencing the great earthquake, we have come to the realization
that there are many things upon which we must reflect. First, we have lacked a sense
of ‘integrity.’ I have heard that even among the brick houses, only the ones that were
carefully and attentively constructed did not suffer significant damage. Second, we
have hardly thought of ‘organic unity.’ Even if you build something sturdy, it be-
comes utterly useless when you build something fragile and combustible next to it.
Even if you build a water supply, if it can be easily destroyed, you cannot truly rely
on it. Third, it was our great fault that we had hardly contemplated anything in order
to make plans on a grand scale. We lived from hand to mouth and failed to think
much of anything beyond it. Our nation is essentially a country with frequent earth-
quakes; and, as history has been showing, there is reason to fear that we would meet
a devastating earthquake every few decades. In spite of this, we did not think deeply
about anything in relation to such a terrifying natural disaster. There is usually flood-
ing in our country year after year, and, whenever this occurs, the trains are cancelled.
But then there are too few who would say that this should be otherwise and actively
attempt to resolve the predicament. Indeed, vows made in storms are forgotten in
the calm.

This lack of thoughtful commitment applies not only to our material civiliza-
tion, but also to the intellectual culture. There are only a few who would sacrifice ten
or twenty years of their lives and fully devote themselves to a single study with the
best of their abilities. Also, there are a lot of academic works—whether they are

1
This translation is prepared by Takeshi MORISATO; special thanks to B. GARCIA and
Geoffrey MANZI. The volume and page number of the Nishida Kitarō Zenshū are indicated in the
margin.
2
This refers to the Great Kantō earthquake of 1923. Roughly 1.9 million people suffered
from the disaster and over 100,000 people were killed or went missing.

–1– © THE BIBLIOGRAPHIA 2013

13:129 translations of foreign books or their introductions—that are hurriedly compiled only
for the sake of publication. Hence, just like chasing women’s fashion, whatever idea
presented therein will not sink deep into our existence. Even those who have hap-
pened to achieve mastery over a single study fail to know on what ground their own
discipline is standing. What they are primarily concerned with—in relation to any-
thing whatsoever—is its immediate application. They have little experience in think-
ing through to the very foundation of anything.

Finally, I hope that the people would come to love nature a little bit more
genuinely on this occasion. Nature and culture are not supposed to run counter to
each other, but the former is the root of the latter. Any artificial culture that departs
from the immensity of nature has no choice but to decay. I would like our culture to
appear as if it were carved out of a large slab of marble. There is no need for us to
yearn for the artificial culture flickering in front of our eyes, but instead only to live
out of our profound re-turning to the depth of our own self.

–2– © THE BIBLIOGRAPHIA 2013